Host Michelle Lewis interviews JJ Zink, producer and co-writer of the documentary From the Sound to the Sea, screening at the 2026 Outer Banks Environmental Film Festival (Nov. 5–7 in Manteo, North Carolina). Zink explains how the film began as a National Geographic: The Class project and evolved into a year-long production about Corolla’s wild horses and the surrounding community, emphasizing environmental storytelling that includes people, development pressures, and tourism-driven economies. He discusses enjoying both field producing and post-production editing, the challenges of making key narrative decisions on a tight timeline, and the importance of an collaborative crew. Zink hopes viewers see multiple perspectives meeting constructively, finds hope in people’s willingness to talk across differences, and says his “climate stick” would fund protections for habitat, nonprofits, parks, and those who safeguard wildlife. 00:00 Podcast Intro 00:48 Meet JJ Zink 01:41 Film Origins 03:36 People And Horses 05:09 Making The Film 07:31 Post Production Crunch 09:51 What Viewers Take Away 13:49 Guiding Filmmaker Values 16:03 Future Projects 18:13 Finding Hope 22:04 Crew Shoutout 24:38 Climate Stick Wish 28:46 Closing Thanks
Get your tickets at www.OBXEFF.com
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