My Story
My name is Natalie Rance, and I am a Zoology graduate currently studying for a Masters in Wildlife Filmmaking at the University of the West of England in Bristol. The course is run in partnership with the world renowned BBC Natural History Unit, and coupled with the support of the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust, has enabled me to experience the most exciting and rewarding opportunities I have faced to date.
In March 2017, during my preparations to begin studying the course, I began experiencing severe problems with my left eye. Agonising pain, intense light sensitivity, and after a few weeks, a rapid decline in vision ensued, the cause of which continued to elude opticians and doctors. My eye was unresponsive to treatments for a number of conditions I was exhibiting symptoms of, and continued to quickly deteriorate. Doctors then discovered that I was suffering from an incredibly rare parasitic eye condition, caused by a waterborne amoeba, which had likely contaminated my contact lenses.
Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) affects just 125 people in the UK a year, though sadly cases are on the increase. 80% of cases occur in contact lens wearers, and can arise from incorrect lens care, including showering or swimming in lenses, or even just from touching them with wet hands. Unfortunately, the condition is little known about, and many contact lens wearers do not realise they are at risk. There are no licensed medicines to treat AK, and the strain of the parasite that had invaded my eye was exceptionally resistant to treatment. In December 2017, I underwent an emergency full thickness cornea transplant, lens removal, and iris surgery in an attempt to restore my sight.
The outcome of my operation is yet to be determined, but I am optimistic of the prospect of sight returning. Given everything this waterborne parasite has put me through, I'm sure you would think me mad if I were to say I want to go back into the water...but that is exactly what I intend to do. Second Sight will see me travel to the stunning Isles of Scilly to confront the water once more, in order to swim with a local colony of grey seals. I know now only too well now the importance of enjoying the water responsibly, but just as much the paramountcy of appreciating good health and living life to the fullest! I have loved the water since a young age, and never want my condition to steal this passion from me.
My experience of AK has provided me an overwhelming new appreciation for my sight, the doctors who have fought so hard to try and save it, and the donor who gifted me with a second chance at sight. Now, I want to give something back.
The Film
As part of my Masters degree, I am producing a short 10-12 minute documentary, which will be screened to industry professionals from the BBC and other internationally renowned production companies this coming November. In order to raise awareness of AK, the impacts of sight loss, and the undeniable importance of organ donation, I want to share my story with you. To enable me to do this, I am asking for your help.
Filmmaking is notoriously expensive, and it is my aim to produce this project to the highest standard possible. I hope to enter Second Sight into film festivals, in order to share my story with the widest audience available, and raise much needed awareness for this important issue.
Any contributions you may be able to offer, no matter how big or small, would be incredibly gratefully received, and each donation gets me one step closer to turning my aspirations for this film into a reality.
The Crew
Natalie Rance | Producer & Camera
Fuelled by my lifelong love of animals and the natural world, I graduated from Newcastle University with a BSc (Hons) in Zoology. Impassioned by my work in animal care, public outreach and education, ranging from my position at a rare breeds farm to a later role at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary, I longed to synthesise the critical environmental messages I had been spreading the word about into a highly accessible and enjoyable medium - film. It was then that I set my sights on the MA Wildlife Filmmaking at UWE Bristol, in partnership with the BBC. I began studying the course in September 2017, and continue to be inspired each and every day by the incredible people and opportunities this prestigious Masters brings my way. Now I embark on one of my greatest challenges to date - to share my story with the world, in the hopes of bringing global awareness of my condition through my authored film Second Sight.
Nick Jones | Underwater/Topside Camera Operator & Drone Pilot
Nick is a highly experienced underwater and topside cinematographer, in addition to being a fully qualified drone pilot. He graduated last year from the MA Wildlife Filmmaking at UWE Bristol, in partnership with the BBC, and has continued to develop an extensive filmography, with credits most recently including that as an underwater camera operator for Channel 5's 'A Year In The Wild'. Nick's Masters degree film 'Seeking Sanctuary' saw him travel to the Seychelles to collaborate with the Save Our Seas Foundation, in order to document the threats facing two shark species in the Indian Ocean. Nick will be joining us on 'Second Sight' doing what he does best - using the skills he has honed as an underwater camera operator to document my return to the water.
Eline Helena Schellekens | Topside Camera Operator
Eline Helena is an exceptionally creative and intuitive filmmaker, originally from the Netherlands. Following two years of study at the audio-visual department of the Gerrit Rietveld Art Academy in Amsterdam, she applied to study a BA Directing Film at the Dutch Film and Television Academy. During her four years there, she explored the grey area between documentary and fiction, and now employs both fictional and narrative elements in her work. For Eline Helena, the most interesting quality of film is that it brings you to new places and triggers empathy - film allows you the possibility to see the world through someone else’s eyes.
Eline Helena was awarded the ‘Mediafund prize Kids&Docs’ at IDFA, and the ‘European Young CIVIS Media Prize’ in Berlin for her debut film 'A Home for Lydia'. She continued producing short films for the Dutch national broadcaster about refugees, before moving on to study the MA Wildlife Filmmaking course at UWE Bristol, in partnership with the BBC. The course afforded her a great opportunity to combine her love for animals and the natural world with her passion for storytelling. Acting as a self-shooting DP on her film 'M6NTHS', Eline crafted a beautifully empathic and highly visual film exploring the life of an exceptionally intelligent, but often overlooked animal - the pig. As well as working on a children's book, Eline Helena is currently working alongside Omer Sami on a documentary commissioned by The Guardian, about a boy who grows up next to the nuclear powerplant at Hinkley Point. In the production of 'Second Sight', Eline will be acting as a topside camera operator, documenting my experience in the Isles of Scilly.
The Composer
Patrick Kendell
Patrick is a talented young composer, who formally studied piano from the age of 7 after picking up pieces by ear. He then continued to develop his intuition to compose through his piano studies and further instruments. After completing his higher education at college, he moved to London, where he studied Music and German at Royal Holloway University of London. It was here that his skill for music blossomed and he fully engaged in composition. Having written traditionally orchestrated compositions for a variety of ensembles, his musical training has been extensive, and in his final year he branched out into writing for digital media, in particular for film. He is currently studying at Bristol University, where he writes music for film, television and video games. Patrick aspires to follow on from his Masters degree as a composer for all forms of digital media, in particular for natural history documentaries. The intense work flow of his course, and collaboration with other film and television students, has challenged him to develop confidence in his abilities, and continually inspires him to pursue further ambitious projects.
Where Will Your Money Go?
Any funds donated will go towards the cost of producing Second Sight to the highest possible standard.
Accommodation and Location Costs - 55%
Accommodation in a holiday destination as popular as the Isles of Scilly during the summer months doesn't come cheap, and there is a need to keep the production equipment secure. As such, the best option for crew is self-catering accommodation, which we will keep to as modest a budget as possible for. We are receiving tremendous support with boat access from the Scilly Seal Snorkelling company, but we still need to pay small fees, such as fuel and tripper boats between islands.
Travel - 20%
We need to transport three crew members and a large amount of production equipment from Bristol to the Isles of Scilly, which constitutes a large proportion of the budget for this film.
Equipment - 15%
Whilst the University provide the majority of the production equipment for the film, we will need to pay for specific additional equipment, including the hire of an underwater camera and housing, in order to film the critical scene of my return to the water. We will also require additional SD cards and external hard drives, so that we can store and back up footage whilst on location.
Perks, Promotion and Distribution - 10%
In order to raise awareness of this devastating condition, I aim to distribute the film to the widest possible audience. This segment of the budget will be used to promote my film, and pay for film festival entry, which though independently constitute modest fees, collectively do add up. I also have to pay the platform for running this campaign, and of course fulfil the great perks we are offering!
Exceeding Our Target
In the unlikely event of exceeding our target, or having any funds left over, excess funds will be donated to Moorfields Eye Charity, who execute vital research into a vast range of eye conditions, and create new life-changing treatments for adults and children suffering from eye disease. A donation would also be made to the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust, in order to support their critical work in protecting the unique habitat and species that I am hoping to witness in my time on the archipelago.
The Impact
SECOND SIGHT aims to bring awareness to the rare eye condition, Acanthamoeba Keratitis (AK), and the impacts of sight loss on those who suffer from it. I also hope to highlight the paramount importance of organ donation, and the unbelievable difference we are all able to make to someone's life by simply signing up as an organ donor.
Other Ways You Can Help
We appreciate that sometimes it is just not possible to contribute financially, but there are still many other ways you can help this important cause! We would be incredibly grateful for your help in spreading awareness of this issue - please share this campaign online, by email, word of mouth, or any other means possible! Don't forget to follow us on social media for updates on the film's progress:
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/secondsight2018/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/secondsightfilm/