Uniting Art and Conservation: The Mates for Life Journey with Filmmaker Tim Whalen

In this episode of Storylinking, filmmaker Tim Whalen joins host Tom Lietz to discuss his innovative project, Mates for Life, a unique collaboration between the Joffrey Ballet, choreographer Xavi Núñez, and the International Crane Foundation. Together, they’ve created a powerful film that tells the inspiring comeback story of the whooping crane, blending dance and conservation in a way that bridges the gap between performing arts and environmental advocacy.

The conversation touches on the challenges of the creative project, emotional connection both artistic expression and an important conservation cause, and the importance of stepping out of comfort zones to create something truly impactful. Tim shares valuable insights on building unexpected partnerships, fostering community through the arts, and how creative collaboration can drive meaningful change.

Check out Mates for Life:

• Mates for Life Website http://matesforlife.co (Watch the trailer and behind-the-scenes feature)
• Joffrey Ballet https://joffrey.org
• International Crane Foundation https://savingcranes.org

Check out our guest, Tim Whalen:

• @TimJWhalen on Instagram
• Big Foot Media https://www.bigfootcreates.com/ (Tim's production company)
• @big_foot_media on Instagram

Check out more from Storylinking:

• https://storylinking.com/blog/ep01 (read more about this episode)
• https://storylinking.com (the full show site)

Key moments from this episode:

00:55 Introducing Filmmaker Tim Whalen
02:09 Mates for Life: A Unique Ballet Film
03:54 The Intersection of Arts and Conservation
06:54 Challenges and Inspirations
10:03 The Role of Collaboration in Creative Projects
12:48 Behind the Scenes: Making Mates for Life
16:46 Technical Feats and Production Challenges
18:48 The Iconic Comeback of the Whooping Crane
19:07 Partnering with the International Crane Foundation
22:42 The Power of Film in Conservation
25:59 Lessons from Mates for Life
31:38 The Role of Music in Ballet and Film
35:33 Final Thoughts and Call to Action