Heckler Singapore has partnered with Studio Birthplace to create Earth Defender, a powerful music film shedding light on the sacrifices made by Indigenous communities to protect nature. This film highlights the tragic reality that every 48 hours, an Earth Defender goes missing or is killed while protecting critical natural ecosystems.
Set in the Sungai Utik community of West Kalimantan, Indonesia, Earth Defender follows the story of a father and son determined to protect their rainforest home. Directed by Studio Birthplace and young Indigenous filmmaker Kynan Tegar, the film features hauntingly beautiful music by Novo Amor and impressive visual effects created by Heckler Singapore.
Led by creative director Cody Amos, Heckler Singapore’s VFX team used advanced techniques to realistically depict the destruction of the forest. The film includes captivating scenes like a symbolic battle, a quiet night sky, and a moving sequence where the forest opens up, symbolizing the father’s journey to the afterlife. Using drone footage, 3D and 2D effects, and CGI, the VFX team skillfully shows the scale of deforestation, including scenes of CG birds falling from the sky and thousands of trees collapsing. “This was the sort of project I wish I could work on every single day,” says Amos, emphasizing the honor of working on a film focused on such an urgent issue.
Studio Birthplace co-directors Jorik Dozy and Sil van der Woerd highlight the importance of amplifying the voices of Indigenous people and Earth Defenders who are on the front lines of environmental and human rights crises. They spent a month with the Sungai Utik community, learning to embrace the unpredictability of nature and local culture. “We learned not just as filmmakers, but spiritually too, seeing how far our culture has drifted from living in harmony with the natural world,” said Dozy.
In Earth Defender, co-director Kynan Tegar addresses the harsh realities faced by Earth Defenders, emphasizing how communities risk everything to protect their lands, rivers, and forests. “It’s a story close to home for me,” Tegar shared, explaining that Earth Defender aims to convey the struggles and sacrifices made by Indigenous people to protect the planet.
This film calls for global attention to the dangers Earth Defenders face and urges support for the protection of Indigenous lands and ecosystems.
Credits
Production Company: Studio Birthplace
Film Directors/Writers: Jorik Dozy, Sil van der Woerd & Kynan Tegar
Executive Producer: Alea Rahim
Producer: Sara Kong
Line Producer: Agustina Merdekawaty (Tina)
Researcher & Production Assistant: Theresa Cellona
Researcher & Social Media Manager – Marsya Mohd Johari
Strategic Partnerships: Liv Merry
Director of Photography: Nicholas Chin
1st AC: Kiefer Daniel Yu
2nd AC: Tim Chan
Camera Assist: Sandra Cai En
Art Director: Pawadi Jihad
Assistant Art Director: Ricky
Production & Art Dept Assistant: Pinki
Production & Art Dept Assistant: Topik
Music Artist: Novo Amor
Commissioner: Believe
Casting & Community Organiser: Indai Flora
Community Coordinator: Apai Salem
Community Support: Herkulanus Sutomo Manna
BTS & Stills Photographer: Jakub Chlouba
Editors: Jorik Dozy & Sil van der Woerd
Visual Effects Company: Heckler Singapore
Visual Effects Creative Director: Cody Amos
Executive Producer: Charu Menon
Head of Production: Xinhui Zheng
FX Artists: Cody Amos, Yong Soon Ong & Sen Ree Ooi
Lead Compositor: Davor Zec
Compositors: Azreena Ahmad & Johnson Lim
CG Artist: Mohammed Nizam Abdul Khaliff
IO: Craig Woo
Grading Company: Harbor Picture Company
Head of Colour Production, UK: Charlie Morris
Executive Creative Director, UK: Charlie Morris
Colourist: Alex Gregory
Sound Designer: Joe Wills
