Non-Profit Videos — Visual Change Video

We usually hit the public with facts about social and environmental issues, but what if we made them laugh, appealed to their emotions, and took them on a compelling, human-driven narrative? Campaign videos, PSAs, and documentaries meant to educate and inspire action need to be bold, take risks, and use the techniques of fictional content and online creators to attract and keep an audience’s attention.

As a campaigner and video creator, I work with you to strategically integrate video content at key campaign moments to increase, for example, the success of a call to action or call for donations.

Your desired audience and the video’s goal within your broader strategy are top of mind when creating a piece’s script and tone.

Environmental Defence - “Clean Pathways to Future”

“Clean Pathways to Future” - Pathways Alliance Mock/Remake

The original Pathways Aliance commercial

This piece, made in collaboration with Environmental Defence, is a direct mock of a Pathways Alliance ad that sold carbon capture and storage's (false) promise for oil and gas carbon neutrality to the Canadian public.

Intended for a general public audience with a purpose of creating healthy skepticism for oil and gas marketing, this ad debunks the Pathways Alliance's claims and charts a new path - away from oil and gas and towards clean, reliable renewable energy.

For this piece, I wrote the script; created all pre-production documents including a shot list, storyboard, and call sheets; organized and managed the 9-hour shoot day (including hiring a cast of 8 and a crew of 10); directed the shoot; and led the post-production process including editing.

Writer/Director & Production Manager: Emma Buchanan

Cinematography: Sofia Pompei

Production Design: Maria Paula Montoya

Sound Mixer: Evan Droog

Editor: Emma Buchanan; Colourist: Zitesh Kaushal

Leadnow - Housing For All

This video launched Leadnow's "Housing For All" campaign - a campaign pushing the federal government to properly invest in affordable, non-profit and co-op housing. Leadnow is hosting town halls throughout summer 2024, and this video will be played at the start of each one to offer context and inspiration.

I worked with the organizing team to conceptualize this piece and write the script. I also filmed and directed the staff and volunteers appearing in the video, captured b-roll, and edited the video.

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment’s “Heat Cook Breathe” Campaign

Campaign launch video for the “Heat Cook Breathe” campaign - raising awareness for the health & environmental harms of gas stoves and better home-cooking alternatives. This piece is being used in YouTube pre-roll ads, paid social media ads, and the audio as a radio ad.

Conceptualized, filmed, and edited by Emma Buchanan

Oxfam Canada - SRHR Week

A piece for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Week with Oxfam Canada. An example of what can be achieved with motion graphics storytelling (animated images, icons, and text) when there is no video footage to work with.

Conceptualized, written, and edited by Emma Buchanan

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment’s “Fossil Fuel Ads Make Us Sick” Campaign Series

Comedic “man in the street” style video highlighting the misleading advertising techniques of the natural gas industry.

Co-conceptualized, filmed and edited by Emma Buchanan

Healthcare professionals call for an end to fossil fuel advertising. Received 8,000+ views on an Instagram account that had previously received less than 300 views per video.

Co-written, coordinated, and edited by Emma Buchanan

Short, punchy “talking head” video to drive signatures on a parliamentary petition. Received 15,000+ views across all social media platforms within 48 hours of posting. Scripted, performed, filmed & edited.

Campaign video used as digital advertising in support of Bill C-372 - a recently tabled private members’ bill that proposes a ban on fossil fuel advertising in Canada - as it moves to second reading

Press conference footage was edited into a compelling and cohesive piece with a variety of editing assets.

“Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire (PSA) highlighting the dangers of gas stoves.

The Council of Canadians’ “Pharmacare Now” Campaign

A campaign explainer & emotional appeal to action for The Council of Canadians’ “Pharmacare Now” campaign. This video was posted on social media, used in a “call for donations” email to support the campaign, and is shown at events and presentations related to the campaign.

The power of carefully selecting a human-centred story to explain a broader political issue. This simple video received 67 likes, 21 shares & 43 comments on Facebook - second most engagement on the org’s Facebook page that month.

An event highlight video, cohesively summarizing an entire day’s activities and messaging into less than 3 minutes.

Filmed & edited by Emma Buchanan

Women’s Healthy Environments Network (WHEN) “Wannabe Toxic Free”

A video from a 4-part, sharable series about environmental toxins and planetary & human health.

I posed the question to 4 panelists and experts: “What’s the #1 thing the public should know about toxins and our health?”

A video from a 4-part, shareable series about environmental toxins and planetary & human health.

I posed the question to 4 panelists and experts: “What’s the #1 thing the public should know about toxins and our heath?”

Videography (Video Stills) & Photography Portfolio

N:OW for Net Zero, Finance Engage Sustain

Grantee School Greenhouse Retrofit

Women’s Healthy Environments Network (WHEN)

30th Anniversary Gala & Wannabe Toxic Free Events

“United Against TC Energy”

Filmed by Emma Buchanan

Working with the Mining Injustice Solidarity Network and Rising Tide Toronto, these videos will document a gathering of Wet’suwet’en leaders and Mixtec, Otomi, and Nahua land defenders (from so-called “Mexico”) to build shared resistances against TransCanada Energy’s pipelines on their territories.