SoCal Snowy Owl: PBS Documentary Captures The Heartwarming Story Of A Community United By Nature
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Airing Earth Month, A Rare Owl’s Visit Brings Healing, Hope, And Community To Cypress, California.
Watching a documentary that draws you in and makes you think about many things is always fantastic. That happened when I watched the SoCal Snowy Owl documentary on PBS, which is airing now during Earth Month. It was such a treat for me to chat with director Christopher Angel and producer Walter Josten. Fate brought these two men together. They created a story that will stay in the hearts of many.
The documentary follows the residents in Cypress, California. They came out every morning to watch the Snowy owl. It appeared on a rooftop in their community on December 21st, 2022. Her presence pulls the community together in such a heartfelt way. It helped heal a woman recovering from a stroke. She was coming to terms with her recovery. It also helped another resident, an avid bird watcher, honor his father’s passing. It brought the politicians together and helped another resident forget about his work troubles. Still, most importantly, it brought families together and encouraged children to be more aware of nature.
Christopher read in the national newspapers that a rare Snowy Owl had arrived in Southern California in mid-December 2022. He was a lifelong birdwatcher. He found magic and peace in these amazing small creatures. They can fly through the sky. But he had never seen a snowy owl before. On January 2nd, he went on a New Year’s bird-watching walk at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. He then drove to Cypress with his eleven-year-old son to look for the owl. He had been disappointed before by wild animals that were impossible to find. So, he stopped the first person he saw carrying a large camera. He asked for directions to the owl. The man laughed. He told him to go around the corner and park. There he would see the owl. He followed his directions to find two hundred people in the street, looking up at the bird on a roof. The owl was a star. She had transfixed the neighborhood. As well as Christopher and his son.
So fate was already setting the stage when Producer Walter Josten contacted him. He and Walter had collaborated earlier on researching a biopic feature film about John James Audubon. Walter was looking for a filmmaker to create a documentary about the owl. It was kismet!
This documentary is as much about people as it is about the owl. This bird touched an entire community in unexpected ways. We zero in on three residents whose lives were changed by the owl. The owl shows me why we need to conserve nature and wildlife. It gives us perspective and meaning that can change how we live.
Christopher hopes this documentary will highlight the urgent need to protect our natural habitats. It will also showcase the incredible diversity of birds that share our planet. He also aims to inspire the younger generation. He hopes they recognize and embrace the deep connection between humanity and the natural world.
Questions For Producer-Walter Josten
Q: What attracted you to the story of SoCal Snowy Owl? Why did you believe it needed to be brought to the screen?
A: I saw several articles from the LA Times and Orange County Register reporting the snowy owl’s visit to Cypress. I was lucky enough to see the bird in person on several occasions, and I was amazed by the large crowds that came to see her and how the neighbors in Cypress came together to support her. It seemed like a good fit to tell the story of how the community members joined in to honor this rare and beautiful bird, along with the fantastic images of the snowy owl.
Q: The film blends natural wonder with human storytelling—how did you balance those elements during production to guarantee emotional and visual impact?
A: The balance happened very naturally. We were capable of conducting great interviews with Roy, Jyoti, and Adam, as well as other nature and bird experts. Additionally, we had access to hundreds of magnificent photographs from photographers who came from around the world to photograph Snowy, as she came to be known.
Q: What kind of research or collaboration was involved in accurately portraying the snowy owl and its rare journey into Southern California?
A: We spoke to many experts, ornithologists, naturalists, and environmentalists who gave us opinions and insight as to how and why Snowy came to Southern California for the first time in recorded history.
Q: Looking back on the process, what do you hope audiences will take away from SoCal Snowy Owl, both emotionally and environmentally?
A: I hope our film SoCal Snowy Owl inspires all of us, especially young people, to realize how important the relationship between humans and nature is. Our children will be responsible for learning and caring about the world’s incredible birds and preserving their habitats to guarantee the future of all creatures on the planet.
Two local screenings will highlight the locally produced film that won the Audience Award at the Newport Beach Film Festival. On Thursday, April 10, SOCAL SNOWY OWL will screen at the Rivian South Coast Theater. A panel discussion with special guests will follow, and there will also be a general reception. All activities start at 6:30 p.m. For more information about the screening and to reserve your tickets, please visit https://rivian.com/spaces/laguna.
And on Thurs., PBS SoCal and the Natural History Museum will co-host a public screening of SOCAL SNOWY OWL. The event will also feature the EARTH FOCUS episode “Transforming the Los Angeles River.” It starts at 6:30 p.m. in the Commons Theater, followed by a panel discussion with special guests and a general reception afterwards. Guests are invited to enjoy a first look at the NHM Commons. This is a brand-new gathering space. It is designed for community and conversation at the Natural History Museum. For more information about the screening and to reserve your free tickets, please visit https://nhm.org/calendar/green-screen-our-planet-film-earth-focus-pbs-socal.
SOCAL SNOWY OWL can also be seen on PBS SoCal Plus on Monday, April 28, at 4 p.m. on PBS SoCal. After the broadcast, the documentary will stream on pbssocal.org/SoCalSnowyOwl, on the free PBS App, and on PBS SoCal’s YouTube channel.
