We were lucky to catch up with Braeden Meyer recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Braeden thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I have always been fascinated by the intersection between arts, culture, and the scientific realm of understanding the world around us. My whole life has been driven by exploring these facets of creative and research-based intrigue. Artwork and photography were some of my hobbies and interests during school growing up but I quickly realized how fascinating science can be for all ages! I decided I would pursue some way to blend these interests moving forward and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biological Sciences (fisheries & wildlife ecology & Mgmt. concentration) in Spring 2020 from Montana State University – Bozeman. During this degree I worked a multitude of scientific research/conservation seasonal technician positions with federal, state, and private level conservation entities throughout MT and WY.

Prior to my undergraduate degree I was well aware of the MFA program in Science & Natural History Filmmaking (also at Montana State), but a degree in a science-related field was required to enroll.
After obtaining my B.S. in Biological sciences I took a year off of schooling due to the impact of COVID-19 and in-person courses to work in adult education at a community college back home in Lander, WY but soon after applied and was accepted to the MFA Program in SNHF for Fall 2021 start.

Since starting this graduate degree I have spent the past 3 years diving into science communication through the art of documentary filmmaking, the perfect blend of film, photo, art, and science I’ve always been looking for! Ranging from a personal pursuit to track and film the elusive river otter in harsh Yellowstone winter, to the debate on ownership of multi-million-dollar dinosaur fossils, my work focuses on the relationships between people, the sciences, and their impact on and interactions with the world around them. My ultimate goal is to elucidate and inform the public about the unique realms of science, natural history, and everyday life that can be observed through a scientific, cinematic, and ultimately approachable experience to bridge the gap between these often separated worlds.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

As I mentioned, I have been in the MFA program in Science & Natural History Filmmaking at Montana State University, Bozeman for the past 3 years. I have been working on my graduate thesis for the past year and have made many amazing connections and opportunities to enhance my craft along the way! Ranging from frozen winters spent in solitude tracking river otters, to an intense rift between science, profit, and prosperity of vertebrate fossils, my interests are guided by the relationships between people, the sciences, and their impact on and interactions with the world around them.

My current work includes my thesis film “Thought & Memory”, which documents the scientific research, cultural understanding, and oral tradition of the common raven (Corvus corax). Throughout the Northern Hemisphere, a variety of experts and individuals with close relationships to the beautiful bird present a long-standing understanding of a highly intelligent species long deemed to be a trickster, omen of death, and harboring the secrets of creation and destruction.

I’ve also explored the complexities of a highly politicized dispute over the ownership of dinosaur fossils and the disparity between commercial, private, academic, and legal interests and the complexities that lie within. My short film “TERRA DRACONIS: posterity and prosperity of fossils in the modern age” dissects this long-standing debate millions of years in the making, and has been on a film festival circuit since February 2024.

The goal of my work is to educate and inform the public about these realms of science, natural history, and everyday life that can be observed through a scientific, cinematic, and ultimately approachable experience to bridge the gap between these often separated worlds.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist, science communicator, and filmmaker is networking and building relationships. This varies from meeting like-minded (or vastly different) individuals who care about a particular topic or story I am workin on, to working directly with my film subjects on their home turf. I tend to explore realms of understanding and locations that either I am unfamiliar with or have little experience in to not only push myself as a storyteller and artist, but also rely on the unique position of my film subjects to teach me act as a guide for myself and the audience of my films.

I hope to pass on this learning, knowledge, and approachable experience through the art of film to share with a broad audience! Documentary filmmaking is the perfect outlet to do so and, in turn, reinforce a new or existing understanding of whatever topic my work is focusing on at the time.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The main mission driving my creative is to blend the artistic, scientific, and cultural realms of understanding a topic to be enjoyed and disseminated to a broad audience through the cinematic lens. As a filmmaker and artist, my interests are guided by the relationships between people, the sciences, and their impact on and interactions with the world around them. I hope to learn something along the way with every project I am creating, while also building the relationships with my subjects and sharing our collective understanding with the world stage. No matter the scale or niche of the topic of the film, I hope to elucidate and inform the public about the unique realms of science, natural history, and everyday life that can be observed through a scientific, cinematic, and ultimately approachable experience to bridge the gap between these often separated worlds.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://braeden-meyer-film.squarespace.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flytyer97/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/braedenmeyerartphotography/?_rdr
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/braeden-meyer-792195125
• Other: VIMEO: https://vimeo.com/user147875818
  Bio Site: https://bio.site/braedenmeyer

Image Credits

Photos and posters copyright Braeden Meyer