Emmy Award-winning filmmaker to screen docu on mosquitoes

Speaking with DT Next, Trojian, chief creative officer and an executive producer at YAP films, as well as an award-winning producer, writer and director, said that the topic on the outset might seem cringe worthy, however, that is exactly why Discovery Channel had come forward to broadcast it to almost 80 million viewers across continents, in July 2017. She added, “The zika outbreak was unfolding around the time we began working on the documentary. So, it was a terrible blessing that we could follow it as it unravelled in the world.”

The documentary follows the challenge regarding tackling mosquitoes in the USA, Netherlands, Puerto Rico and Tanzania. Halpern, an Emmy Award-winning producer and director of feature-length documentaries for television, adds, “The problem is that we can no longer say that only these countries should be concerned about the winged insects. With travel and climate change everyone should be concerned. We have seen that these are moving north and higher in altitude.”

The plastic litter which is a growing challenge in developing countries is a worrying aspect. Halpern points out, “They serve as the perfect breeding ground for the mosquitoes. Then there are these plants with big leaves that are a repository for water.”

The filmmaker also can’t seem to emphasise enough on being watchful about outbreaks, even after some diseases have been declared eliminated. Halpern says, “Sri Lanka has been declared malaria free, but there is always a need to keep following the measures so that there is no resurgence. Certain diseases such as leprosy have been returning and they highlight the need to be watchful.” The documentary also talks in length about the response to the issue, which varies with countries. “In Brazil, the response by the military was impressive with door to door intervention,” said Halpern.

The movie makers reckon that the ominous threat of the tiny organism can be understood with the fact that the challenges are metamorphosing. Halpern said, “Ten years from now, when we revisit the subject, we may have another new disease to address.”