Sam Kelly Jr. and Invisible Collective Spotlight the ‘Salmon Warriors’

The Pacific Northwest’s rivers are brimming with cultural, environmental, and political history. Eager to further educate himself on the environment and support a worthy cause, local filmmaker Sam Kelly Jr. and production company Invisible Collective crafted a poignant short film, ‘Salmon Warriors’, to shine a light on Indigenous communities’ ongoing fight for environmental justice.

Weaving together stunning cinematography and powerful storytelling, the four-minute film doubles as both a visual ode to the region’s natural beauty and a rallying cry for action, telling the story of The Billy Frank Jr. Salmon Coalition, Indigenous leaders, and conservationists who are working tirelessly to restore salmon populations and protect the region’s waterways.

The film will soon reach an influential audience at SXSW, where it will be showcased as part of the festival. Three of its key voices - Kadi Bizyayeva, Willie Frank III, and Ron Garner - will appear on a panel at the festival’s Climate & Sustainability track, sponsored by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Their discussion, How to Make Climate Adversaries into Allies, will further explore the themes of ‘Salmon Warriors’, bringing its urgent message to the forefront of global conversations on climate action.

For Sam, this project was deeply personal from the get-go. Growing up in Washington State, he always felt a connection to the salmon and the ecosystems that support them. In the interest of ensuring total authenticity, before directing ‘Salmon Warriors’, Sam recognised the need to immerse himself even further in the history and cultural significance of the subject matter. 

Sam tells LBB how his research took him to the Museum of History & Industry in Seattle, where he studied the Fish Wars and the work of Billy Frank Jr., the Nisqually tribal leader and environmental activist. “I realised I wasn’t holding myself accountable enough,” he reflects. “This piece is meant to grab Washingtonians’ attention and highlight how long tribes have been raising these issues without general public support. We all need to do better.”

Unlike traditional environmental PSAs, ‘Salmon Warriors’ employs a cinematic approach, carefully constructing each frame to deliver both beauty and urgency. The film’s “road documentary” format, which Sam says could have easily relied on B-roll, was instead meticulously storyboarded with set pieces that enhance the narrative.

Collaborating with cinematographers Tyler Kalberg and Sam Nuttman, the director developed a visual strategy that captured both the majesty of the landscape and the gravity of the interviews. “We photo-boarded key scenes using an app that let us select the right lensing for each shot,” he explains. “Sam Nuttman had already been filming salmon as a passion project near his home in Index, Washington. I stayed there, reviewed the footage, and identified what was crucial to opening and closing the piece.”

Every detail was considered – from the placement of interview subjects within the frame to the controlled camera movements that added weight to their words. Tribal leader Glen Gobin, who introduces the film’s central themes, is centre-framed, reinforcing his pivotal role in the narrative. Meanwhile, Willie Frank III is given two distinct settings; one by the river, representing his connection to the land, and another in a more traditional interview setup, driving home his leadership and call to action.

Shot across various locations significant to the Indigenous communities and researchers featured in the film, ‘Salmon Warriors’ was built on extensive pre-interviews and on-the-ground research. “We mapped, scouted, and drove to find the right places to visually tell the story,” says Sam. “Being invited onto Tribal land was an honour, and the insights we gained were invaluable.”

These landscapes, ranging from pristine waterways to sites damaged by human activity, are captured with breathtaking cinematography. One of the film’s standout tools was Freefly Systems’ Ember camera, which allowed for stunning slow-motion shots that bring poetic emphasis to key moments. “Being able to drastically slow down motion lets viewers sink into the moment,” Sam explains. “You see that with Kadi’s children jumping into her arms and the tiny fish breaching the surface at the WSU research centre.”

Additionally, macro shots filmed as an experimental art project by photographer Ryan Hills were incorporated to visualise the toxic effects of environmental degradation. “We were lucky to license some of Ryan’s art to illustrate the point of toxicology in a visual way,” Sam highlights. “Ryan is a very talented editor and photographer from Seattle who showed me these textural shots years ago, and when I started scripting the film those images immediately flashed in my mind.” These surreal, swirling textures represent the unseen pollutants affecting the ecosystem, a novel way to illustrate the science gone wrong through an artistic lens.

While much of the film was carefully planned, one of the most striking shots came about by chance when filming Willie Frank III. “He was incredibly patient, standing far from the camera with no action,” Sam recalls. “Then, suddenly, we got a surprise hit of sun. Willie looked up to soak it in. It summed up everything – his role as a protector of the land, his connection to nature, and his leadership. We were lucky to catch that on film.”

‘Salmon Warriors’ is a call to action and Sam hopes the film will inspire viewers to rethink their relationship with the environment, particularly those who enjoy outdoor recreation but may not consider their impact on these spaces.

“I always said this project was for people who spend way too much money and time at REI but not enough on caring for the places they enjoy, myself included,” he says. “I hope we activate some chills and encourage everyone to take part in moving in a different and better direction as Salmon Warriors.”

With its upcoming SXSW screening and panel discussion, the film has the potential to spark meaningful conversations and drive real change. By blending breathtaking visuals with an urgent message, ‘Salmon Warriors’ is more than a documentary – it’s a movement, and one that demands our attention.