MPB Meets: Filmmakers Matt Cannon & Jake Smallwood

In 2023, filmmakers Matt Cannon and Jake Smallwood created a short film, Truluck, which documents the inspirational journey of Steve Truluck from working as a window cleaner to becoming a marine wildlife photographer. A surprise encounter with a humpback whale led Steve Truluck to discover his porpoise—sorry, purpose—helping others to connect with whales and dolphins.

MPB customers Matt Cannon and Jake Smallwood followed Steve Truluck to John O’Groats, where he was involved in the Orca Watch, which is run by the Sea Watch Foundation. Steve was on the search for orcas, some of which reside in Scottish waters, while others have migrated from Iceland in search of food and to reproduce. Steve is an inspiring and emotive voice for change who will help highlight the importance of marine conservation and inspire the audience to pursue their passions.

The short film, which is supported by MPB and was created with used kit from MPB, is now available to watch in full. Watch Truluck now, or read on to learn more from Matt Canon and Jake Smallwood.

MPB: First of all, can you tell us about the film? What was your inspiration for it?

JS: In short, Truluck follows the life-changing events that led window cleaner Steve Truluck to discover his passion for helping others to fulfil their dreams of connecting with orcas. Our inspiration came from wanting to share a meaningful and personal story about how anyone can experience the incredible wildlife on our doorstep—wildlife that a lot of people don’t even know is out there.

MPB: Can you tell us how you got involved and what drew you to the project?

MC: We had wanted to work on a personal project together for a while, specifically a documentary with a narrative we were both really passionate about. When brainstorming ideas, I remembered meeting Steve Truluck while camping in Scotland in 2020.

Steve’s infectious enthusiasm for whales and dolphins, and his own journey to discovering marine life in the UK, were what really drew us in. We both knew it was a story that had to be shared. Neither of us had realised that you could see killer whales in Scottish waters and highlighting the wildlife close to home, big or small, was another huge driving factor in the making of Truluck.

MPB: What kind of preparation do you do leading up to shooting a documentary?

JS: Honestly, we didn’t do enough! A lot of the planning happened when Matt’s car broke down for five days in Moffat, while en route to start filming. We did however have a few conversations with Steve and got him to write down an overview of his journey to help us visualise the film, as well as come up with interview questions that could explore his story further.

We also prepared by creating a document with a rough shot list and watched a lot of other films for inspiration. Aside from the filming preparation, we also mentally prepared to have zero sleep and live in our cars for three weeks. As it turns out, nothing can mentally prepare you for that—or nothing we could find, at least.

MPB: Can you tell us about your kit? What is essential to have in your kit bag?

MC: We purposely kept our kit as minimal as possible, as we were on our feet day-to-day and had to be ready in case we had to run for an orca sighting. 

Without a doubt, our essential lens was the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM, the perfect all-rounder that allowed us to capture intimate close-ups as well as wider shots that give more context, without having to change the lens. This set-up was ideal for filming at sea and capturing events as they unfolded. During quieter moments in the mornings and evenings, the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA T* was perfect for capturing B roll. Both the Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS and Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS zoom lenses are also a must for wildlife filmmaking. 

Sometimes the action is happening far away, so it is key to have a lens on-hand that allows you that extra reach. When the long lenses aren’t cutting it, having the DJI Mavic 2 Pro is a game changer for helping to capture landscapes and wildlife at a safe and respectful distance.

MPB: How important was MPB’s support in the making of the film?

JS: MPB’s support had a huge impact on the project. They removed the limitations we had with our own gear and gave us access to the perfect equipment for our needs. This enabled us to expand our creativity and experiment with what we were able to capture in a challenging environment. MPB’s ethos is one that resonates with the film, and with us personally—after all, buying used kit is better for the planet. We’re grateful for them putting their trust in us.

MPB: What are some challenges you faced while shooting in nature and with wildlife?

MC: Steve is one of the UK's leading whale-watching guides, so throughout the filming process we were in safe hands. But nature and wildlife are still as unpredictable as ever. Patience, and being at the right place at the right time—with the right kit—are key, so you constantly have to be on standby to jump in the van or leg it to the right spot. Luckily, Steve introduced us to an incredible community of whale watchers, who shared their sightings online or in person, so we listened and put our trust in them too.

Steve has a very intense schedule at Orca Watch. He doesn’t sleep! He’s up for every minute of daylight. So, we had to do our best to live in his shoes so we didn’t miss anything either. It goes without saying, but sleeping in a car for three weeks does not offer the best rest, so sleep deprivation was a real challenge. 

On top of this, the weather on land and at sea could be brutal, especially the disheartening fog for days on end, with zero chance of seeing anything. Even Steve had started to lose hope at the end of our time in Scotland.

Unfortunately Jake had to return home, so I extended my time up there. Three hours after Jake had left, we received word of orca in the area. Sprinting across rocks and clifftops with all the camera equipment to shoot the orca, operating the drone and capturing people’s reactions, was definitely one of the more difficult solo shoots I’ve ever done. 

I know it was absolutely gutting for Jake to miss the encounter and not be there to film, but the silver lining was that a lovely chap named James got to jump in the van with us. Without giving too much away, he had a much-deserved and special encounter of his own.

MPB: How does it feel for your documentary to be featured in film festivals?

JS: It’s a surreal feeling, and totally unexpected for our first film. After over a year in production, with just the two of us working, it was intimidating to share it with the world. It’s nice to have the validation that the lengthy process has paid off and people have connected with what we’ve made. It’s been an amazing experience to be able to present the film in person and enjoy the audience’s reactions and questions. It has also been incredible to receive valuable feedback that will help us with future projects.

MPB: How important is the role of photography and videography in raising people’s awareness of wildlife?

MC: It’s incredibly important and goes back to the core message in our film—connection. Photography, videography and storytelling make wildlife more accessible, capturing and sharing stories of the beautiful creatures out there. Or the devastating threats they face. 

Documenting wildlife in context helps the collective awareness to extend beyond just scientific data, creating an emotional response in the viewer. These are the stories that really connect with audiences. We think that emotional connection ignites the fire in people to really want to make a difference.

MPB: What advice do you have for other filmmakers?

JS: Get outside and explore. We learnt that there’s unexpected wildlife and adventure on your doorstep, so why not experience it yourself? Films are a great way to learn about wildlife and nature, but we hope they are just the first step in inspiring people to go out and find it for themselves. If you’ve never made a film before, you can learn during the process. And you don’t need brand-new gear to do it. Just don’t cut costs by sleeping in two old hatchbacks! 

Looking for more wildlife content?

This article is part of the MPB Guide to Wildlife Photography and Videography, our comprehensive look at how to create wildlife imagery, with camera recommendations, advice, and interviews with experts.