Randy Olson

While conducting his research, he spent an entire year living on Lizard Island on the northern end of the Great Barrier Reef.

[3][7][8][9][10] During his time at UNH Olson also produced several short films on marine life, such as Barnacles Tell No Lies, Lobstahs, and Salt of the Earth.

After being awarded tenure in 1994, Olson took a leave of absence to attend film school, eventually resigning his scientific position.

[1] In 2002, Olson and coral reef ecologist Jeremy Jackson of Scripps Institution of Oceanography, created a 7-minute short film, Rediagnosing the Oceans.

[14][15] Olson directed the feature documentary, Flock of Dodos, which premiered at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival.

The film focused on the “ongoing debate between evolutionary biologists and those who espouse intelligent design.”[16] In 2008 Olson wrote and directed the mockumentary feature film, Sizzle,[17] which “confronts global warming with humor.”[18] Olson partnered in 2019 with surf photographer Brian Bielmann and filmmaker Brent Storm to help produce the documentary feature White Rhino.

Olson in 2010
Olson answering the question, "It’s actually a very entertaining film, but also has a serious message about the need to communicate the dire effects of global warming. How did you try to get that message across?" with regards to Sizzle [ 12 ]