Logline: United by a shared passion for bugs, a Peruvian nature guide and an Indian-American biomechanical engineer use high-speed cinematography to inspire the next generation of jungle biologists and rainforest stewards.

Synopsis: "Loco-Motion!" is a rock doc about bugs, love and biomechanics, set at a biological field station on the fringes of the Peruvian Amazon. The story is told by Jaime Quispe Nina, a local nature guide in Puerto Maldonado who recounts his role in a first-of-its-kind educational program unlocking the secrets of animal movement with extreme high speed video. 

As the threat of deforestation looms, Jaime grapples with the complexities of preserving his home while navigating economic pressures. A chance encounter with Dr. Saad Bhamla, a researcher fascinated by arthropod movement, ignites a transformative collaboration. Together, they establish the Jungle Biomechanics Lab (JBL), an innovative program bringing US and Peruvian students together to study animal locomotion in the wild. Saad's analytical approach and high-speed imaging skills blend with Jaime's intimate knowledge of the rainforest, creating a symbiotic partnership.

Most students who participate in JBL have never seen a jungle — they’re used to working in pristine, controlled environments. JBL pulls them out of the lab and into one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet, where they’re encouraged to look closely, think carefully, and construct experiments to test what they see. Jaime serves as their guide, ensuring their safety, facilitating their discoveries, and expanding his own knowledge along the way. 

For Jaime, the most meaningful aspect of this work is the way it includes local high schoolers. He still isn’t sure how to balance conservation with economic empowerment, but he knows that for the rainforest to survive, the next generation needs to love it as much as he does. "Loco-Motion!" celebrates how curiosity and diverse perspectives can shape our environmental identities, building the foundation for collective action in conservation.