 Wildlife Film News 83 July 2006
In this issue:
Wildlife Film Academy - Special Offer Wildlife Film Academy in Cape Town has an amazing offer for budding wildlife filmmakers. We have two places left on the July course running 10/07/06 to 09/08/06. WFA is offering these places at R18 000 plus VAT (R20 520) or £1440. This is an incredible opportunity to achieve a basic grounding in all aspects of the industry from conceptualisation to broadcast. This price includes: all tuition from award-winning professionals; equipment hire; and a spectacular, six-day field trip to a premier game reserve in the Okavango Delta, Botswana including flights, accommodation etc. To take advantage of this offer please log on to www.wildlifefilmacademy.com and fill out the online application form. FFC Conservation Filmmaker of the Year finalists We had an impressive 23 entries from all over the world, tackling a host of diverse issues and a fascinating time discussing them. The majority of entries were accompanied by solid supporting evidence - proving that indeed these people had 'made a difference'. With such a well-qualified and deserving pool of entrants, our task of selecting the final 4 nominees became a true challenge. Several successful and committed filmmakers are not on our shortlist. This does not belittle their contributions, but simply reflects our difficulty in balancing the choice of nominees. In a few cases we felt the supporting evidence did not do justice to some impressive entrants. One of the frustrations of judging this shortlist was that the true contributions of some filmmakers were not adequately reflected in the evidence supplied. The FFC Award 2006 finalists are: Each finalist will be given a page on the FFC website explaining the films they have made and the changes that they have created, their picture and a short video clip. This will go live in July. Our members will then have the opportunity to vote for their candidate. The top choice of the FFC members will count as one vote in the final judging (judges yet to be confirmed) that will take place at Wildscreen in October. http://www.filmmakersforconservation.org/ Wildlife documentaries are by their very subject matter, made around the world and many of them involve animals and habitats which are becoming increasingly rare. It has been one of the most frustrating aspects of programme making for many wildlife documentary producers that we can make programmes about these endangered animals but they are rarely seen by the very people who need to see them - the decision makers in those countries and the locals who live in those environments. The Great Apes Film Initiative, (GAFI) created by Madelaine Westwood in collaboration with Filmmakers For Conservation and GRASP, has entailed the donating of award-winning films by BBC Worldwide and Granada International to be given to African, Malaysian and Indonesian countries who cannot afford to pay for them and are struggling to keep great apes alive for future generations. Explore GAFI's new website at www.nutshellproductions.co.uk/gafi/ How you can help: Volunteer: GAFI needs volunteers based in Oxford, but if you are in Bristol the Ape Alliance would be very grateful of your help. Some volunteering can be done remotely, so if you don’t live in UK or these areas it is still worth enquiring if you are interested to support GAFI and its partners. Email: info@nutshellproductions.co.uk Following up the hit franchise Meerkat Manor, Oxford Scientific Films (OSF) is shooting Lemur Wars, a long-running series for Five and Animal Planet UK. Production of the series of 10x45 (Five) and 20x30 (Animal Planet) is under way in the Berenty reserve in Madagascar. Lemur Wars follows the births, deaths, conflicts and relationships of two families of these fascinating ring-tailed primates as they battle for territory and resources in the jungles of Madagascar. Clare Birks, Chief Executive of Southern Star Entertainment UK, said, “Meerkat Manor has shown what fantastic viewing can be achieved in this new animal soap genre. The lives of these fascinating and engaging lemurs will build upon the development of the genre.” Caroline Hawkins, Executive Producer for OSF, said, “Berenty is unique in that it offers the opportunity to get close to different family groups of ring-tailed lemurs in their natural habitat. They’re extremely territorial. Fights break out regularly between neighbouring groups so there should be plenty of action.” Scientific
adviser to the series is Dr Alison Jolly of Sussex University, who The series has been commissioned by Bethan Corney for Five and by Mark Wild for Animal Planet International. Southern Star International is co-financing the production and will distribute it internationally, launching at MIP 2007. OSF is a division of Southern Star Entertainment UK plc. Southern Star is an integrated film and television production and distribution group. The Company is involved in film, television and video production; sales and distribution; and licensing and merchandising. Southern Star is a division of Southern Cross Broadcasting (Australia) Limited, a publicly listed company on the Australian Stock Exchange. Wanted - Video Instructors - Youth, Camera, Action 2006 (Canada) Job Description: Planet in Focus, the International Environmental Film & Video Festival, is looking for instructors for our Youth, Camera, Action Environmental Video Production Camp. YCA is a two-week environmentally themed video production training camp for 25 youth between the ages of 14 - 18, from Toronto's diverse, underserved communities. Participants learn how to shoot and edit short videos that are later screened as part of the annual festival program in November. For the participants, YCA is an opportunity to learn about the environment, acquire valuable filmmaking skills, and make new friends, while creating a short documentary that will be screened publicly. For the instructor, this is a chance to hone and develop your leadership skills. Reporting to the head on-site instructor, each video instructor is assigned to lead one group (up to 5 students). It is the instructor's job to guide the youth through the program curriculum over the two-week period as a teacher and mentor. Instructors also provide additional techinical support when required and they ensure that the students stay on schedule, that participants are behaving in a professional manner, and that they are working well with each other and having fun. Skills Required: Film
or video production/post-production background (professional, amateur/independent,
or post,secondary schooling are all valid) Youth,
Camera, Action or
myan@planetinfocus.org For more information about YCA, please visit our website at www.planetinfocus.org Planet in Focus is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We thank all applicants, but only those chosen for an interview will be contacted. Discovery Campus Masterschool 2007 APPLY
NOW
Application Deadline: 30 September 2006 DVW-700WS
- 16:9 Widescreen & 4:3 standard Jackson Hole Returns to California for 2006 Digital Media Tech Symposium The Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival (JHWFF) returns to California for its biennial Tech Symposium this year. Slated for October 4-5 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, the Jackson Hole Tech Symposium is the independent media professional’s source for exploring the economic, logistical and creative dimensions of the Industry’s most recent technological advances. This two day event connects media professionals with the best and brightest minds of the digital age in a series of in-depth panels, roundtable discussions, and equipment demos. “Jackson Hole has been an amazingly critical player in the exploration and development of high-definition,” described Steve Burns, EVP Production and Chief Science Editor for Discovery Networks US. “Nowhere else do you have close-up access to the latest tools and the pioneers behind them, all in the spirit of cooperative inquiry.” With the overwhelming options of creative tools and new markets for distribution, modern-day filmmakers must make difficult decisions. “The creative and technology choices facing filmmakers today present many complex options,” notes Leon Silverman JHWFF Board member and President of LaserPacific Media Corporation. “This symposium is meant to be a practical and understandable path through the confusing array of choices. “ Festival Executive Director Lisa Samford adds, “Now, more than ever, the Symposium’s purpose is to help media professionals navigate through the wilderness of possibilities, and to help them better understand the technology that is available to support creative vision.” This year's Symposium will examine topics related to digital technology advances and their impacts on distribution, workflow, and content. Festival Technical Director C.R. Caillouet notes, “The biggest problem for producers is in understanding the questions to ask in order to identify the tools and solutions appropriate for each particular project. And that is where Jackson Hole excels.” Registration for the Symposium will open in July, following the announcement of its keynote speakers. The Jackson Hole Tech Symposium is a program of the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival. JHWFF is a non-profit organization whose primary mission includes “providing nonfiction filmmakers and broadcasters with an international film forum to conduct business, test new equipment, refine program production techniques and continue to seek new and more effective ways to promote awareness and sensitivity to wildlife and wildlife habitats.” Website: www.jhfestival.org/symposium2006/ Cameras Underwater becomes SeaLife Distributor Specialist underwater photographic supplier Cameras Underwater is pleased to announce that it has been awarded the UK and Republic of Ireland distributorship of SeaLife camera products. Manufactured by Pioneer Research of New Jersey USA, the SeaLife range includes the flagship DC500 5M pixel camera and 60m underwater housing, featuring the unique low shutter-lag "Shark Mode". SeaLife camera accessories include snap-fit add-on lenses and a digital variable-output slave flash which can be used with cameras and housings from all manufacturers. The most recent addition to the SeaLife range is the DC500 Military Marine camera, a 10G shockproof version of the DC500 with silent mode and an anti-reflective faceplate. Cameras Underwater is the largest specialist reseller of underwater photographic equipment in Europe and operates from two locations in the UK (Devon and London). The company supplies and supports a wide range of “protection” products, from the simplest rain capes to the most sophisticated aluminium housings for high definition, broadcast quality digital video cameras. For general UK and ROI SeaLife enquiries, please contact Cameras Underwater Ltd. on +44 (0)1404 812277 or sales@camerasunderwater.co.uk www.camerasunderwater.co.uk 10 th International Underwater Film Festival in Belgrade We are very pleased to announce the 10 th International Underwater Film Festival in Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro. This event will be held, like every year, during the beginning of December, from 8th to 11th. Films for the contest would have to be 2005. or 2006. production, with at least 30% underwater shots and formats are BETA SP, DV Cam or MiniDV (PAL) The subject is free. Competition admission is free. For the revue part, we'll accept older productions. We are hoping that you will find our festival interesting enough to support our desire to make it an important event and gathering point for divers and all people who enjoy watching and being in the underwater world. Contact:
Milorad Djuknic
International Underwater Film Festival in Belgrade Santa Barbara Ocean Film Festival CALLING ALL ENTRIES! The third annual Santa Barbara Ocean Film Festival, SBOFF, a filmmaking event developed by The Ocean Channel to bring the finest ocean films from around the world to Santa Barbara for screenings, wants your films! The Santa Barbara Ocean Film Festival is open to all professional and amateur filmmakers, and will accept submissions in the following categories: Ocean Adrenaline Marine Conservation
and Natural History Ocean Travel At its core, the festival is a visually stunning event, capturing the beauty, the power and the grace of the sea and its inhabitants. Adrenaline junkies, SCUBA divers, sailors, fishermen—are all encouraged to submit to this year’s Santa Barbara Ocean Film Festival. SBOFF encourages you to submit short narratives (under twenty minutes in length) or broadcast length films. There is even a category for your best short. The deadline for entry is August 31, 2006. All proceeds from the event will support The Environmental Defense Council, a nonprofit law firm working with citizen groups on environmental issues protecting our ocean, air and water quality, preserving open spaces, saving species from extinction and guarding public health. To learn more about the festival:
http://www.ocean.com/look/ Wildscreen 2006 Finalist Films announced The Nomination Panel met in May to watch all 412 films entries from from 45 countries, with Specialist Judges being brought in to advise the panel on the Children's Choice, Editing, Earth Sciences, Interactive, News and Campaign categories. The following films have been selected to compete for the coveted Panda Awards during the Wildscreen Festival this October. (listed alphabetically per category) GRANADA WILD AWARD FOR ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR
Life in the Undergrowth: The Silk Spinners
Meerkat Manor – Daisy’s Choice
The Queen of Trees
Relentless Enemies: Lions and Buffalo
Bearing Witness
Lethal Sound
Saving the Big Cats: Stopping the Skin Trade
World Naked Bike Ride
Hawaiian Blue - Hawaii Reef Etiquette PSA
Lost in the Woods: The Movie
Really Wild Show: Reef Special
Sophia & the Terrific Forest
Life in the Undergrowth (Series): Programme 1
Mississippi - Tales of the Last River Rat
Planet Earth (Series): From Pole to Pole
Relentless Enemies: Lions and Buffalo
Europe: A Natural History – Ice Age
Global Dimming
Tsunami – A Wave Shakes the World
The Year Without Summer
Earthling
From Orphan to King
Grizzly Man
Paranormal Pigeons
Killers in Eden
Meerkat Manor – A Family Affair
Ocean Odyssey (Episode One)
The Wild and the West
Springwatch Website
Big Foot: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle CD-Rom
Wildkey
The Revealed
Deep Sea 3D
Forces of Nature
Mystery of the Nile
Sharks 3D
Wild Safari 3D: A South African Adventure
Europe: A Natural History (Series): The New Millennium
March of the Penguins
Mississippi: Tales of the Last River Rat
The Queen of Trees
Exhuming Adams
Grey Seals: Life on the Edge
Operation Jumbo
There’s No Leopard Like a Snow Leopard
Wolverines – Hyenas of the North NEWS AWARD
Challenge from the Arctic
Countryfile: Albatross Deaths
Last Dance of the Sarus
Norwegian Whaling
Being Caribou
Bonobo - Missing in Action
Conflict Tiger
Village of Dust, City of Water
Deep Jungle: New Frontier
Deviants (Wild Sex)
Jane Goodall: When Animals Talk
Meerkat Manor – A Family Affair
Ant Attack
From Orphan to King
Life in the Undergrowth (Series): Programme 1
Tiger Zero
Amazon Abyss
Equator
Europe: A Natural History
Planet Earth
The Meadow
Relentless Enemies: Lions and Buffalo
Planet Earth (Series): Caves
Satoyama - Japan's Secret Watergarden
A Green Agony
Cherub of the Mist
My Friend, the Goldfinch
Wild Dog Diaries JURY’S SPECIAL SELECTION FOR SCREENING The judges recommend the following films for screening at the Festival, and they are therefore eligible for consideration for the 'Panda in the Pocket' award. This open-ended award enables the final judges to consider films that either do not fit comfortably into the main categories, or that demonstrate some outstanding creativity or potential.
Barcelos Ornamental Fish Festival
Dragons: A Fantasy Made Real
Jake’s Story
The Last Leopard
The Last Survivor, Water Deer Perfect
World
Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea
The Spoilt Earth
Wild Trials
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