 Wildlife Film News
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Welcome to our newest Full Member! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Alain Compost – an experienced DOP, Wildlife Cameraman, Photographer & Ecologist based in Indonesia Photography of Endangered species, Rain forest of South East Asia, Environment and Sustainability. Documentary Film Making, International Television Productions Animal Behaviour, Culture and Traditions, Extreme working conditions. Combining an artist's vision with an activist's passion, Alain Compost portrays the wonder and tragedy of the planet’s endangered wildlife. Working alone or as part of a film crew, Alain Compost provides a self-contained high-definition video system and digital still photography. His 20.000 image catalog comprises one of the most comprehensive image libraries of Indonesian and Southeast Asian wildlife. Specialties: Nature Photography and Documentary Films. Find Alain here: instagram.com/alaincfilms & linkedin.com/in/alain-compost-77678419 Profile Page: Wildlife-film.com/-/AlainCompost.htm |
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Join us, become a member of Wildlife-film.com! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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As a full member of the site, you get a listing in all appropriate sections, a profile page and priority on your news across the site, this newsletter and our social media accounts. To become a full member ... email membership@wildlife-film.com for an application form. For more info, visit: Wildlife-film.com/freelancers (currently just £30/year!) or Wildlife-film.com/companies (only £100/year!) Membership fees help to keep the site going too ... Your support is much needed and appreciated! |
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Obituary: Michael Stedman, film-maker who conquered the world from Dunedin Michael Andrew Stedman: documentary film-maker; b December 20, 1947; d July 30, 2022 Michael Stedman turned a small Dunedin-based documentary company that started by making films on the rediscovery of kakapo and takahe in Fiordland into the second-largest natural history film-maker in the world. The Natural History Unit (NHU) had initially been set up by Hal Weston and, with Stedman at the helm, it would go on to become a rival for the BBC and achieve international success. The story of Michael Stedman, who died in July aged 74, and how he rose from a young man growing up in Dunedin to become a world leader in his field, is one of perseverance and belief. Not only did Stedman become one of the world’s premier makers of natural history documentaries, he also gave support and encouragement to a number of people who would go on to become prominent in a variety of fields, notably Sir Ian Taylor. Remarkably, he achieved success in such diverse countries as Japan, the United States, China and Germany, all while based in Dunedin. His first taste of fame came at 6, playing a frog at the city’s Globe Theatre. At 13, he was the stage manager for Romeo and Juliet before setting his sights on working in television, and ringing the local Broadcasting Corporation office and asking for a job. Once he got his foot into the door of the Dunedin office, in 1964, as a producer, he began doing everything possible to learn the art of film-making. Using any film or cameras he could get his hands on, he began making films in his spare time. Shows he worked on included Fair Go and Spot On and he would go on to produce more than 1000 shows. Among the early staff he hired were presenters Ian Taylor and Danny Watson. In 1979, he took the role of executive producer of the NHU, setting in motion a chain of events that would see it become one of the most respected and successful natural history documentary makers in the world. After short spell with the unit, he decided to go to Australia, where his roles included head of features at ABC. But before heading to Australia he made some key decisions, hiring presenter Peter Hayden and Rod Morris. He also produced the first series of Wild South to critical acclaim and fired up the children’s series Wildtrack, an achievement of which he was always proud. In 1987 TVNZ director-general Julian Mounter invited Stedman back to New Zealand, in an executive role. He agreed on condition he could live in Dunedin, and he was again put in charge of the NHU, with the clear goal of growing it into a global player. |
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Wolfgang Bayer, 88, premier wildlife filmmaker dies Wolfgang Johann Bayer, world-renowned wildlife filmmaker, adventurer extraordinaire and longtime Jackson Hole resident, died surrounded by family on the morning of July 22. He was 88. The following was provided by his family. Considered one of the world’s foremost wildlife cinematographers, Wolfgang has been filming, producing and directing wildlife films for over 45 years. Born in 1934 in Vöcklabruck, Austria, he grew up during the turbulent years of World War II, the oldest in a family of four sisters and a young brother. His father, a math teacher, and mother, a homemaker, gave young Wolfgang his first camera at an early age. This camera changed his perspective on life in Austria. He started making underwater camera equipment from WW II artifacts and after completing his formal education in electrical engineering. He realized that his real ambition was nature and underwater photography. At age 18 he embarked on his first documentary expedition with his buddies to make an underwater film on the volcanic island of Stromboli in the Mediterranean Sea. In 1959 Wolfgang immigrated to the United States and used his engineering degree to work for Chrysler Motors in Michigan. The dream of working with Disney in Hollywood lured him to Los Angeles, where he pursued a career in the motion picture industry. In 1964, using his own money, he produced a half-hour documentary about wildlife in Yellowstone National Park and sold it to a television station for $250. Following this “blockbuster,” he was hired as a cameraman for Bill Burrud Productions, a leading adventure film company. The timing was perfect with the advent of color television and a new public interest in nature programs. He filmed on safari in East Africa and returned with enough natural history footage to clench a deal for the new network series “Animal World,” which aired in prime-time. He never looked back. Wolfgang quickly rose through the ranks to become president of the company only to realize that corporate studio life was not for him. Out in the field, on assignment, was what he loved best. It was when he hired a young woman, Candice, as his production coordinator and sound recordist that the couple finally left their jobs to start Wolfgang Bayer Productions. They accepted an offer from Walt Disney Productions to shoot and direct a yearlong film project in the Canadian Rocky Mountains and then went on to make National Geographic’s “Animals Nobody Loved.” He was awarded an Emmy and Wolfgang and Candice were featured on “Good Morning America.” They set up headquarters in Jackson Hole in what is known as the Serengeti of the West for its abundance of wildlife. In 1975 Wolfgang and Candice were married. In 1977 Wolfgang Bayer Production’s new assistant, Tristan, was born, and two years later their daughter, Malaika, arrived. The family film team was complete. With an increasing passion for documenting the bizarre and beautiful wildlife and its changing relationships with mankind, Wolfgang and crew crisscrossed the globe spending months at a time filming rare and exotic creatures. In 1991 Wolfgang founded the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival to bring together fellow filmmakers, conservationists, scientists, experts and storytellers from around the world to compete, tell stories and party in the shadow of the Grand Teton. Read more: jhnewsandguide.com/valley/obituaries/bayer-88-premier-wildlife-photographer |
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Matsalu Nature Film Festival Coming Soon! The first international Matsalu Nature Film Festival took place in 2003. The Festival is named after the Matsalu National Park, one of Europe's largest bird sanctuaries and a wetland environment of global significance. The objective of the festival is to screen and recognize new nature films and their creators, and to promote the distribution and popularity of nature films. The festival promotes nature-oriented and sustainable ways of life and respect for the nature-connected traditions of indigenous people. The 20th Matsalu Nature Film Festival will be held from September 21st - October 2nd, 2022! I'm a finalist judge this year ... Check me (and the others!) out: maff.ee/en/film-program/jury Come join us in Lihula: maff.ee/en/festival/tickets-and-passes! |
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Last chance to join the National Film & Television School’s Directing and Producing Science & Natural History course next January! The last few places are remaining to join the National Film & Television School’s Directing and Producing Science & Natural History course in January 2023. Train to make impactful films about the natural world on the National Film & Television School Directing & Producing Science & Natural History MA. Could you make the next Seven Worlds One Planet, Horizon or Forces of Nature? This is the only MA course of its kind in the UK, combining Science and Natural History in one MA, designed to give students all they need work professionally in this exciting industry. It aims to give students the skills and expertise needed to direct science and wildlife productions, the know-how to produce and direct entire shows and the ability, confidence and knowledge to generate and pitch ideas and formats to commissioning editors.
Find out more and apply today for this unique course at nfts.co.uk/snh |
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Wildlife Film Festival Rotterdam is Coming Next Month! The Wildlife Film Festival Rotterdam (WFFR) is the only film festival for nature documentaries in the Netherlands and shows the most recent films from home and abroad. Since its first edition in 2015, WFFR has been taking place in the Rotterdam film theatre Cinerama, which was also the vibrant heart of the festival this year. The programme consists of beautiful documentaries showing the beauty of nature, as well as films showing the relationship between man and nature. During WFFR, visitors can talk to the many filmmakers present, attend special lectures and take part in interesting activities related to nature conservation. This year WFFR will be held from 4th – 9th October 2022. WFFR focuses on the screening of wildlife, conservation and environmental films & documentaries to demonstrate the beauty of nature and to raise awareness about the collective responsibility we have to maintain it. WFFR is also a meeting place for the wildlife film industry in The Netherlands. We are known for a friendly and informal atmosphere where all our guests feel at home. Here you can catch-up with other film professionals, participate in daily talks/q&a’s and meet the Dutch audience. In 2022 WFFR will recognise outstanding achievements in eleven Flamingo Award categories. All our winners will be announcement and celebrated during the Flamingo Award Ceremony on 8 October 2022 in Rotterdam. Visit: wffr.nl/festival |
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Hamza Yassin is to join the cast of Strictly Come Dancing 2022! The Strictly Come Dancing line-up is complete, with Kym Marsh, Fleur East, Ellie Simonds and Matt Goss among this year's contestants. Wildlife presenter and cameraman Hamza Yassin, who hosts the BBC's Animal Park and is a guest presenter on Countryfile, said in a statement he was "over the moon" to be taking part in Strictly. Announcing his participation, Yassin said: "Never in a million years did I think I'd be on such a cool show. "I've been watching it for years and I can't believe I'll actually be there dancing live in front of the British public," he said. "My dance skills are currently at the level of 1970s disco vibe but I'm ready to work hard and will be shaking it every time I get the chance - shake it 'til you make it!" Yassin is also well known to younger viewers as Ranger Hamza from the CBeebies show Let's Go For A Walk, and recently fronted a Channel 4 documentary titled Scotland: Escape to the Wilderness. The show is set to return to BBC One in September. Here are all 15 of this year's Strictly stars: bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-62407451 |
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Panda Award Nominations 2022 Announced Wildscreen are thrilled to announce the nominees for the Wildscreen Panda Awards 2022 – the highest honour in the international natural world storytelling industry - for its 40th anniversary edition! A standout production with 5 nominations is feature film My Garden of a Thousand Bees. The Passion Planetproduction follows acclaimed wildlife filmmaker Martin Dohrn, who, locked down by coronavirus, turns his lenses on the surprising and spectacular bees living in his own urban garden in Bristol, England. Tied for nominations is BBC Studios Natural History Unit’s landmark series highlighting the dramatic lives of plants, The Green Planet. This series, narrated by Sir David Attenborough, uses pioneering new filmmaking technology and the very latest science to reveal the strange and wonderful world of plants like never before. Terra Mater Studios leads the wayas the most nominated production company outside of the United Kingdom, with 7 category nominations. Their feature film Patrick and the Whale is in the running for 3 awards. The film follows former lawyer Patrick Dykstraon his travels to Dominica, as he seeks to find a special sperm whale he once encountered, who reveals the hidden world of her species. Since 1982 The globally acclaimed Panda Awards, the ‘Green Oscars’ of the international wildlife film and TV industry, have sat at the heart of the Wildscreen Festival since 1982. The awards consist of 15 craft and specialist categories and 16 awards including our coveted Golden Panda for best overall production. In 2022, Wildscreen welcomed back the Behaviour, Impact and On-Screen Talent Awards as well as creating a standalone Sustainability Award to further our commitment to protecting our natural world as an industry. The 2022 Panda Award nominees will be announced mid-August. Winner will be announced at the Panda Awards Ceremony on Thursday 13 October 2022. Panda Award Ceremony and After Party tickets are sold separately, so make sure to purchase your tickets as well as your pass if you’d like to celebrate with us on the big night! Nominees Congratulations to the outstanding productions nominated for the 2022 Panda Awards and in the running to receive a coveted bronze Wildscreen Panda. Out of the 700+ submissions from 38 countries, these final 25 shorts, features and series shone the brightest, featured the very best craft and surprised our jury with their achievements. One of the following productions will go on to receive the gold-enveloped trophy, the Golden Panda at the Awards Ceremony on 13 October. Watch the Trailers: Categories Behaviour Award
Films at 59 Cinematography Award
Editing Award
Emerging Talent Award
Save our Seas Foundation Impact Award
Music Award
UWE On-Screen Talent Award
Photo Story Award
Producer/Director Award
Off The Fence Production Team Award
Scripted Narrative Award
Terra Mater Studios Series Award
Films at 59 Sound Award
Aurum Sustainability Award
Wildscreen has assembled industry experts across all crafts, fields and countries to help select the very best productions of the past two years. See the Jury members, chaired by Ruth Berry, here wildscreen.org/festival/panda-awards "This year’s diversity of subject matter and film makers brought 700 entries from 38 countries. Covid continued to bring us closer to our own backyards, inspiring intimate storytelling experiences and some brave experiments... Judging hundreds of films and discussing their merits is challenging and time consuming. But judges unanimously agreed that it was a wonderful experience." Ruth Berry Wildscreen Festival 2022 will take place live in Bristol and online between 10—14 October 2022, with a variety of ticket pass options, including reduced rates for concessions, hybrid and virtual. Tickets can be purchased here. |
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Wildscreen unveils 2022 Official Selection lineup The Wildscreen Festival has revealed the lineup for its second Official Selection competition, which honors stories that highlight the beauty and urgency of protecting the natural world. The competition was launched as part of the festival in 2020. It serves as a global launchpad for new voices, and seeks to promote an inclusive and global natural world storytelling community. The 32 productions chosen for the Official Selection competition range from features to shorts to immersive productions originating from 16 countries. Additionally, 47% of directors identify as being from an underrepresented group in the industry, aligning with Wildscreen’s goal to amplify the voices of marginalized storytellers. Half of the countries of filming were located in the Global South, with 30% situated in South America. The programming team was led for a second year by Lucy Mukerjee, a “programming disruptor” and social impact film curator who also programs for the Tribeca Film Festival. “We’ve seen extraordinary films coming from independent storytellers in the natural history field, and we were impressed by the measures taken by production crews to reduce their environmental impact, from those who made the conscious decision to film in their own backyards, to those who left the location better than they found it,” Mukerjee said in a release. Wildscreen introduced a Sustainability Merit as part of the competition to recognize impactful productions that reduced their environmental footprint and benefited the local community. Described by programmers as “a film about a community coming together to overcome an ecological disaster,” this year’s merit recipient was Jaguaretê – Avá – Pantanal in Flames. The campaign surrounding Jaguaretê (pictured), from Brazilian filmmaker Lawrence Wahba, has already raised funds to build fire brigades and veterinary practices to protect the animals and habitats that are the subject of his film. Read more: realscreen.com/2022/08/25/wildscreen-unveils-2022-official-selection-lineup See the 32 Wildscreen Festival Official Selection productions here: wildscreen.org/festival/official-selection – Big congrat's to Tom Hanner for The Caretakers (pictured). Watch the trailers: |
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NaturVision Film Festival celebrates its 2022 winners Ludwigsburg: the award ceremony of this year’s NaturVision Film Festival saw 13 film awards presented in a total of 12 categories. The prizes went to Switzerland, Austria, England, South Africa, France and Italy. There was hardly a dry eye in the house as the award ceremony host Dana Hoffmann stepped forward to make a very personal announcement. The documentary film debut of David Klammer's Barrikade – Bilder einer Waldbesetzung [Barricade – Pictures of a Forest Occupation], which ended up winning the NaturVision Rethink Film Award, had such a profound effect on her that she spontaneously donated a €1,000 endowment. The film subjectively yet powerfully tells the story of committed activists attempting to save Germany’s Dannenröder Forest. The German Biodiversity Film Award is sponsored to the tune of €8,333 by HAHN+KOLB Werkzeuge GmbH, who have turned their company grounds into a biotope and are involved in all kinds of sustainability projects. Member of the management Siegmar Klein presented the award to Heiko De Groot for his film Stilles Land – Vom Verschwinden der Vögel[Silent Land – On the Disappearance of Birds]. The jury were especially impressed by the magical narrative style of the film, which highlights the complex web of biodiversity in the habitat of a north-German meadow. Thanks to Baden-Württemberg’s Ministry of the Environment, Climate Protection and Energy Sector, the German Conservation and Sustainability Film Award also carries an €8,333 prize. The winner of the award was Austrian director Kurt Langbein for his outstanding cinema film Der Bauer und der Bobo [The Farmer and the Townie]. Entertaining to the end, it skilfully uses the conflict between a mountain farmer and a city journalist to explore the contrasts between urban and rural, economy and ecology, tradition and progress – and reflect on the future of farming. The third main prize of the festival – the German Wildlife Film Award – is sponsored by the city of Ludwigsburg and again worth €8,333. The award went to Victoria Stone and Mark Deeble for their original and artistically constructed film about the savannah, The Elephant and the Termite. Mayor Dr. Matthias Knecht emphasised in his speech how important it is to the city of Ludwigsburg that NaturVision continues to establish itself in Baden-Württemberg. Together with the economic region of Stuttgart and the state of Baden-Württemberg, Ludwigsburg plans to provide further financial support for the film festival. To give the many courageous and journalistically outstanding works submitted their own forum, the main jury decided on an additional category this year, called Story – investigative. Winner of this special award was Green Warriors: Cursed Uranium by Martin Boudot. The documentary about radioactive pollution arising from the mining and storage of uranium not only impressed the jury with its spectacular drone shots and authentic interviews – it even led to a lawsuit against the mining company. Five films were nominated in the Newcomer category, each one engaging and unique, making it impossible for the jury to choose just one winner. As a result, the €1,000 prize, sponsored by dieUmweltDruckerei, was shared this year by two remarkable debut works: Circle of Moose by Josefin Kuschela, which humorously brings us the extraordinary relationship between the Alaskan moose and the people who help ensure its survival; and Sagebrush Gold, the graduation film of Marcus Widger, which cleverly explores the price to pay for an energy revolution based on electrical energy – ultimately leaving it up to the viewers to decide. It is important to NaturVision that children and young people are given a voice in the competition. This year’s NaturVision Youth Jury Award – funded by Baden-Württemberg’s Ministry of the Environment, Climate Protection and Energy Sector to the tune of €2,000 – went to a young online documentary series from broadcaster SWR. In Axel Wagner und die Klimakrise – Wasser in der Erderwärmung [Axel Wagner and the Climate Crisis – Water’s Role in Global Warming], the young jury, who handed over their award in person, felt that the presenter really got through to them individually with his direct and unreproaching manner. The children’s jury practically took over the stage at the Central Filmtheater. They chose Pia und die wilde Natur: Abtauchen in die Seegraswiese [Pia in the Wild: Diving into the Seagrass Meadow] as their winner of the NaturVision Children’s Film Award, and Pia Amofa-Antwi herself was delighted to accept the trophy. The award carries an endowment of €2,000 from the Wiedeking Stiftung. The NaturVision Camera Award for 2022 went to Swiss filmmaker Mario Theus for WILD – Jäger und Sammler [In the Wild – Hunters & Gatherers]. The jury were deeply impressed by its well-composed images, which create a separate narrative level. The NaturVision Film Music Award, sponsored by the NaturVision Förderverein with €1,000 prize money, was awarded to Steffen Kaltschmidt for his music for Wildes Marokko – der Goldene Süden [Wild Morocco – The Golden South]. The judges praised his quite unique answer to the film’s dramatic narrative in the form of a regional music connection. For the fifth time NaturVision joined forces with Audi Environmental Foundation to present the Short Film Award, this year with the theme “Grown to be Wild”. For Managing Director Dr. Rüdiger Recknagel, a key motivation for the foundation’s commitment is to inspire people’s interest in conservation, and films are a particularly effective way to reach them. The €5,000 prize money went to Mattia Cialoni for his moving and witty film My Neighbour is a Bear, based in the village of Villalago in the Apennine Mountains of Italy, whose inhabitants have an unusually friendly relationship with their wild friends, the bears. The NaturVision Honorary Award has been given out six times in the festival’s twenty-year history – not least to celebrated wildlife filmmaker Heinz Sielmann. In 2022 the award went to Udo Zimmermann, filmmaker and former BR (Bavarian TV) editor. In her tribute speech, Annette Scheurich, producer and head of Marco Polo Film AG, praised his greatest achievements in the realm of nature and wildlife films as an editor, a sensitive mentor to filmmakers and a supporter of NaturVision. Visit: natur-vision.de Follow: facebook.com/NaturVision & instagram.com/naturvisionfilmfestival |
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How to Speak Whale - A Voyage Into the Future of Animal Communication by Tom Mustill OUT NOW A thrilling investigation into the pioneering world of animal communication, where big data and artificial intelligence are changing our relationship with animals forever.
In 2015, wildlife filmmaker Tom Mustill was whale watching when a humpback breached onto his kayak and nearly killed him. Remember this?
After a video clip of the event went viral, Tom found himself inundated with theories about what happened. He became obsessed with trying to find out what the whale had been thinking and sometimes wished he could just ask it. In the process of making a film about his experience, he discovered that might not be such a crazy idea.
This is a story about the pioneers in a new age of discovery, whose cutting-edge developments in natural science and technology are taking us to the brink of decoding animal communication - and whales, with their giant mammalian brains and sophisticated vocalisations, offer one of the most realistic opportunities for us to do so. Using 'underwater ears,' robotic fish, big data and machine intelligence, leading scientists and tech-entrepreneurs across the world are working to turn the fantasy of Dr Dolittle into a reality, upending much of what we know about these mysterious creatures. But what would it mean if we were to make contact? And with climate change threatening ever more species with extinction, would doing so alter our approach to the natural world? Enormously original and hugely entertaining, How to Speak Whale is an unforgettable look at how close we truly are to communicating with another species - and how doing so might change our world beyond recognition.
Available from Bookdepository.com with FREE delivery worldwide. We can seriously recommend the Audio Book, beautifully recorded by Tom himself, with extra whale/wildlife sounds included … most excellent for a book on animal communication!! ‘Fascinating’ Greta Thunberg Also: Amazon.co.uk & Amazon.com
Also read - Tom Mustill's Humpback Whales - A Detective Story – Wildlife film-maker Tom Mustill was almost killed by a Humpback Whale while kayaking in California. Now he turns detective to try to find the whale and discover what it was doing. |
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A look into the wider world: Innsbruck Nature Film Festival 15-18 October 2022 The Innsbruck Nature Film Festival (INFF) will take place for the 21st time from 15-18.10.2022. Around 50 nature films, environmental documentaries and short films will be screened at the internationally renowned film competition. Hot hits as well as works of cooler tones await. The venue is the Metropol Kino – characteristic of Alpine-urban Innsbruck and nestled in a row of historic houses directly beside the river Inn, with the Nordkette mountain range rising majestically behind it. The INFF 2022 will be royally rounded off with a rollicking nature and environmental programme for both young and old. Locals and guests can experience and explore nature on walks, in exhibitions, workshops, lectures and guest gardens, or on hikes in and around Tyrol's capital. Learn how valuable and beautiful it is to appreciate and protect it, we only live once! The Innsbruck Nature Film Festival 2022 – stands for encounter, exchange and vitality. This will be celebrated sustainably over four days and the team is already in the middle of preparations. The 18-strong selection panel jury has screened more than 250 films submitted from all over the world. Film curator Katja Trippel, who is responsible for the programme, is excited about the diversity. Save the date 15-18.10.2022! Find more information about the festival on naturefestival.eu. |
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Jackson Wild 2022 Legacy Awards in Media and Conservation + Rising Star Award The Jackson Wild Legacy Awards recognize visionary filmmakers, conservationists, scientists and innovators. Past Legacy Award recipients include Jane Goodall, Sir David Attenborough, E.O. Wilson, Alan Rabinowitz and Sylvia Earle. Legacy Award in Media - Brian Leith Sponsored by Terra Mater Studios Having grown up in Switzerland, Canada, Kenya and Belgium, Brian ended up in London studying for a Phd in evolutionary science; the genetics of snails, Cepaea nemoralis – Grove Snail. But he soon took a job as a BBC Radio Producer, quitting the Phd in 1978. As quid pro quo for not writing up his snail thesis he wrote The Descent of Darwin, published in 1982. In the early 80s, at the BBC Natural History Unit, working as a presenter on the live environmental series “Nature”, reporting on issues from badger baiting to the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest (almost getting the BBC sued by McDonalds). Brian produced many environmental and wildlife films for the BBC, as well as writing pieces for The New Internationalist, Nature and BBC Wildlife magazine, often provoking controversy and debate… In 1990, Brian left the BBC to become an independent producer, working on Channel 4’s series Fragile Earth. At Scorer Associates he produced several acclaimed projects for the BBC, including Congo, The Cultured Ape and Deep Jungle for ITV, winning many awards amongst others the Grand Teton Award, Wildscreen’s Special Jury Award, Outstanding Achievement award, Best of Festivals and a Grierson Award for Charles Darwin and The Tree of Life, with Sir David Attenborough. Back at the BBC’s Natural History Unit in 2007, Brian was executive producer on landmark series including Wild China, Nature’s Great Events and Human Planet. Since, Brian’s own production company has produced numerous series and films including: Lobo the Wolf that Changed America, Elsa the Lioness who Changed the World, Wild Canada, Hidden Kingdoms of China and the feature film for Disneynature, Born In China. The dynamic and inseparable relationship between humans, nature, and our ever-changing and degrading environment has always been at the core of Brian’s thinking. This culminated in 2020 with his passion project, The Age of Nature, for PBS and BBC Studios. Brian Leith Productions have recently completed a film with legendary director Werner Herzog, The Fire Within Requiem for Katia and Maurice Krafft with their partners Bonne Pioche and Titan Films. Legacy Award in Conservation - Dr. Paula Kahumbu Sponsored by Conservation International Dr. Paula Kahumbu is the CEO of WildlifeDirect. She has a PhD from Princeton University and is an ecologist committed to transforming conservation results in Africa and the world through science, advocacy and education. She is one of Africa’s best-known wildlife conservationists and sits on the boards of WWF International and National Geographic. She is the brainchild of the Hands Off Our Elephants campaign with Her Excellency Margaret Kenyatta, the First Lady of the Republic of Kenya. The campaign is widely recognized for its singular successes in advocacy and the engagement of the people of Kenya to support the protection of elephants. Dr. Kahumbu is the producer and presenter of Africa’s first wildlife documentary series made by Africans called Wildlife Warriors which seeks to transform the conservation literacy in Africa by shining a light on the continent's front line conservationists. The award winning series is broadcast on free to air channels and in schools across Kenya through the Wildlife Warriors Kids program which takes children on scientific wilderness expeditions. Dr. Kahumbu holds the title Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) and is the Rolex NatGeo Explorer of the Year 2021, winner of the Whitley Gold Award 2021, and is a National Geographic Emerging Explorer. See Past Legacy Award Recipients here: jacksonwild.org/legacy-award.html Jackson Wild is committed to amplify and elevate emerging leaders in nature, conservation and science media. Our Rising Star award recipient exemplifies outstanding achievement alongside extended impact. 2022 Rising Star Award - Faith Musembi Sponsored by Off the Fence Productions Faith Musembi is a producer/director based in Kenya and Bristol, England. She is drawn to telling narratives which showcase the beauty of Africa’s natural resources, while highlighting the complex, but pertinent issues regarding their sustainable conservation. Faith has directed sequences for series produced for National Geographic, Sky Nature and Disney+. Her recent credits include: Chasing The Rains and Spectacular Earth. Faith is currently working on Queens, a series about female led animal societies. The episode she is producing highlights the women filmmakers behind Queens and also shines a spotlight on incredible women breaking down barriers, while fighting for conservation in different wilderness areas around the world. If you don’t find Faith in an office in Bristol, you’ll find her in one of Kenya’s breathtaking wilderness areas. Working in these wild spaces has affirmed Faith’s commitment and passion for telling stories about the natural world, and for amplifying the dialogue about the conservation of its finite resources. See Past Rising Star Recipients here: jacksonwild.org/rising-star-award.html |
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Wildlife Warriors Season 2 wins the Special Jury Award at the Pridelands Wildlife Film Festival Dr. Paula Kahumbu receives the Special Jury Award from Fiona Tande the founder of Pridelands Wildlife Film Festival (PWFF) The Special Jury award at the Pridelands Wildlife Film Festival was won for the entire series of Wildlife Warriors Season 2! The jury stated: "There are times when the power of media transcends the impact of any single film or any single series. From its charismatic host to the variety of wildlife species and conservationists – private, international and local – featured, this show has launched hundreds of wildlife clubs across Kenya and engaged students through a nationwide program of experiential school-based citizen science activities. What cannot be measured is the lasting impression made on a child upon seeing themselves reflected in the stories of their natural heritage, helmed by and highlighting conservationists who look like them. With Africans employed in front of and behind the camera, the series breaks new ground in leveling the playing field. For its Special Jury Award, the jury recognizes Wildlife Warriors for its contributions to changing behavior, changing the narrative and empowering the next generation of filmmakers and wildlife protectors." said Natalie Cash on behalf of the 2022 PWFF judging panel. Wildlife Warriors series is produced and hosted by our CEO, award-winning Kenyan conservationist Dr. Paula Kahumbu. It has been filmed and edited by the Nairobi-based production house Vivid Features Ltd. The production of this series has been made possible with the generous support of the American people through the US Agency for International Development and the US Department of Interior, the Wild Lives Foundation and the Great Plains Foundation. You can watch last week's episode 'Stories of the Sea' HERE – And meet Jahawi Bertolli Visit: wildlifedirect.org |
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New York WILD Film Festival Call for Entries is OPEN Submit your film to the 9th Annual New York WILD Film Festival Festival Dates: March 2 - 5, 2023 We invite filmmakers from around the world to submit their work to the 9th annual New York WILD Film Festival hosted at The Explorers Club, March 2 - March 5, 2023. Submissions are accepted via FilmFreeway. Deadlines 2022 Earlybird deadline: July 6
Eligible films for the 2023 competition festival must be documentaries with a focus on the subjects of exploration, adventure, wildlife, conservation and/or the environment. New York WILD celebrates the filmmakers who, through the power of their images and storytelling, promote awareness, educate and inspire interest in exploring and protecting the natural world around us. Student Film Cash Prize For the 9th Annual Festival in 2023, there will be a cash prize for the Best Student Film Award, made possible by Fujifilm! For questions, please email info.nywildff@gmail.com with "festival entry" in the subject. We look forward to receiving your films! Submit here: filmfreeway.com/NewYorkWILDFilmFestival Cheers,
Nancy Rosenthal |
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Locarno: Austrian Doc ‘Matter Out of Place’ Wins Inaugural Green Leopard Environmental Prize Nikolaus Geyrhalter's doc, which tracks how the world's garbage problem is getting out of control, takes home the inaugural Pardo Verde WWF, handed out by the Locarno Film Festival and the World Wildlife Fund. Matter Out of Place, a sobering documentary about the growing global problem of garbage and waste management, has won the inaugural “green leopard,” the Pardo Verde WWF environmental prize from the Locarno Film Festival and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Directed by famed Austrian documentarian Nikolaus Geyrhalter (Our Daily Bread, Earth), Matter Out of Place tracks how the rich world’s garbage is dumped in remote areas around the globe and follows the Sisyphus-like work of garbage collectors and waste managers trying to clean up the mess. Autlook Filmsales is handling worldwide sales for the project. With its new environmental film prize, Locarno hopes to raise awareness and provide promotional support for movies that highlight ecological issues and offer “audiences new and challenging interpretations that inspire change.” The Pardo Verde WWF trophy is a bright green version of Locarno’s traditional golden leopard award stature. Read more: hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/locarno-2022-award-environmental-documentary-1235197839 |
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Sir David Attenborough Behind BBC Landmark ‘Wild Isles’ On British Wildlife From Silverback Films Sir David Attenborough’s latest BBC natural history landmark is Wild Isles (working title), aiming to “do for the wildlife of Britain what the Planet Earth series has done for the wildlife of the world.” The five-part landmark, which has been in the making for three years, will show a “wild side to the British Isles,” said the BBC, starting with an episode on why the region is so globally important for nature before profiling one key habitat per ep: woodlands, grasslands, freshwater and marine. The like of killer whales, sea eagles and butterflies will all be on show. Netflix’s David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet producer Silverback Films, which was recently acquired by All3Media, is producing and The Open University, the RSPB and WWF are all co-producers. Attenborough said British wildlife “matches anything I have seen on my global travels,” describing “astonishing scenery, extraordinary animal dramas and wildlife spectacles.” Jack Bootle, BBC Head of Commissioning, Science and Natural History, said viewers will exit the show “thinking a meadow in Somerset is as beautiful as the Serengeti, and the North Atlantic as wild and dramatic as the Antarctic Ocean.” More here: deadline.com/2022/08/sir-david-attenborough-bbc-wild-isles-silverback-films-1235092096 |
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How To Turn Climate Anxiety Into Action Our house is on fire, so why aren’t we acting like it’s an emergency? This episode speaks to the feelings of sadness, grief and anxiety that many of us feel when faced with the enormity of the climate crisis and looks to the role of community to overcome these. Guests: Caroline Hickman, Psychotherapist and Climate Psychology Researcher, Britt Wray, Author and Climate Grief Researcher, and Mitzi Jonelle Tan, Climate Justice Activist.
You can watch the episodes and directly take action via Waterbear Network: join.waterbear.com This series was produced by Earthrise Studio: earthrise.studio |
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'Hope? and how to grieve for the planet' 'Hope? and how to grieve for the planet' is a photography project by environmental scientist turned photojournalist Neal Haddaway "‘Do you feel hope about the state of the planet?’ – this is a question that has been churning around in my head over the last few years. I’m an environmental scientist – I’ve worked on biodiversity, extinction, greenhouse gas emissions, sustainability, international development, climate change. My research focuses on how to get research into actionable policy. Do I feel hope? No. Not at all. I feel a searing sense of fear. I feel anxious. I feel depressed. I feel demotivated. I feel fraudulent. I feel overwhelmed. I feel guilty. But now, I also feel better than I did 12 months ago. I want to tell you why." Read more: nealhaddaway.com/hope/about_hope.html "Most people are aware of the precarious state of the planet as we forge into the 21st Century: forest fires tearing across parched landscapes, houses destroyed by flooding, and record after record broken as summer temperatures soar. Today, the world largely understands the problems and increasingly appreciates the need for solutions to the climate crisis, biodiversity loss and rising social inequality. This awareness evokes fear, panic and perhaps hope in all of us. But what about the people on the ‘front lines’ of environmental research: those who produce and translate knowledge and evidence to help us make the best decisions when dealing with environmental crises? They are painfully aware of humanity’s precarious situation and have made it their life’s work to make things better. How, then, do they feel about the state of the planet? Did they imagine things would be this way in 2021? What do they fear or hope the future holds for us and our descendants? This project explores the emotional connections that science researchers and communicators have with the planet and their work to preserve it. Through in-depth conversations and a co-design process influenced by social science methods, these frontline workers in the global fight against environmental crises have chosen three adjectives to describe their feelings as they stand on the brink, and have selected their own images that they feel capture these words. You are seeing them. Their fears. Their hopes. May this not be in vain." Visit: nealhaddaway.com/hope |
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Curiosity Orders Supersized Wildlife Series ‘Giants’; Adventurer & Filmmaker Dan O’Neill To Host Curiosity will explore supersized wildlife in its latest original commission. The global factual streamer has ordered a five-part series called Giants. Billed as epic in scope, the series will circle the globe to find the biggest beasts to have walked the planet and unlock their evolutionary secrets. Off The Fence, which has provided several shows for Curiosity, is producing. Giants will premiere on Curiosity’s streamer CuriosityStream in 2023. British wildlife filmmaker, LGBTQIA+ activist, and host Dan O’Neill will lead an adventurous team of experts, experts, including field biologists, bioengineers, and animal behaviorists, “to explore how these formidable creatures managed to achieve such massive proportions and what processes drive such extremes of nature.” Among the creatures explored are the the Savanna elephant and its ancient predecessor, and the anaconda and Titanoboa snake, which lived just after the extinction of the dinosaurs. The latest science and cutting-edge CGI will aim to connect the dots between the behemoths that have roamed the natural world and explore how to protect their habitats for the future. Filming locations include countries in Africa and Australia, where O’Neill track down, observe and measure the largest examples of each living giant. “Filming Giants brought me back to the adventurous programming I watched as a kid, that inspired me to go outside, learn about the natural world, and become a zoologist,” said O’Neill. “We explored parts of the globe I’d never seen, came within hair-raising distance of some truly formidable creatures, and worked with ardent local conservationists that gave us so much hope for the future survival of threatened animals and their habitats.” “These evolutionary stories of resilience and survival, combined with the incredible visual elements of the production, promise to make Giants an epic series that Curiosity viewers are going to love,” said Jorge Franzini, Curiosity’s VP of Original Content, Development, and Programming. “We’re thrilled to be working with the talented filmmakers at Off The Fence, and can’t wait for our viewers to meet Dan O’Neill, our brilliant travel companion on this adventure.” Read more: deadline.com/2022/08/curiosity-giants-dan-o-neill-1235100046 |
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UK Wildlife Podcast EP71 – Wildlife Filmmaking with Doug Allan UK Wildlife talk to Bafta Award winning wildlife cameraman Doug Allan about how he started his career in natural history videography, what its like filming polar bears and leopards seals, filming in a pub garden, his favourite wildlife sites and his upcoming talks. "Hello, and welcome to the UK wildlife podcast with me, Victoria Hillman, and me Neil Phillips. And we are absolutely delighted to have with us on this episode, Doug Allen, who is a Emmy and Emmy-award-winning wildlife and documentary cameraman. So hello, Doug, and thank you so much for coming onto the podcast. My pleasure. It's good to meet you both..." – Listen or Download a Transcript here!
Visit: uk-wildlife.co.uk/ep71-wildlife-filmmaking-with-doug-allan |
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Thousands of hours of content available through BBC archive portal The BBC has opened up tens of thousands of audio-visual recordings as it celebrates its 100th anniversary. BBC Rewind provides public access to a “vast portion” of the corporation’s archive. It represents the largest release of digital archive content in BBC history, categorised by the nations and regions of the UK and containing many emotional and powerful stories, many of which have not been viewed since their original broadcast. The project began in Northern Ireland with a version of the Rewind Portal released in October 2020. It has now been expanded to encompass content from across the entire UK. In total, over 30,000 pieces of uncovered content will be on the site with the oldest material dating back to the late 1940s. BBC Rewind users will recognise icons like naturalist Sir David Attenborough... Read more: broadbandtvnews.com/2022/07/20/thousands-of-hours-of-content-available-through-bbc-archive-portal The new BBC Rewind website is available at bbc.co.uk/rewind |
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The Lynx and Us by David Hetherington with images by Laurent Geslin David Hetherington has spent over a decade following the fortunes of an expanding lynx population in mainland Europe. In this book he offers a fascinating insight into how lynx and people interact in this, the busiest of continents, his words perfectly complemented by Laurent Geslin’s spectacular collection of wild lynx images. Unlike wolves and bears that weaved their way into our childhood consciousness, the lynx is largely unknown to us. What do these secretive ambush hunters look like? What do they eat? How do they live? And how do they get on with people? This fascinating book examines what it's like to live alongside an apex predator and looks at the implications for a possible reintroduction to mainland Britain. Using examples from across Europe, ‘The Lynx and Us’ describes how this enigmatic predator is recovering lost ground and, crucially, what that means for the human population in this, the busiest of continents. As wolves, bears and lynx return to landscapes across the Continent, it seems likely that Britain will be the last corner of Europe without any of its missing large predators. This book concludes therefore, with a question: What would it mean to live once more alongside Europe’s largest cat, the Eurasian lynx? Dive in and find out: Hardback at £25 scotlandbigpicture.com/Store/books/the-lynx-and-us or Digital at £10 scotlandbigpicture.com/Store/ebooks/the-lynx-and-us-ebook Also available at Amazon.co.uk Published by member SCOTLAND The Big Picture See: scotlandbigpicture.org/lynx-to-scotland |
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America’s National Parks’ Anwar Mamon on The Beauty and Importance of National Parks The Koalition's Entertainment Editor spoke to America’s National Park's Executive Producer Anwar Mamon to learn more about the 5-part docuseries that celebrates America's lesser-known National Parks. America’s National Parks fascinate millions of visitors, and in this spectacular series, it will show you what happens beyond the lookouts. More than 3 years in the making will enable the audience to witness moments full of drama, watch stories of life and death and discover hidden gems they never believed could be found in a place they thought they knew. Follow an epic journey from the geysers of Yellowstone to the rugged Pacific coast of the Olympic peninsula, from the hot desert of Saguaro to the icy Gates of the Arctic, from the subtropical sea of grass in the Everglades to the world-famous peaks of Yosemite and from the mystic Smoky Mountains to the biggest gorge on Earth: The Grand Canyon. America’s National Parks docuseries was created for the Centennial of the National Park Service and will present North America’s natural wonders visitors have never experienced them before. Narrated by Garth Brooks, each episode starts with a message from first lady Jill Biden about the highlighted national park and how it plays a part in America’s history and will be featured in a PSA reminding current service members and Gold Star families of their free admission to national parks. To celebrate this docuseries and to learn more about developing this series, The Koalition spoke to Executive Producer of NatGeo’s America’s National Parks, Anwar Mamon.
Read more: thekoalition.com/2022/americas-national-parks-anwar-mamon Anwar Mamon Talks National Geographic America’s National Parks – Muse TV Michael Sandoval talks with Executive Producer Anwar Mamon about his series coming to National Geographic, America’s National Parks.
Read more: musetv.net/anwar-mamon-talks-national-geographic-americas-national-parks |
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Nat Geo sets premiere date for Wildstar’s “America’s National Parks” National Geographic has set a premiere date for America’s National Parks, a series that comes from some of the production talent behind Planet Earth, among other natural history titles. The five-part series, which is set to premiere on August 29, explores both world-famous and lesser-known U.S. national parks. U.S. country music star Garth Brooks will narrate and executive produce the show, which will air over five consecutive nights. Afterwards, all of the episodes will be available to stream on August 31 on Disney+. The series is produced by Wildstar Films for National Geographic. Executive producing alongside Brooks are Anwar Mamon and Dan Rees for Wildstar, and Drew Jones for National Geographic. Myles Connolly and Ben Wallis serve as series producers. Each episode will also include remarks from U.S. First Lady Jill Biden (pictured), commenting on how each park connects people to a piece of U.S. history. National Geographic also plans to premiere a PSA throughout the series with the White House’s Joining Forces Initiative, wherein Biden shows appreciation for the U.S. military community, and reminds current service members, their families, veterans, and Gold Star families that they have free entry to all U.S. national parks. “America’s national parks are full of unrivaled natural beauty, geological wonders, cultural history and amazing wildlife,” Biden said in a news release. “Each national park connects people to a piece of the American story — who we are and where we came from. With at least one national park in every state, all Americans can enjoy them.” Each episode will focus on a different park, beginning with the Grand Canyon and moving on to Yosemite National Park, Big Bend, Badlands National Park and Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Read more: realscreen.com/2022/08/09/nat-geo-sets-premiere-date-for-wildstars-americas-national-parks |
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The Largest Gathering of Gigantic Fin Whales EVER FILMED – Epic Adventures with Bertie Gregory Watch hundreds of fin whales in the largest feeding aggregation EVER filmed as part of the upcoming Disney+ Original series from National Geographic, “Epic Adventures with Bertie Gregory.” The filming of the second largest whales on the planet, some growing up to 90 feet long, took place in the Drake Passage off the tip of the Antarctica Peninsula. To capture the almost mythical wildlife filmmaking event — which doubled the previous record and included 300 whales along with albatross, thousands of sea birds and a huge amount of other marine wildlife — it took Nat Geo Explorer Bertie Gregory and his film crew six weeks aboard a small 75-foot-long, ice-strengthened sailboat. Battling terrible weather conditions and 95 knots of wind, Bertie and the team pushed through to capture the incredible moment. Epic Adventures with Bertie Gregory, from National Geographic, premieres Sept. 8 only on Disney+
National Geographic: youtube.com/natgeo Bertie: bertiegregory.com |
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Blue Planet III coming to BBC One exploring five major underwater habitats BBC One has confirmed the return of nature documentary series Blue Planet with a third outing. Blue Planet first aired in 2001 while follow up Blue Planet II debuted in 2017. BBC has announced a new six episode series, Blue Planet III, with each of the first five instalments focused on one of the five major underwater habitats: the Tropical Seas, Temperate Seas, Polar Seas, High Seas and Deep Seas. The sixth and episode will see the scientists exploring how our seas are changing – for better and worse – faster than at any other time in human history. The BBC shared: “Broadcast in 2017, Blue Planet II galvanised a global movement to rid our oceans of single use plastic. The perception of life in our oceans was revolutionised – from a fish that hunts birds in mid-air, to an octopus that defends itself with an armoury of shells, to the deep sea creature with a see-through head – the series captivated audiences across the planet with stories that defied belief. But this was only the beginning… “Blue Planet III will build on this groundbreaking legacy, redefining the realm of possibility in underwater wildlife film-making. Taking the wonder, immersion, and discovery of the Blue Planet brand to extraordinary new depths, it will reveal brand new and untold stories from magical underwater worlds. “Combining our deeper understanding of the oceans with a whole new generation of camera technology, we can now showcase stunning stories and extraordinary behaviours, previously impossible to film or only recently discovered.” |
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Camila Cabello and Hans Zimmer collaborate on new song for Frozen Planet II Global superstar and world-renowned screen composer join forces to soundtrack first look trailer of Sir David Attenborough-narrated landmark from BBC Studios Natural History Unit for BBC One.
Singer-songwriter Camila Cabello and Dune/Top Gun: Maverick’s composer Hans Zimmer have collaborated to write and record a new song that will accompany the debut extended trailer for the eagerly anticipated Sir David Attenborough-narrated series Frozen Planet II. The new track, ‘Take Me Back Home’, marks the first time a new song has been written to support a BBC One natural history landmark release and features the haunting vocals of Cabello supported by the epic orchestration of Zimmer and his long-term collaborators - arranger Anže Rozman and producer Russell Emanuel for Bleeding Fingers Music. A sequel to 2011’s ground-breaking series, Frozen Planet II is a spellbinding six-episode journey through earth’s magical icy lands including the north and south poles, narrated by Sir David Attenborough and produced by BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit, the makers of Blue Planet II and Planet Earth II. Cabello’s lyrics paired with Zimmer’s music echo both the fragility and jeopardy of the series’ subject matter – the world’s coldest regions, Tundras and mountain tops where the planet’s most enigmatic beasts reign supreme – despite the animals and lands finding themselves on the cusp of huge change and ever-increasing threat. The song soundtracks an extended trailer where we see wolves hunt huge bison across vast snowy plains, killer whales using cunning techniques to stalk their prey and rarely seen Siberian tigers padding quietly through crisp white snow.
Watch Frozen Planet II: bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0cw0nb8 |
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“The most dramatic event is what is happening now in nature.” Hans Zimmer on scoring the natural world On the eve of the upcoming BBC Earth Prom, the Oscar-winning composer’s work reflects the relationship between humans and nature – and the ever-evolving, century-old medium of the natural history documentary. TENTATIVELY, a baby iguana emerges from the black grit of a beach. From the rocks around, a small army of snake heads snap to attention in unison. There is an agonising motionless moment. Then the chase begins. The iguana races, legs like propellors. The snakes cascade towards it like meltwater as the lizard makes for the safety of the rocks. The scene, from the BBC’s Planet Earth II, has been watched over 26 million times on YouTube, and is natural history filmmaking at its most beadily, brutally riveting. The cameras capture, the voiceover describes, and the editing shapes what we see – but there is another element which holds the viewer’s attention just as raptly. It is invisible yet intense, and the only thing in the sequence created entirely from scratch: the music. Pick a scene from the canon of natural history film-making from the last 30 years – the killer whales tossing sea lions around the breakwater in Trials of Life, the moments when the barnacle goose chick totters on a cliff edge – or that snow leopard tumbles catastrophically over one – in National Geographic’s Hostile Planet. All wield their sonic landscapes to skilful effect, whether strings, rumbling bass drums, mischievous flutes – or torturous, breath-holding silence. |
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How ‘Polar Bear’ Filmmakers Navigated Making One of the Saddest and Most Inspiring Disney Movies The new Disneynature film has an urgent message about the effects of climate change For a company as renowned for its family friendly product as Disney, it has a history of scenes or sequences that are horrifying (if not outright depressing) – Mufasa getting trampled by the wildebeests, Bambi’s mother disappearing into the forest and pretty much everything that happens in “Pinocchio.” (Not to mention live-action atrocities like the end of “Old Yeller” and the beginning of “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.”) But nothing can prepare you for how sobering and deeply unsettling Disneynature’s “Polar Bear” (streaming on Disney+ this Friday, Earth Day) is. “Polar Bear” is very much like other Disneynature entries that came before it (things like “Dolphin Reef” or “Penguins”) – it’s beautifully shot, featuring moments you never thought you’d seen (like when a beached whale becomes an unlikely polar bear pool party) and has top notch narration (this time courtesy of Catherine Keener). But in other ways it’s more somber and introspective; the narration is first-person, putting the viewer more directly in the plight of the polar bear. And it’s so overwhelmingly sad. By the end of the movie, you aren’t just worried about the fate of the polar bears; you’re concerned about the livelihood of the planet. TheWrap spoke to directors Jeff Wilson and Alastair Fothergill about what it was like making “Polar Bear” and whether or not they think we’re all doomed. Are you running out of animals? You’ve done so many movies. Alastair Fothergill: Do you know that’s one of the most intelligent questions we’ve had all through this junket and I tell you why – it’s very, very challenging to find a star animal that people will love to watch. That’ll fill 75 minutes of drama. You might think pandas, we all love pandas. That’s true, but pandas do very little apart from eat bamboo and fart, so you would never do a Disneynature film on pandas. We chose polar bears because from our experience of working in the arctic, we absolutely knew there was an amazing story to be told about them and there’ll be no trouble at all in developing a powerful narrative that would last 75 minutes. You bring up the narrative and this documentary feels very different from other Disneynature features. How did you establish the tone and voice for “Polar Bear,” especially after looking at so much footage? Jeff Wilson: You’re right, and actually it was something that Alistair and I worried about a lot. We thought long and hard about presenting the narration in the first person and actually there were quite a few people who warned us against it because there’s not many films in the history of cinema that have pulled off first person narration for 75 minutes. It’s quite a rare thing, but we persisted with it and what we’ve found in doing so is that we were able communicate the important messages of the film by giving people a polar bear’s perspective. And by doing that through the first person we were actually kind of engaging our audiences more wholeheartedly in the story. I also think that it’s kind of crucial to bringing a different perspective to the climate change message. That was very important for us to get across. To know what it’s like to be a polar bear experiencing that uncertainty, to experience the things that are happening around you that you don’t have any comprehension of. It actually mimics the human experience and by telling it in the first person, I think, is a very, very powerful tool that hasn’t been used before. Of course, we didn’t know it was really going to work until Catherine Keener’s fantastic voice was brought to the table and she embodied absolutely everything that Alistair and I dreamt about in terms of presenting this film and the character that’s central to the film. When she started reading that first person narration, was probably the first time that we really knew it was going to absolutely work. Read more: thewrap.com/polar-bear-disney-plus-documentary-are-polar-bears-doomed |
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IFLScience Meets: Director Pamela Gordon On "Lion: The Rise And Fall Of The Marsh Pride"
As one of Britain’s foremost documentary filmmakers, director Pamela Gordon has been working in factual broadcasting for over 30 years. From history to human conflict and even taking TV chef Gordon Ramsey behind bars, her portfolio is rich and varied and most recently includes a feature-length film about lions. Lion: The Rise and Fall of the Marsh Pride, created in collaboration with the BBC Science and Natural History Unit, tells the story of the most-filmed pride of lions on Earth living in the Maasai Mara. Exploring the plight of these animals whose future isn’t guaranteed, the film also looks at the human conflicts that have threatened them and the conservation advocates fighting to keep them alive. We spoke to Gordon to find out more about the very serious issues that underlie the documentary, but also to learn more about what makes this kind of filmmaking so fulfilling for those involved. How did you come to work on Lion: The Rise And Fall Of The Marsh Pride? This film takes a natural history subject, told through the amazing archive that the BBC has of the Marsh Pride, but uses a documentary approach. I have worked as a documentary director for 25 years and have made many films about people’s life stories and situations, but I am passionate about conservation. When the opportunity came up to direct this film, I jumped at it. I have experience of working with archive in history films, like the Thatcher and Blair series for the BBC which I made recently, but finding the lions’ stories in hundreds of hours of footage was a new challenge. Traveling to Kenya for the interviews and present-day filming, I was able to use my documentary-making experience to capture the current situation regarding human-animal conflict as well as the relationship between people and the lions both past and present.
Watch Lion: The Rise and Fall of the Marsh Pride: bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001bg5g |
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Nature streamer WaterBear names co-CEO in leadership restructure Environmental streaming service WaterBear has promoted Sam Sutaria to co-CEO, ahead of him taking on the role in full, as part of a restructure of its executive leadership team. The moves also see Poppy Mason-Watts named chief growth and impact officer, while Louis Botha becomes CFO. Former Deloitte consultant Jonny Siskind has also been named as VP of business operations. Sutaria, who previously served as VP of strategy and business development, was described by WaterBear as its “first employee”, having been with the firm since before its 2020 launch. He will now serve as co-CEO alongside Ellen Windemuth, who founded the company and moved from Off The Fence to become its full-time CEO late last year. At the end of 2022, Windemuth will transition into her role as founder of WaterBear and will continue to focus on company strategy, original productions, investor relations and fundraising, while from 2023, Sutaria will take on the full duties as sole CEO. Windemuth said that Sutaria is “uniquely placed to take WaterBear to the next level.” Read more: tbivision.com/2022/08/15/nature-streamer-waterbear-names-co-ceo-in-leadership-restructure |
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Team Sayari Revealed as Title for National Geographic Kids Africa Programme Following field production commencing earlier this year, as well as the announcement of the local hosts, The Walt Disney Company Africa, together with its project partners, National Geographic, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and WildlifeDirect have today revealed both the title and the set of the highly anticipated National Geographic Kids programme. Inspired by the programme’s aim to motivate lasting, impactful behavioural change in young viewers across the continent and create the next generation of environmental conservation leaders, the programme will be titled Team Sayari. Incorporating the Swahili term for ‘planet’, the title embodies the programme’s goal – to provide viewers with the knowledge, skills and tools needed to conserve and protect the natural world, in a fun way. In the series, the young presenters will visit the wild to meet African experts in five countries across the continent to explore, discover, learn about our environmental challenges and be inspired to reduce their impact, protect and restore nature. Filming has also commenced in a custom-built set in Nairobi, the Sayari Basecamp. A first-of-its-kind in Kenya, the set embodies childhood imagination and adventure with a tree house-inspired hideout that is locally built and designed, including African-inspired and nature-based motifs, coupled with elements of advanced technology. It comes complete with a mission control wall, a cosy chill area and a lively interview spot. The Sayari basecamp was produced almost entirely from recycled and upcycled materials, true to the ethos of the show. |
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New documentary unearths Bristol’s wildlife treasures A new documentary unearths the rich and often unexpected wildlife that calls Bristol home. The 17-minute doc, BRISTOL: A Hidden Eden, took three years of planning and necessitated night shoots and 4am wake up calls to film some of the camera-shy animals. Researched, filmed and produced by 20 University of Bristol students, the doc has been called “sensational” by naturalist and TV presenter Steve Backshall. Viewers learn about the UK’s largest mammal, the profusion of wildlife to be found in Eastville Park, the night-time adventures of urban foxes and ‘Bristol’s greatest conservationist’ – the goat. The original score to the film was written by award-winning composer Owain Llwyd. Director and producer Matteo Clarke began planning the documentary during his first year as a Zoology student at the University of Bristol. The 21-year-old said: “I think we were all really motivated to make this because we were making a proper wildlife documentary about the amazing wildlife in our own city. “And also to challenge ourselves that if you put your mind to it, you can make a great documentary with the animals that are right at our doorstep.” Read more: bristol.ac.uk/news/2022/august/doc-unearths-wildlife-treasures.html |
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Earth: Muted review – bees go missing in China despatch from the eco-apocalypse file This documentary about bees going extinct in the Hanyuan valley doesn’t seem interested in the wider context but instead offers a soothing watch of farmers at work This Swedish-produced documentary about China’s Hanyuan valley is nominally another dispatch from the eco-apocalypse file, so the final harmonious impression it leaves behind suggests it hasn’t done its job properly. Located in Sichuan province, the valley is a place where bees are on the verge of extinction, the consequences of which we see in the opening sequence of fruit farmer Cao and his wife hand-pollinating flowers on their trees. They are one of three families in this agricultural triptych: there is also maize-cropper Ye, who is thinking of branching out into fruit in order to pay for a new house, and beekeeper Zhang, who leaves her grandparents to look after her young daughter so she and her husband can take refuge in the far-flung part of the valley where insects still thrive. As Cao testifies, the problem is modern pesticides, which caused fruit harvests to fail shortly after they started being used in the mid-1960s. Is there a growing awareness of the problem? Do bee friendly chemicals exist? Is the frankly frightening amount of cigarette smoking in the fields here what is actually driving away the insects? The incurious Earth: Muted doesn’t seem interested in prising open the wider context; it rests wholly on extended sequences of the farmers at work unsheathing corn cobs or collecting pollen, with halting commentary superimposed. The film touches on the issues: Cao alludes to informing the Chinese authorities about pesticides’ harmful effects, while Ye’s father is adamant they can be safely used without harming the bees. But there is no real inquiry.
Read more: theguardian.com/film/2022/aug/01/earth-muted-review-bees-go-missing-in-china-despatch-from-the-eco-apocalypse-file Watch here: truestory.film/videos/earth-muted-1 |
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Master Wildlife Filmmaking Podcast episode 47: Tony Lee Moral – Natural History Filmmaker, Director & Author From directing Bear Grylls in a camel carcass in the Sahara to becoming an Author & Novelist Tony has had a diverse palette of roles. Tony began the early decade at the internationally renowned BBC Natural History Unit where he spent many formative years filming in remote places around the world from the Himalayas to the Amazonian rainforest. He moved to California in 1999 to work on the award winning The Shape of Life series and to write his book on Alfred Hitchcock, ending the millennium on the beaches of Hawaii. Tony has been interviewing an A-Z of celebrities in the arts and sciences. His documentaries continue to be diverse and eclectic, ranging from biographies to current affairs, with the common thread of high quality journalism. As well as making films around the world, Tony has launched his own production company, Sabana Films, dedicated to making bespoke documentaries such as The Mountain War to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the First World War in Europe.
Find Tony: tonyleemoral.com, tonyleemoralbooks.com The Cat That Changed America book: amazon.co.uk/Cat-That-Changed-America-Hollywood Visit: jakewillers.com Support Jake: patreon.com/MWFP |
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“Blue Planet III”, “Signs for Change” among upcoming BBC factual projects BBC’s director of unscripted Kate Phillips has lifted the veil on three new commissions for BBC Factual at the Edinburgh TV Festival, including the latest Blue Planet iteration and a current affairs doc on the challenges faced by deaf people. In the natural history genre, BBC unveiled Blue Planet III, following up on the previous 2017 instalment of the series. The 6 x 60-minute series for BBC One and iPlayer from BBC Studios Natural History Unit will focus on five major underwater habitats: the tropical seas, temperate seas, polar seas, High Seas and deep seas, using the latest underwater filming technology. The sixth episode will meet the scientist discovering how the planet’s seas are changing, for better and worse, faster than at any other time in human history. The series was commissioned by Jack Bootle, head of commissioning of specialist factual, and the executive producer is Mark Brownlow. Read more: realscreen.com/2022/08/25/blue-planet-iii-signs-for-change-among-upcoming-bbc-factual-projects |
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Sky unveils seven new documentary originals Sky has unveiled seven new Sky Original documentary projects across Sky Documentaries, Sky Nature and Sky Crime. On Sky Nature, Whale with Steve Backshall builds on the success of recent series Shark with Steve Backshall, and follows him as he embarks on a voyage of discovery into the most iconic, yet threatened, whales and dolphins across the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Together with world-leading scientists and conservationists, he will reveal what can be done to ensure their survival. Secret World of Sound (w/t) will use world-class audio technology to create an immersive soundscape and reveal new insights into animal behaviour. Read more: televisual.com/news/sky-unveils-seven-new-documentary-originals |
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Ecoflix Podcast with Ian Redmond OBE Ecoflix started a podcast! Founder and CEO of Ecoflix, launch the first ever Ecoflix Podcast with their very own Head of Conservation Ian Redmond about his incredible career in conservation with some brilliant stories about the legendary Sir David Attenborough. Visit: watch.ecoflix.com/videos/ecoflix-podcast-episode-1-ian-redmond |
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BBC Proms 2022: Earth Prom with Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin In the centenary year of the BBC, the Proms brings a celebration of its world-famous Natural History Unit through the years, from Sir David Attenborough’s pioneering early adventures to an exciting preview of what promises to be the latest blockbuster series, Frozen Planet II. Featuring breathtaking images, natural sounds, spoken words and, of course, music, this spectacular event will include classic documentary scores from renowned composers such as George Fenton, Murray Gold, Sarah Class and Nitin Sawhney and a collaboration by Hans Zimmer and Camila Cabello. The evening culminates with the world premiere of Earth Symphony, a work arranged by Iain Farrington that draws on scores from Planet Earth II, Blue Planet II and Seven Worlds One Planet. Ben Palmer conducts the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Presented by Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin from the stage of the Royal Albert Hall. Watch/Listen/Wonder: bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001bnjw/bbc-proms-2022-bbcs-earth-prom |
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What is "Tina in the Wild"? Tina in the wild is a series Tina Hansen (and her cameraman) made last year in September when they worked with a capture team in South Africa. It was a 3 week course full of laughs, challanges, friendship and adrenaline filled moments! The aim of the series is to shed a light on how conservation efforts in Africa actually looks like. It is to educate about conservation, wildlife and vet med; but in an interesting and fun format - suitable for the whole family to watch! Tina says "I’m being fully authentic in this series - leaving bloopers, poor translations and spelling mistakes all in there! (Haha, as you know this is also my first time in front of a proper camera!)" The series can now be found on a streaming platform (like Netflix) called ONESTNETWORK! The first and the second episode are already on there, and the other five are coming out next month! When you sign up you have 2 weeks for free (and can cancel at any time), and then the price is at $1,99 per month! (Fairly cheap compared to the other platforms out there!) Watch the first episode for free here: onestnetwork.com/zen/tinainthewild-e1 Find trailers on Tina's Instagram: instagram.com/travelingvetstudent Also Facebook: facebook.com/travelingvetstudent Websites: www.travelingvetstudent.wixsite.com/blog & www.beacons.page/travelingvetstudent |
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Kate Winslet Reveals A Shocking Truth About Our Planet’s Future A destructive industry is killing our planet! Documentary 'Eating Our Way To Extinction' shines a light on why we MUST take the role of animal agriculture seriously when it comes to the climate crisis. EATING OUR WAY TO EXTINCTION takes audiences on a cinematic journey around the world, from the depths of the Amazon rainforests to the Taiwanese Mountains, the Mongolian desert, the US Dust Bowl, the Norwegian Fjords and the Scottish coastlines, telling the story of our planet through shocking testimonials, poignant accounts from indigenous people most affected by our ever-changing planet, globally renowned figures and leading scientists. This powerful documentary sends a simple but impactful message by uncovering hard truths and addressing, on the big screen, the most pressing issue of our generation – ecological collapse.
Find out more about the documentary: eating2extinction.com |
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Kate Winslet-narrated climate doc Eating Our Way to Extinction debuts on YouTube for free The pro-plant-based film, narrated by acclaimed actor Kate Winslet, sheds light on how animal agriculture is the most destructive industry in the world. Award-winning climate change documentary Eating Our Way to Extinction is now available to watch for free on YouTube. Narrated by acclaimed actor Kate Winslet, the film sheds light on how animal agriculture is the most destructive industry in the world, making audiences “question their everyday choices”. ‘Ecological collapse’ “Eating our Way to Extinction is a documentary which takes audiences on a cinematic journey around the world,” the film’s description reads. “From the depths of the Amazon rainforest to the Taiwanese Mountains, the Mongolian desert, the US Dust Bowl, the Norwegian Fjords and the Scottish coastlines; telling the story of our planet through testimonials from indigenous people most affected by our ever-changing planet and globally renowned figures”. World-renowned experts such as Dr Sylvia Earle (Former Chief Scientist of NOAA and explorer) and Prof. Olivier de Schutter (Former United Nations Special Rapporteur) also feature in the doc.
Gerard Wedderburn-Bisshop, a former Principal Scientist who appears in the film, said: “Scientists have predicted that in just over two decades, species loss will be so great that we won’t recover, the Earth will suffer ecological collapse and the most impactful thing you and I can do to stop this, is to change our diets.” Read more: veganfoodandliving.com/news/eating-our-way-to-extinction-debuts-on-youtube-for-free |
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Haywards Heath becomes the first town in Europe to endorse the call for a Plant Based Treaty in response to the climate emergency. Today Haywards Heath Town Council endorsed the Plant Based Treaty, becoming the first town in Europe to join the initiative to tackle emissions from animal farming and attributed deforestation, a key driver of the climate emergency. The proposed Treaty is backed by 17 municipal governments worldwide, including Boynton Beach in Florida and Rosario in Argentina. Green Councillor Dr Richard Nicholson, who first presented the Plant Based Treaty to the Climate Change Committee, said, “The Climate Crisis is no longer a distant future threat but an existential crisis that is upon us in 2022. The South East of England has endured the highest ever summer temperatures in history and people’s properties have been destroyed by fire and flood. We cannot wait for governments – we must all act immediately – and moving to a plant-based diet is the most impactful thing any individual can do to help address the grave situation we face. I’d encourage all Town, District, County and Metro councils to sign the Plant Based Treaty immediately.” Haywards Heath Town Council is launching an Education and Business Environmental Awards Scheme. The Plant Based Treaty and food waste reduction will be cornerstones of these initiatives. They will seek to engage local community, environmental groups, and Parish councils to help progress these ground-up activities. The council has taken a science-based approach to the climate crisis using research from project drawdown to provide a solid scientific foundation. While the council is unable to build large solar farms or wind turbines, we can educate and encourage the local community to reduce food waste and move to plant-based diets to reduce CO2 emissions; activities which are as impactful as a large-scale move to green energy! Not only this, a move to a Plant Based foods helps increase global biodiversity, will improve the local community’s health and, importantly, reduce weekly food bills. Having already supported the 2022 Veganuary initiative, endorsing the Plant Based Treaty was the obvious next step in an ongoing journey for Haywards Heath Town Council. Nicola Harris, communications director at Plant Based Treaty, said, “Haywards Heath’s decision to call for urgent global action on plant-based solutions to the climate crisis demonstrates true leadership. It will be welcomed by those experiencing the devastating impacts of climate change. Record-breaking 40C+ temperatures this summer are a bleak reminder that cuts to emissions from fossil fuels and animal agriculture can’t come soon enough. Animal farming is directly responsible for a third of human-caused methane. Therefore we need local, national and international cooperation to reduce food-related emissions through a shift to plant-based diets, boosted by action on food waste.” Climate campaigners are calling on other towns and cities to follow Haywards Heath’s lead and help create a national council-led movement calling for a shift towards healthier, more sustainable plant-based diets. A petition calling Glastonbury to endorse the Plant Based Treaty has attracted almost 5,000 signatures. 150 councillors from almost 60 towns and cities have individually signed the Plant Based Treaty from parties including Conservatives, Green Party, Labour, and Liberal Democrats. 20MPs signed Early Day Motion 434 , including the Green’s Caroline Lucas and Labour’s former Shadow Chancellor John McDonell. The motion welcomes the Plant Based Treaty and calls for the UK to be a “world leader in recognising the negative impact of industrial animal agriculture on climate change and commit to developing a global strategy to transition towards more sustainable plant-based food systems.” The Plant Based Treaty has secured high-profile endorsements from celebrities, including Paul, Mary and Stella McCartney, who issued a written statement calling for politicians to support the Plant-Based Treaty. They said: “We believe in justice for animals, the environment and people. That’s why we support the Plant Based Treaty and urge individuals and governments to sign it.”
The Plant Based Treaty is modelled on the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty and inspired by treaties that have addressed the threats of ozone layer depletion and nuclear weapons. Since its launch in August 2021, the initiative has received support from 43,000 individual endorsers, 5 Nobel laureates, IPCC scientists, more than 800 NGOs and community groups and 700 businesses, including Ecotricity, Linda McCartney Foods, Oceanic Preservation Society, Environmental Alliance Project, VIVA!, BOSH!, Animal Rebellion, and chapters of Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and Extinction Rebellion. Wildlife Media Ltd, the company behind Wildlife-film.com, i.e. Jason Peters, is based in Haywards Heath and endorsed The Plant Based Treaty in October 2021. |
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Plant-based alternatives continue to grow, Spain's new animal rights law & more | Month in a Minute It’s time for the August edition of Sentient Media’s The month in a Minute, narrated by Jasmine C. Leyva. Climate activists in the UK are taking their government to court for its lack of proposals to reduce meat and dairy consumption. A new investigation also revealed that the country now has more than 1,000 livestock mega-farms - that’s up 200 from five years ago. Meanwhile the government’s own Food Tsar stated that England must reduce meat intake to avoid climate breakdown. Plant-based alternatives continued to spread across the fast-food industry as a new study from Future Foods confirmed plant-based animal product alternatives really are healthier and more environmentally sustainable. Meanwhile in the Netherlands plant-based meat is now cheaper than animal meat. The USDA announced it must now publicly report all animal welfare violations, ending a practice which permitted animal welfare inspectors to omit certain violations from public reports. An animal sanctuary founder was jailed after cows wandered from a nearby cattle farm onto her property. In Europe, Spain banned pigeon-shooting, zoos and dolphinariums while Italy banned the slaughter of male chicks. A report by Earthsight revealed that US agribusiness giants’ soy is linked to stolen indigenous land and murder in Brazil, while in Britain hens will be fed insects to lay carbon-neutral eggs for supermarket chain Morrisons to avoid the whole soy issue. Meanwhile scientists say Insects could be used give a meaty taste to food to help the environment. And Freya the walrus, who liked to bask in the sun in an Oslo fjord, was euthanized because, according to officials, they could not guarantee the wellbeing of the animal. I’ll say. Watch all this and more in our August media recap:
Head to read the overview of the rest of the news, for those of you with more than a minute to spare: sentientmedia.org/month-in-a-minute-august-2022 |
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