Wildlife
Film News 
News Contents:
1. Training News
2. Wildscreen Winners
3. Alan Root To Be Honored by The Explorers Club
4. Wildlife Television Training
5. Wild Shots
6. Oceanfootage.com
7. OSF Gets the Creative Treatment
8. Granada Visual appoints Absolutely Wild Visuals
9. IGCP and Granada Visual collaborate
10. FFC Footage Database
11. Snarl for the Camera
12. OSF's Bug World Wins Two PANDA Awards
2. Wildscreen Winners
Britain Dominates Wildlife Films Awards
Winning ten of the seventeen prestigious Panda Awards at October's Wildscreen Festival 'Green Oscars' ceremony, British wildlife filmmakers maintain their world lead in natural history film production. The USA won three Pandas and production companies from China, Japan, Canada and Norway each won an Award. The Wildscreen Trust Award for Outstanding Achievement was awarded to British cameraman and producer, Hugh Miles, for his significant global contribution to filmmaking and conservation.
Wildscreen is the world's largest wildlife film festival. This year more than 350 remarkably varied films were entered from over 30 countries to win just 17 Panda Awards. From hippos to ants, from whales to hawks, the films are painstakingly produced to raise the viewing public's awareness of the fragile co-existence of animals and their habitats.
The BBC was awarded six Pandas including three, for the recent 'The Blue Planet' series. The 'Introduction' programme of the series was selected for the WWF Golden Panda Award for the best film of Wildscreen 2002 and for best Music and 'The Blue Planet' also won the best Series. The disturbing 'Ape Hunters' produced by BBC Wales won the One Planet Award, 'Lion Battlefield', the Award for Innovation and 'Iguanas - Living Like Dinosaurs' for Editing.
Independent filmmakers, Mark Deeble and Victoria Stone (UK) won two Pandas, Animal Behaviour and Camerawork for 'Mzima: Haunt of the River Horse' which reveals new observations about the life of the hippo. Two Independent UK producers won the new Award categories, best Presenter-Led Show and Panda-in-the-Pocket, 'Snake Hunter - North America', by Zebra and 'Bugworld - War of Two Worlds' by Oxford Scientific Films.
The best Script was won by US filmmakers DDE for 'The Living Edens: Yellowstone - Americas Sacred Wilderness'. US filmmakers also took the Panda for Natural Neighbours which explores the relationship between people and animals and here 'Pale Male' by FL Productions is the name given to a red-tailed hawk living among the skyscrapers of Manhattan. The Large Format (IMAX) Award went to Ocean Oasis by Summerhays Films.
Wild China Films took ten years to film 'The Mystery of Yunnan Snub-nosed Monkey, a highly endangered and never-before-filmed large primate living in the dark alpine forests of south west China. The film won the TVE Award which is presented in association with the Television Trust for the Environment to programme makers from countries which do not have a long history of wildlife filmmaking.
The Children's Award was won by Japanese filmmakers NHK for 'My Life as an Ant', the Newcomers Panda Award to 'Wild Reindeer' by Norwegian, Asgeir Helgestad and Interactive to 'Zoology Zone' by Canadian Reel Girls Media.
An international panel of judges from Australia, Canada, China, Norway, Spain, UK and USA selected the Panda Award Winners.
'We look for creativity and technical excellence in wildlife filmmaking and the entries this year demonstrate considerable talent,' said Jane Krish, Chief Executive of Wildscreen. 'The judges were particularly encouraged by the originality and vibrancy of 'Newcomer' entries which came from many parts of the world.'
3. Alan Root To Be Honored by The Explorers Club
The Kenya-based filmmaker Alan Root will receive his third Lifetime Achievement Award at the inaugural Explorers Club Film Festival on November 3.
Making a rare appearance in New York, Root will deliver the keynote at the documentary festival on Sunday evening, when awards will be presented. Among the winners are two films he was involved with producing, including "Mzima, Haunt of the River Horse," about Mzima Springs in Kenya's Tsavo National Park, where in 1969 Root made one of his first films, and was attacked by a hippo while filming underwater.
The British-born naturalist's ability to film creatures from a unique point of view already earned him two Lifetime Awards, from Britain's Wildscreen, and the Jackson Hole International Wildlife Film Festival - the first to be so honored by both organizations. When he filmed the epic wildebeest migration in the Serengeti, Root used the gondola of a hot air balloon as a filming platform. He became the first to float over Africa's highest peak, snapping images of the snows of Kilimanjaro at 24,000 feet. Now he flies a copter to assist conservation efforts in Africa, where he has captured the wonders of wildlife in award winning films for television. He has also written articles for National Geographic magazine, and he writes and edits his own films. Lacking any formal training, Root revealed hidden worlds by filming a bird's nest inside the trunk of an African Baobab tree, and mushroom gardens tended by termites in Mysterious Castles of Clay - an Oscar nominee narrated by Orson Welles.
When anthropologist Louis Leakey first invited Dian Fossey to Africa, he turned to Alan Root to introduce her to the mountain gorillas that became her passion. While filming Gorillas in the Mist, Root was mauled by a senior alpha male known as a Silverback, adding yet another scar to his body, already bitten by hippo, leopard and puff adder. A legend among filmmakers, and a visionary in conservation, Root was profiled in The New Yorker by George Plimpton.
Many of his films, including Year of the Wildebeest, are translated into Swahili and shown to African audiences for their inherent conservation message. His work has not been confined to Africa; he has filmed in Australia, New Guinea India and South America and a documentary on the Galapagos, The Enchanted Isles, was honored at the Cannes Film Festival, and given a Royal Premiere in London, where Root was presented to HRH Queen Elizabeth.
Root's first business venture was a photo safari company with boyfriend friend Richard Leakey. His first major film project was with the father and son team Dr. Bernard and Michael Grzimek. Tragically, Michael's zebra-striped plane collided with another flyer surveying the area - a vulture- and crashed into the slopes of Tanzania's Ngorongoro Crater. His death left his father distraught and unable to complete the project. Root managed to finish Serengeti Shall Not Die, and the documentary won an Oscar in 1959.
For a decade (in the Eighties) Root worked in the remote rain-forests of Zaire, filming gorillas and pigmies, active volcanoes and the Mountains of the Moon. He brought back unique footage of creatures never filmed before, including the Congo peacock.
Now Root returns to where his spirit lives - the Serengeti - to document one of the earth's last true Edens. The depth of his knowledge of this landscape is unrivalled. In addition to Serengeti Shall Not Die, Year of the Wildebeest, Islands in a Sea of Grass, and Serengeti Jigsaw, Root was chosen by the National Geographic Society to film the pivotal Serengeti lion research by George Schaller. This in-depth educational series will take advantage of new technology, and the latest scientific understanding of the ecosystem, and will be realized by a fleet of award-winning cinematographers under Root's tutelage. Four of them are represented among the winners at this festival, including Mark Deeble, who with his wife Victoria Stone filmed the dramatic sequel at Mzima, a clear natural spring that allows unusual clarity for capturing the behavior of hippo.
"We had known his and Joan's classic, Mzima: Portrait of a Spring, almost from childhood - their film was the inspiration for us to look at the subject again - and apply the most recent technology to tell the story;" said Deeble. "We were privileged to work with Alan - he is the greatest wildlife story teller of all time. His is a rare combination of skill, humor, courage and brains." Alan Root served as Executive Producer on the film, which has won 27 international awards, including a Peabody Award, and an Emmy. The new Mzima film will be screened at the Explorers Club at 1:30 on Sunday, November 3.
For more information about the Explorers Club Film Festival, and tickets, see www.explorers.org All-Day passes to the Festival will also be sold for the discounted price of $50/$45 for Club members. All screenings at The Explorers Club, 46 East 70th Street, New York, NY 10021. Seating for Root's keynote is limited to 110 people; make your reservations early. Tickets may be reserved by calling 212-628-8383.
To find out more about Lone Eagle Copter Conservation, aerial support to protect elephant, rhino and other endangered species in East Africa, contact Delta Willis 212 787 6588, or deltaw@erols.com
4. Wildlife Television Training
Jeffery Boswall is running the following courses - Wildlife Television (Wildlife Television: An Insider's Story) - open to people of any age. Details of prices and booking should be obtained directly from the colleges.
8-10th November 2002
Burton Manor, Cheshire
For further details, please contact course administration:
Tel: 0151 336 5172
Fax: 0151 336 6586
email: enquiry@burtonmanor.com
14-16th March 2003
Knuston Hall, Northamptonshire
For further details, please contact Knuston Hall:
Tel: 01933 312 104
Fax: 01933 357 596
email: enquiries@knustonhall.org.uk
Website: http://www.knustonhall.org.uk
30th May-1st June 2003
Belstead House, Ipswich
For further details, please contact Belstead house:
Tel: 01473 686 321
Fax: 01473 686 664
email: belstead.house@educ.suffolkcc.gov.uk
11-13th July 2003
Abergavenny "The Hill" Campus, Abergavenny
For further details, please contact "The Hill":
Tel: 01495 333 777
Fax: 01495 333 778
email: hill@coleggwent.ac.uk
Website: www.coleggwent.ac.uk
18-20th July 2003
Pendrell Hall, Staffordshire
For further details, please contact Pendrell Hall:
Tel: 01902 434 112
Fax: 01902 434 113
email: pendrell.college@staffordshire.gov.uk
5. Wild Shots
Wild Shots is a brand new Granada Television series that encourages people of all ages to use their home video cameras to become wild life photographers.
Presented by award-winning natural history film maker, Nick Gordon, Wild Shots reveals how to get great video footage of often elusive creatures. Nick, who has spent almost all of his professional life in the Amazon rain forest, will share his enthusiasm and passion for the natural world, and reveal some of the tricks of the wild life film maker's trade.
Over the years his work has seen him come face to face with a wild jaguar, a giant anaconda and a tarantula the size of a dinner plate.
Says Nick: "The rain forest is home to the weird and the wonderful, but that doesn't mean that there aren't all sorts of fascinating indigenous creatures to capture on video. Insects in the garden shed or badgers in the local country park, urban foxes and bird life, all these and more are fascinating subjects. I hope Wild Shots encourages people to pick up their camcorders and start shooting. And if there are people out there who already have natural history footage we would dearly love to see it!"
If you have footage or would like any further information please ring Wild Shots on 0161 374 5566 or email wildshots@mmarts.com
6. Oceanfootage.com
A Community Marketplace Powered by DVfootage
Pacific Grove, CA - USA. The launch of oceanfootage.com, the first Community Marketplace to be offered by DVfootage, revolutionizes how stock footage is bought and sold. This online stock footage portal was developed to leverage the power of digital communications to create an opportunity for Buyers to retrieve, preview, and purchase clips from numerous independent Providers, who maintain control of the branding, pricing, and terms-of-use for each clip.
Buyers can find the most comprehensive collection of ocean-related stock footage available online. Purchase is quick and simple. Footage can be instantly searched, previewed, licensed, and delivered on CD, DVD or immediate download. All clips are clearly priced by the Provider based on royalty-free or rights-managed terms-of-use. Buyers are provided with extensive search options, including: search by keyword, subject categories, license terms, price, cinematographer, and originating format.
Oceanfootage.com is developed by DVfootage, a company that prides itself on promoting independence in stock footage sales and distribution. DVfootage founder, Dan Baron, has worked in the stock footage management and sales industry for the last 10 years. "Cinematographers want to access global markets for their footage, yet not give up control over the price, terms-of-use, and branding of their product. Meanwhile, footage buyers are expecting immediate retrieval, preview, license, purchase and delivery of clips. DVfootage has developed the Community Marketplace model to answer both needs," said Baron.
The content at oceanfootage.com reflects the high quality standards DVfootage requires for submittal. All footage is acquired utilizing 3-chip MiniDV, DVCam, Betacam SP, or Digital Betacam video cameras. All clips are captured and sold in native DV NTSC (720x480, 29.97fps) and DV PAL (720x576, 25fps). Providers pay an annual submission fee, starting at $750 to submit 15 minutes of footage, and receive 75% royalties on all sales. DVfootage plans to expand the Community Marketplace within the year to include nature, travel, action sports, and business footage.
For more information please call the DVfootage sales office at 866-DVFOOTAGE or email sales@dvfootage.com.
7. OSF Gets the Creative Treatment
Today, world-renowned image library OSF announced that it is in the process of a major repositioning exercise to attract a wider audience.
OSF is one of the world's leading providers of natural world imagery, highly regarded for the breadth and depth of its library, and the ability of its photographers to capture rarely photographed images.
Design company, Pyott, has been working with OSF for the past six months to reposition the brand. The company was commissioned for this project based on its earlier work to reposition Tony Stone Images during the early 1990s.
Head of OSF Libraries, Suzanne Aitzetmuller made the following comment: "We have some outstanding and unique images in our library that will appeal strongly to the creative industries. The repositioning work will help us connect with that audience."
The OSF brand will be relaunched at the beginning of November 2002, with a new identity, image catalogue and database-driven website.
8. Granada Visual appoints Absolutely Wild Visuals
Granada Visual has appointed Australian wildlife footage specialist Absolutely Wild Visuals as its representative "down under".
Granada Visual manages the footage collections from all the Granada Media owned production companies, but an integral part of this immense collection is 15,000 hours of wildlife material of stunning breadth and quality. The Survival, Partridge and Granada Wild libraries will now be marketed by AWV, and will be fully searchable on their website, www.wildvisuals.com.au. Granada Visual's footage, shot over a period of 30 years, spans every continent and natural habitat and has collected numerous awards and accolades for both outstanding cinematography and breathtaking insights into
the natural world.
Whether landmark shots, such as the famous crocodile and wildebeest attack, or the rare footage of lion infanticide, species both numerous and endangered feature in this amazing resource. The cinematographers who originated the material are some of the most notable names in the industry, including Mark Deeble and Victoria Stone, Nick Gordon, Bruce Davidson and Alan Root.
AWV was formed in 1999 by two of Australia's most experienced wildlife filmmakers, Tina Dalton-Hagege and Gary Steer and has grown rapidly to position itself as a specialist supplier of wildlife footage within the Australian market and beyond. With an emphasis on new technologies, AWV was the first in its market to offer a fully searchable catalogue online, with instant preview via streaming media.
Amanda Deadman, General Manager of Granada Visual, is very enthusiastic about the new relationship with AWV. "This marks an exciting development for Granada Visual. Over the past year we have brought together over 100,000 hours of Granada Media footage and were keen to make sure that we brought a clear focus to our stunning wildlife collections. In AWV we have found a company whose aims and aspirations are very similar to ours - they have an excellent reputation, a wide market reach and total commitment to customer service."
Tina Dalton-Hagege, Managing Director, Absolutely Wild Visuals adds:"We are delighted to sign a deal with Granada Visual to represent this prestigious catalogue. AWV has an ever-expanding client list and the Granada Visual wildlife library will prove an inspiration to all our creatives. We look forward to building this relationship over the coming months and years."
9. IGCP and Granada Visual collaborate to highlight successful conservation programme
Granada Visual and the International Gorilla Conservation Programme (a coalition of the African Wildlife Foundation, Fauna and Flora International and WWF-International) have collaborated in the production of a forthcoming promotional film to highlight the plight of the African mountain gorilla and the success of a decade long conservation programme.
The IGCP has been working towards the conservation of the mountain gorillas and their afromontane forest habitat in Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda since 1991. The coalition has pooled the resources, expertise and funds of its three member organisations and provided uninterrupted support to park authorities across the three countries throughout the past decade of war, genocide and conflict. The consequence of this effort has been an increase in the population of the mountain gorillas from 620 (1989 census) to 674 (2002 monitoring and census data). This remarkable success is a demonstration of the importance of a continued emphasis on long-term conservation objectives during times of conflict, when policy decisions, military and political objectives are often focused on much shorter term targets.
The film, currently in production, is being produced and directed by Bruce Davidson. Granada Visual, through the rich resources of the Survival library, has supported the cause with additional footage and materials illustrating the mountain gorilla's habitat and lifestyle filmed by Bruce over the past decade. This culminated in the programme "Mountain Gorilla: A Shattered Kingdom" which achieved worldwide acclaim.
Amanda Deadman, General Manager, Granada Visual comments "Granada Visual is very happy to provide assistance and footage to such a worthwhile project. Through Survival we have been closely linked with Bruce's work in this area for many years and will continue to support the IGCP in its efforts to protect these magnificent animals."
Looking at the puzzle of interlocking pieces that forms a strong conservation strategy (...what is it that makes conservation effective?) the film illustrates the complexity and multi-facetted nature of the work of IGCP. Most importantly it illustrates the foundation for IGCP's success: the Rwandan, Congolese and Ugandan conservationists that drive the programme. The emphasis of that work has been to protect one of the most unique and charismatic creatures on the earth today: the mountain gorilla.
10. FFC Footage Database
Filmmakers for Conservation now have a Members' Footage Database on their website www.filmmakersforconservation.org - just select 'Footage' from the main menu. Try searching on 'sharks' for a good example of how it works. You can search for footage on species or groups of animals for example and get a list of members who have such footage available. Then for each of these members you can get further information about the footage, their contact details, screener costs etc. Entry on the database is free for FFC members - yet another advantage of joining!
Recently I was asked for footage of macaws on a clay lick in Peru, and thanks to FFC we found the footage straight away, at the exact location required, and at a price the client was very happy with. So, next time you need some footage - just have a search on the FFC database - www.filmmakersforconservation.org
11. Snarl for the Camera
Snarl for the Camera - Tales of a Wildlife Cameraman is the title of a new book by James Gray which was launched at Wildscreen.
James' first film (about damsel flies) was screened by Survival Anglia in 1973 and he has travelled the world making wildlife films since then - including working on Living Planet, Trials of Life and Life of Birds.
This book looks back at his career - adventure by adventure - starting with his entry into the wildlife film world helped by the inimitable Jeffery Boswall. It is well-written and full of funny and eye-opening moments. It also reveals many of the tricks and 'cheats' that James used to get the shots he wanted!
I asked James what was his most memorable filming moment:
"Catching the caiman seemed quite exciting at the time, but it paled into insignificance half an hour or so later when we came to release the animal. Initially this involved two of us sitting astride this full-grown female caiman. Maria was looking after the caiman's head and front legs, while I tried to control the back end with the idea that we should both jump off at precisely the same moment, and run away. It seemed a faultless plan, but I hadn't allowed for Maria counting "One, Two, Three" in Spanish, and all I heard was something like "Undostre!" Almost immediately I noticed two things. Maria ran away and the caiman whipped round and tried to take a lump out of my knee."
Snarl for the Camera - 276 pages - ISBN 0-7499-2345-8
Further information and ordering (with 20% discount) from www.snarl-book.com
1. Training News
2. Wildscreen Winners
3. Alan Root To Be Honored by The Explorers Club
4. Wildlife Television Training
5. Wild Shots
6. Oceanfootage.com
7. OSF Gets the Creative Treatment
8. Granada Visual appoints Absolutely Wild Visuals
9. IGCP and Granada Visual collaborate
10. FFC Footage Database
11. Snarl for the Camera
12. OSF's Bug World Wins Two PANDA Awards
1. Training News
If you are interested in receiving occasional information by email about
training/workshops for wildlife film-makers then please go to www.wildeye.co.uk/training.html and enter your
email address. Plans for next year include training trips to Botswana and
Kenya, and careers workshops in the UK.
2. Wildscreen Winners
Britain Dominates Wildlife Films Awards
Winning ten of the seventeen prestigious Panda Awards at October's Wildscreen Festival 'Green Oscars' ceremony, British wildlife filmmakers maintain their world lead in natural history film production. The USA won three Pandas and production companies from China, Japan, Canada and Norway each won an Award. The Wildscreen Trust Award for Outstanding Achievement was awarded to British cameraman and producer, Hugh Miles, for his significant global contribution to filmmaking and conservation.
Wildscreen is the world's largest wildlife film festival. This year more than 350 remarkably varied films were entered from over 30 countries to win just 17 Panda Awards. From hippos to ants, from whales to hawks, the films are painstakingly produced to raise the viewing public's awareness of the fragile co-existence of animals and their habitats.
The BBC was awarded six Pandas including three, for the recent 'The Blue Planet' series. The 'Introduction' programme of the series was selected for the WWF Golden Panda Award for the best film of Wildscreen 2002 and for best Music and 'The Blue Planet' also won the best Series. The disturbing 'Ape Hunters' produced by BBC Wales won the One Planet Award, 'Lion Battlefield', the Award for Innovation and 'Iguanas - Living Like Dinosaurs' for Editing.
Independent filmmakers, Mark Deeble and Victoria Stone (UK) won two Pandas, Animal Behaviour and Camerawork for 'Mzima: Haunt of the River Horse' which reveals new observations about the life of the hippo. Two Independent UK producers won the new Award categories, best Presenter-Led Show and Panda-in-the-Pocket, 'Snake Hunter - North America', by Zebra and 'Bugworld - War of Two Worlds' by Oxford Scientific Films.
The best Script was won by US filmmakers DDE for 'The Living Edens: Yellowstone - Americas Sacred Wilderness'. US filmmakers also took the Panda for Natural Neighbours which explores the relationship between people and animals and here 'Pale Male' by FL Productions is the name given to a red-tailed hawk living among the skyscrapers of Manhattan. The Large Format (IMAX) Award went to Ocean Oasis by Summerhays Films.
Wild China Films took ten years to film 'The Mystery of Yunnan Snub-nosed Monkey, a highly endangered and never-before-filmed large primate living in the dark alpine forests of south west China. The film won the TVE Award which is presented in association with the Television Trust for the Environment to programme makers from countries which do not have a long history of wildlife filmmaking.
The Children's Award was won by Japanese filmmakers NHK for 'My Life as an Ant', the Newcomers Panda Award to 'Wild Reindeer' by Norwegian, Asgeir Helgestad and Interactive to 'Zoology Zone' by Canadian Reel Girls Media.
An international panel of judges from Australia, Canada, China, Norway, Spain, UK and USA selected the Panda Award Winners.
'We look for creativity and technical excellence in wildlife filmmaking and the entries this year demonstrate considerable talent,' said Jane Krish, Chief Executive of Wildscreen. 'The judges were particularly encouraged by the originality and vibrancy of 'Newcomer' entries which came from many parts of the world.'
3. Alan Root To Be Honored by The Explorers Club
The Kenya-based filmmaker Alan Root will receive his third Lifetime Achievement Award at the inaugural Explorers Club Film Festival on November 3.
Making a rare appearance in New York, Root will deliver the keynote at the documentary festival on Sunday evening, when awards will be presented. Among the winners are two films he was involved with producing, including "Mzima, Haunt of the River Horse," about Mzima Springs in Kenya's Tsavo National Park, where in 1969 Root made one of his first films, and was attacked by a hippo while filming underwater.
The British-born naturalist's ability to film creatures from a unique point of view already earned him two Lifetime Awards, from Britain's Wildscreen, and the Jackson Hole International Wildlife Film Festival - the first to be so honored by both organizations. When he filmed the epic wildebeest migration in the Serengeti, Root used the gondola of a hot air balloon as a filming platform. He became the first to float over Africa's highest peak, snapping images of the snows of Kilimanjaro at 24,000 feet. Now he flies a copter to assist conservation efforts in Africa, where he has captured the wonders of wildlife in award winning films for television. He has also written articles for National Geographic magazine, and he writes and edits his own films. Lacking any formal training, Root revealed hidden worlds by filming a bird's nest inside the trunk of an African Baobab tree, and mushroom gardens tended by termites in Mysterious Castles of Clay - an Oscar nominee narrated by Orson Welles.
When anthropologist Louis Leakey first invited Dian Fossey to Africa, he turned to Alan Root to introduce her to the mountain gorillas that became her passion. While filming Gorillas in the Mist, Root was mauled by a senior alpha male known as a Silverback, adding yet another scar to his body, already bitten by hippo, leopard and puff adder. A legend among filmmakers, and a visionary in conservation, Root was profiled in The New Yorker by George Plimpton.
Many of his films, including Year of the Wildebeest, are translated into Swahili and shown to African audiences for their inherent conservation message. His work has not been confined to Africa; he has filmed in Australia, New Guinea India and South America and a documentary on the Galapagos, The Enchanted Isles, was honored at the Cannes Film Festival, and given a Royal Premiere in London, where Root was presented to HRH Queen Elizabeth.
Root's first business venture was a photo safari company with boyfriend friend Richard Leakey. His first major film project was with the father and son team Dr. Bernard and Michael Grzimek. Tragically, Michael's zebra-striped plane collided with another flyer surveying the area - a vulture- and crashed into the slopes of Tanzania's Ngorongoro Crater. His death left his father distraught and unable to complete the project. Root managed to finish Serengeti Shall Not Die, and the documentary won an Oscar in 1959.
For a decade (in the Eighties) Root worked in the remote rain-forests of Zaire, filming gorillas and pigmies, active volcanoes and the Mountains of the Moon. He brought back unique footage of creatures never filmed before, including the Congo peacock.
Now Root returns to where his spirit lives - the Serengeti - to document one of the earth's last true Edens. The depth of his knowledge of this landscape is unrivalled. In addition to Serengeti Shall Not Die, Year of the Wildebeest, Islands in a Sea of Grass, and Serengeti Jigsaw, Root was chosen by the National Geographic Society to film the pivotal Serengeti lion research by George Schaller. This in-depth educational series will take advantage of new technology, and the latest scientific understanding of the ecosystem, and will be realized by a fleet of award-winning cinematographers under Root's tutelage. Four of them are represented among the winners at this festival, including Mark Deeble, who with his wife Victoria Stone filmed the dramatic sequel at Mzima, a clear natural spring that allows unusual clarity for capturing the behavior of hippo.
"We had known his and Joan's classic, Mzima: Portrait of a Spring, almost from childhood - their film was the inspiration for us to look at the subject again - and apply the most recent technology to tell the story;" said Deeble. "We were privileged to work with Alan - he is the greatest wildlife story teller of all time. His is a rare combination of skill, humor, courage and brains." Alan Root served as Executive Producer on the film, which has won 27 international awards, including a Peabody Award, and an Emmy. The new Mzima film will be screened at the Explorers Club at 1:30 on Sunday, November 3.
For more information about the Explorers Club Film Festival, and tickets, see www.explorers.org All-Day passes to the Festival will also be sold for the discounted price of $50/$45 for Club members. All screenings at The Explorers Club, 46 East 70th Street, New York, NY 10021. Seating for Root's keynote is limited to 110 people; make your reservations early. Tickets may be reserved by calling 212-628-8383.
To find out more about Lone Eagle Copter Conservation, aerial support to protect elephant, rhino and other endangered species in East Africa, contact Delta Willis 212 787 6588, or deltaw@erols.com
4. Wildlife Television Training
Jeffery Boswall is running the following courses - Wildlife Television (Wildlife Television: An Insider's Story) - open to people of any age. Details of prices and booking should be obtained directly from the colleges.
8-10th November 2002
Burton Manor, Cheshire
For further details, please contact course administration:
Tel: 0151 336 5172
Fax: 0151 336 6586
email: enquiry@burtonmanor.com
14-16th March 2003
Knuston Hall, Northamptonshire
For further details, please contact Knuston Hall:
Tel: 01933 312 104
Fax: 01933 357 596
email: enquiries@knustonhall.org.uk
Website: http://www.knustonhall.org.uk
30th May-1st June 2003
Belstead House, Ipswich
For further details, please contact Belstead house:
Tel: 01473 686 321
Fax: 01473 686 664
email: belstead.house@educ.suffolkcc.gov.uk
11-13th July 2003
Abergavenny "The Hill" Campus, Abergavenny
For further details, please contact "The Hill":
Tel: 01495 333 777
Fax: 01495 333 778
email: hill@coleggwent.ac.uk
Website: www.coleggwent.ac.uk
18-20th July 2003
Pendrell Hall, Staffordshire
For further details, please contact Pendrell Hall:
Tel: 01902 434 112
Fax: 01902 434 113
email: pendrell.college@staffordshire.gov.uk
5. Wild Shots
Wild Shots is a brand new Granada Television series that encourages people of all ages to use their home video cameras to become wild life photographers.
Presented by award-winning natural history film maker, Nick Gordon, Wild Shots reveals how to get great video footage of often elusive creatures. Nick, who has spent almost all of his professional life in the Amazon rain forest, will share his enthusiasm and passion for the natural world, and reveal some of the tricks of the wild life film maker's trade.
Over the years his work has seen him come face to face with a wild jaguar, a giant anaconda and a tarantula the size of a dinner plate.
Says Nick: "The rain forest is home to the weird and the wonderful, but that doesn't mean that there aren't all sorts of fascinating indigenous creatures to capture on video. Insects in the garden shed or badgers in the local country park, urban foxes and bird life, all these and more are fascinating subjects. I hope Wild Shots encourages people to pick up their camcorders and start shooting. And if there are people out there who already have natural history footage we would dearly love to see it!"
If you have footage or would like any further information please ring Wild Shots on 0161 374 5566 or email wildshots@mmarts.com
6. Oceanfootage.com
A Community Marketplace Powered by DVfootage
Pacific Grove, CA - USA. The launch of oceanfootage.com, the first Community Marketplace to be offered by DVfootage, revolutionizes how stock footage is bought and sold. This online stock footage portal was developed to leverage the power of digital communications to create an opportunity for Buyers to retrieve, preview, and purchase clips from numerous independent Providers, who maintain control of the branding, pricing, and terms-of-use for each clip.
Buyers can find the most comprehensive collection of ocean-related stock footage available online. Purchase is quick and simple. Footage can be instantly searched, previewed, licensed, and delivered on CD, DVD or immediate download. All clips are clearly priced by the Provider based on royalty-free or rights-managed terms-of-use. Buyers are provided with extensive search options, including: search by keyword, subject categories, license terms, price, cinematographer, and originating format.
Oceanfootage.com is developed by DVfootage, a company that prides itself on promoting independence in stock footage sales and distribution. DVfootage founder, Dan Baron, has worked in the stock footage management and sales industry for the last 10 years. "Cinematographers want to access global markets for their footage, yet not give up control over the price, terms-of-use, and branding of their product. Meanwhile, footage buyers are expecting immediate retrieval, preview, license, purchase and delivery of clips. DVfootage has developed the Community Marketplace model to answer both needs," said Baron.
The content at oceanfootage.com reflects the high quality standards DVfootage requires for submittal. All footage is acquired utilizing 3-chip MiniDV, DVCam, Betacam SP, or Digital Betacam video cameras. All clips are captured and sold in native DV NTSC (720x480, 29.97fps) and DV PAL (720x576, 25fps). Providers pay an annual submission fee, starting at $750 to submit 15 minutes of footage, and receive 75% royalties on all sales. DVfootage plans to expand the Community Marketplace within the year to include nature, travel, action sports, and business footage.
For more information please call the DVfootage sales office at 866-DVFOOTAGE or email sales@dvfootage.com.
7. OSF Gets the Creative Treatment
Today, world-renowned image library OSF announced that it is in the process of a major repositioning exercise to attract a wider audience.
OSF is one of the world's leading providers of natural world imagery, highly regarded for the breadth and depth of its library, and the ability of its photographers to capture rarely photographed images.
Design company, Pyott, has been working with OSF for the past six months to reposition the brand. The company was commissioned for this project based on its earlier work to reposition Tony Stone Images during the early 1990s.
Head of OSF Libraries, Suzanne Aitzetmuller made the following comment: "We have some outstanding and unique images in our library that will appeal strongly to the creative industries. The repositioning work will help us connect with that audience."
The OSF brand will be relaunched at the beginning of November 2002, with a new identity, image catalogue and database-driven website.
8. Granada Visual appoints Absolutely Wild Visuals
Granada Visual has appointed Australian wildlife footage specialist Absolutely Wild Visuals as its representative "down under".
Granada Visual manages the footage collections from all the Granada Media owned production companies, but an integral part of this immense collection is 15,000 hours of wildlife material of stunning breadth and quality. The Survival, Partridge and Granada Wild libraries will now be marketed by AWV, and will be fully searchable on their website, www.wildvisuals.com.au. Granada Visual's footage, shot over a period of 30 years, spans every continent and natural habitat and has collected numerous awards and accolades for both outstanding cinematography and breathtaking insights into
the natural world.
Whether landmark shots, such as the famous crocodile and wildebeest attack, or the rare footage of lion infanticide, species both numerous and endangered feature in this amazing resource. The cinematographers who originated the material are some of the most notable names in the industry, including Mark Deeble and Victoria Stone, Nick Gordon, Bruce Davidson and Alan Root.
AWV was formed in 1999 by two of Australia's most experienced wildlife filmmakers, Tina Dalton-Hagege and Gary Steer and has grown rapidly to position itself as a specialist supplier of wildlife footage within the Australian market and beyond. With an emphasis on new technologies, AWV was the first in its market to offer a fully searchable catalogue online, with instant preview via streaming media.
Amanda Deadman, General Manager of Granada Visual, is very enthusiastic about the new relationship with AWV. "This marks an exciting development for Granada Visual. Over the past year we have brought together over 100,000 hours of Granada Media footage and were keen to make sure that we brought a clear focus to our stunning wildlife collections. In AWV we have found a company whose aims and aspirations are very similar to ours - they have an excellent reputation, a wide market reach and total commitment to customer service."
Tina Dalton-Hagege, Managing Director, Absolutely Wild Visuals adds:"We are delighted to sign a deal with Granada Visual to represent this prestigious catalogue. AWV has an ever-expanding client list and the Granada Visual wildlife library will prove an inspiration to all our creatives. We look forward to building this relationship over the coming months and years."
9. IGCP and Granada Visual collaborate to highlight successful conservation programme
Granada Visual and the International Gorilla Conservation Programme (a coalition of the African Wildlife Foundation, Fauna and Flora International and WWF-International) have collaborated in the production of a forthcoming promotional film to highlight the plight of the African mountain gorilla and the success of a decade long conservation programme.
The IGCP has been working towards the conservation of the mountain gorillas and their afromontane forest habitat in Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda since 1991. The coalition has pooled the resources, expertise and funds of its three member organisations and provided uninterrupted support to park authorities across the three countries throughout the past decade of war, genocide and conflict. The consequence of this effort has been an increase in the population of the mountain gorillas from 620 (1989 census) to 674 (2002 monitoring and census data). This remarkable success is a demonstration of the importance of a continued emphasis on long-term conservation objectives during times of conflict, when policy decisions, military and political objectives are often focused on much shorter term targets.
The film, currently in production, is being produced and directed by Bruce Davidson. Granada Visual, through the rich resources of the Survival library, has supported the cause with additional footage and materials illustrating the mountain gorilla's habitat and lifestyle filmed by Bruce over the past decade. This culminated in the programme "Mountain Gorilla: A Shattered Kingdom" which achieved worldwide acclaim.
Amanda Deadman, General Manager, Granada Visual comments "Granada Visual is very happy to provide assistance and footage to such a worthwhile project. Through Survival we have been closely linked with Bruce's work in this area for many years and will continue to support the IGCP in its efforts to protect these magnificent animals."
Looking at the puzzle of interlocking pieces that forms a strong conservation strategy (...what is it that makes conservation effective?) the film illustrates the complexity and multi-facetted nature of the work of IGCP. Most importantly it illustrates the foundation for IGCP's success: the Rwandan, Congolese and Ugandan conservationists that drive the programme. The emphasis of that work has been to protect one of the most unique and charismatic creatures on the earth today: the mountain gorilla.
10. FFC Footage Database
Filmmakers for Conservation now have a Members' Footage Database on their website www.filmmakersforconservation.org - just select 'Footage' from the main menu. Try searching on 'sharks' for a good example of how it works. You can search for footage on species or groups of animals for example and get a list of members who have such footage available. Then for each of these members you can get further information about the footage, their contact details, screener costs etc. Entry on the database is free for FFC members - yet another advantage of joining!
Recently I was asked for footage of macaws on a clay lick in Peru, and thanks to FFC we found the footage straight away, at the exact location required, and at a price the client was very happy with. So, next time you need some footage - just have a search on the FFC database - www.filmmakersforconservation.org
11. Snarl for the Camera
Snarl for the Camera - Tales of a Wildlife Cameraman is the title of a new book by James Gray which was launched at Wildscreen.
James' first film (about damsel flies) was screened by Survival Anglia in 1973 and he has travelled the world making wildlife films since then - including working on Living Planet, Trials of Life and Life of Birds.
This book looks back at his career - adventure by adventure - starting with his entry into the wildlife film world helped by the inimitable Jeffery Boswall. It is well-written and full of funny and eye-opening moments. It also reveals many of the tricks and 'cheats' that James used to get the shots he wanted!
I asked James what was his most memorable filming moment:
"Catching the caiman seemed quite exciting at the time, but it paled into insignificance half an hour or so later when we came to release the animal. Initially this involved two of us sitting astride this full-grown female caiman. Maria was looking after the caiman's head and front legs, while I tried to control the back end with the idea that we should both jump off at precisely the same moment, and run away. It seemed a faultless plan, but I hadn't allowed for Maria counting "One, Two, Three" in Spanish, and all I heard was something like "Undostre!" Almost immediately I noticed two things. Maria ran away and the caiman whipped round and tried to take a lump out of my knee."
Snarl for the Camera - 276 pages - ISBN 0-7499-2345-8
Further information and ordering (with 20% discount) from www.snarl-book.com
12. OSF's Bug World Wins Two PANDA Awards
at Wildscreen 2002
London, 28 October - Bug World, a 2 x 1 hour film, produced by Oxford Scientific
Films (OSF), has won two PANDA Awards at the Wildlife Film Festival, Wildscreen,
in Bristol last week.
It won the Panda in the Pocket, a new award for productions which bring
fresh light to the natural world - "a reward for something really out for
the ordinary" and also the much coveted Delegate's! Choice Award - given
by the Festival delegates for their favourite entry.
Mark Strickson commented, "We are delighted that Bug World has picked up
two of the most coveted awards at Wildscreen. It was particularly pleasing
to receive the Delegates! Choice Award a real endorsement from the filmmakers
themselves! This achievement demonstrates that our recent diversification
into populist documentary programming sits comfortably alongside our time
honoured ability to produce quality, blue chip, award-winning documentaries."
Bug World is about the bugs in our lives, revealing not just the insects
themselves but the people whose lives get wrapped up in the consequences
of their minute and often multitudinous actions; victims of spider bites,
termite attack, malaria and locust hordes. The production is a mixture of
conventional documentary filming and specialist wildlife macro-photography.
Unusually, creator and producer Dave Allen used specialist wildlife crews
to film both aspects. The camera teams brought their obsession with
special effects and intimate camera angles to the conventional sync filming,
creating a stylistically distinctive effect.
Filming the insects involved a full range of special wildlife macro techniques,
many of which were pioneered by OSF during the seventies and eighties and
are now industry standards. Techniques used include ultra close up
lenses, modelscopes, borescopes, scanning electron microscopes and time
lapse.
Bug World is produced for Granada Media for Channel Four and The Learning
Channel (TLC).
With the recent appointment of Mark Strickson as Head of Programmes, OSF
has strategically re-positioned itself within the factual marketplace (Mark
is a specialist in presenter-led television and is well known for having
directed the first films with Australian Steve Irwin, 'The Crocodile Hunter').
OSF is expanding both in terms of volume and genres and is set to triple
its production output in 2002.
