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Features / Case Studies (Stories from around the wildlife film-making world!) Page 7
from 2014
Go back to Features home or check out Pages 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 11



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Discovery Channel Wants Us to Watch a Man Get Eaten By An Anaconda
By Chris Palmer and Shannon Lawrence
7th December 2014
Did you see the man who let a snake eat him on TV last night? Sounds like a joke, but sadly, it’s real. On Sunday, December 7, Discovery Channel will air Eaten Alive, a show that promises the ultimate man versus nature showdown. Armed with a “snake-proof suit,” naturalist Paul Rosolie will allow himself to be eaten by an anaconda.
What were Discovery executives thinking when they green-lighted this program? There’s a simple answer: ratings. In the television industry, ratings are king — even if that means losing reputable programming. Discovery has equated educational programming with boredom, replacing it with shock value to attract viewers. In turn, they’ve thrown conservation and animal welfare out the window.
Is it wrong to aim for higher ratings? No. Any business model would include activities that enhance the success of their product. But for a company with a reputation as a source of educational and environmentally sound information, the decision to air Eaten Alive has serious implications for both public awareness and the wildlife involved in the stunt.

Paul Rosolie in his "snake-proof suit"
Read the full feature here... |



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The BBC Life Story story - Filming Techniques!
By Caragh Salisbury - Digital Producer at BBC Earth
25 November 2014
BBC Life Story is a landmark 6-part TV series, currently available on the BBC iPlayer. Presented by David Attenborough, it tells the remarkable and often perilous story of the journey through life.
This is the first series that the BBC Natural History Unit has shot in Ultra High Definition (4k). The quality of the images is much higher with 4k because it captures four times as much information and detail. This has the effect of bringing the viewer closer to, and more in to, the animal’s world.
The detail is not just for fun - it actually brings you closer to, and more in to, the animal’s world, because a lot of this is about seeing the lives of these animals on their faces and in their eyes.
The Life Story team spent 1900 days filming the series, in 29 countries across six continents. They travelled a total of 1,850,798 miles – the equivalent of circling the globe 78 times. They recorded a total of 1800 hours of footage – that’s 300 terabytes of data, or the equivalent of 64,000 DVD’s.
Here are some of the filming techniques used in production:

Filming Meerkats - Photo by member Sophie Lanfear
Spectacular steadicam moments: Meerkats, Kangaroos and Fur Seals
New filming techniques with the steadicam reveal to viewers the animal’s view of what is happening for the first time. In this instance, the steadicam was used to film a meerkat's view of an encounter with a cobra.
Clip of Meerkats mobbing a Cobra
Read the full feature here... |














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Beyond Borders Film School News
By Sebastien Rombi
27th October 2014
Beyond Borders Film School is very proud to announce the opening of their second branch situated in Kruger National Park!
With competitive rates and access to elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, rhinos, wild dogs etc ... on 15000 HA property, Beyond Borders is definitely the BEST wildlife film school in Africa.
Their WEBSITE has been completely re-done and features now their Garden Route branch as well as their Kruger National Park branch.
If a 30 day course is too long for you, they now also offer 21 day courses all year round.
They had a great past couple of month with some students producing some great short wildlife documentaries. Here is the link of their Youtube Channel if you are interested in seeing some of them: www.youtube.com/channel/UCkJ5D8IGmqymZzJtplKiXWw
One of their latest student produced a wonderful promo video about the animal sanctuaries occurring around their Garden Route branch such as Monkeyland, Birds of Eden and Jukani Predator Park. You can watch it HERE - It is called The Eden Syndrome.
Their student also produced a great 3D short documentary about Cape Fur Seals. You can watch the 2D version HERE. It is called Swimming with Seals. The quality of the underwater footage is really amazing!
Student Short Documentaries from Beyond Borders Film School
 They still have some places available for their course in November (starting on the 21st of November) and the dates for their 2015 courses (21 days and 30 days) are now out on their WEBSITE.
A couple of people are already interested in enrolling in Kruger in January/February/March so contact Sebastien Rombi on sebastienr@beyondborders.co.za or via telephone on +27723030582 if you would like to put your name down. |


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Wildscreen Panda Awards 2014 Winners Announced!
By Wildscreen
23rd October 2014
The Oscars of the natural history and wildlife film industry - the Wildscreen Panda Awards - were announced at a prestigious and glittering awards ceremony on Thurdsay 23rd of October 2014. The Panda Awards are the centrepiece of the Wildscreen Festival, and were presented by Monty Halls and Patrick Aryee.
This year, the WWF Golden Panda Award - which is given to the best overall production - was given to On a River in Ireland from Crossing the Line Productions (Ireland). The film also took home the Script Award and shared the Panasonic Cinematography Award.
The Outstanding Achievement Award - which is given to an organisation or individual that has made a globally significant contribution to wildlife filmmaking, conservation and/or the public's understanding of the environment went to John Downer.
We hope you had a fantastic time at the Festival and look forward to seeing you all again in 2016!
Wildscreen Award Winners Announced:
Terra Mater Factual Studios Theatrical - Chimpanzee
Disneynature - Silverback Films (United Kingdom)
Kenya Fixer: Jean Hartley/ViewFinders
3D - Enchanted Kingdom
BBC Earth Films (United Kingdom)
Sound: Chris Watson Kenya Fixer: Jean Hartley/ViewFinders Camera: Jonathan Jones
Disneynature Innovation: David Attenborough's Natural History Museum Alive
Colossus Productions (United Kingdom)
NHK Science: Your Inner Fish
Tangled Bank Studios and Windfall Films (USA)
Against All Odds: Legends of the Deep - Giant Squid
An NHK, NHK Enterprises and Discovery Channel co-production in association with ZDF and ARTE (Japan and USA)
Panasonic Cinematography: Shared between Chimpanzee and On a River in Ireland
Disneynature/Silverback Films - Camera: Martyn Colbeck & Bill Wallauer (United Kingdom) & Crossing the Line Productions -
Camera: John Murray (Ireland)
Children's Choice Award: Deadly Pole to Pole to Arctic
CBBC BBC and BBC Worldwide (United Kingdom)
Script: On a River in Ireland
Crossing the Line Productions (Ireland)
Script: Production Team
Discovery People and Nature: Bat Man of Mexico
Tom Mustill - Windfall Films (United Kingdom)
Read the interview with Tom Mustill - Director of The Bat Man of Mexico here!
ORF Universum Animal Behaviour - Chimpanzee
Disneynature - Silverback Films (United Kingdom)
Nat Geo WILD Popular Broadcast - Penguins: Spy in the Huddle
John Downer Productions (United Kingdom)
Icon Films Newcomer: Sirocco How A Dud Became A Stud
Ashwika Kapur – Centre for Science Communication (New Zealand)
Bundu Youth: Elephant Seals
Alex Jones/Wildlife Film Productions (USA)
BBC Earth New Media: Earth Unplugged Youtube Channel
BBC Earth (USA)
Campaign: Tools of the Trade
WildAid and Homestead (USA)
Environment & Conservation: Shark Girl
Kaufmann Productions Pty Ltd, in association with Smithsonian Channel, Terra Mater & ABC Australia (Australia)
Music: David Attenborough's Natural History Museum Alive
Colossus Productions (United Kingdom)
Music: Ilan Eshkeri
Films@59 Sound: Hidden Kingdoms - Under Open Skies
BBC, Discovery Channel, RTL, France Televisions & CCTV9 (United Kingdom)
Sound: Tim Owens
Series: Hebrides - Islands on the Edge
Maramedia and Otter Films for BBC Scotland and ITV Studios Global Entertainment (United Kingdom)
Doghouse Editing: Leopards: 21st Century Cats Joint with Wild Canada
Icon Films for BBC (United Kingdom) - Editing: Rupert Troskie with Brian Leith Productions & River Road Films (Canada) - Editing: Matt Meech
Short: The Forgotten Home of Coffee
Kew Gardens & Lonelyleap (United Kingdom)
Presenter Led: Secrets of Bones
BBC & BBC Worldwide (United Kingdom)
Presenter: Ben Garrod
Special Jury Award: Your Inner Fish
Tangled Bank Studios and Windfall Films (USA)
Best of Festival: On a River in Ireland
Crossing the Line Productions (Ireland)
The photographs of the 2014 Panda Awards Winners are now live and can be viewed on the Wildscreen Flickr. Also see photographs from the photo booth at Club Privé - Wildscreen Tuesday Night Party 2014 here!
More on the Wildscreen Festival website.
Wildlife-film.com winning members are listed in bold above... Congratulations to them all!!
NB.
If we've missed out your part in any production, please let us know! :)
Read more and see the full list of winners here... |



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The Environmental Investigation Agency – 30 game-changing years of exposing environmental crime and exploitation
By Paul Newman – EIA
September 2014
The London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) is a campaigning organisation like no other, and September 17, 2014 marked 30 years of working on the front lines to expose environmental crime and exploitation.
It began with three young activists seeking to make a difference and has grown into unique, manoeuvrable and hugely effective organisation, driving changes in international law and putting the concept of organised transnational environmental crime onto political agendas around the world.
Carving out a solid reputation for investigations and campaigns, EIA works on a wide range of environmental crimes including illegal wildlife trade (tigers, elephants and cetaceans), illegal logging, hazardous waste and trade in climate- and ozone-altering chemicals.
EIA differs from other NGOs in its strong focus on environmental criminality, dispatching investigators to work undercover with hidden cameras, false-front companies and assumed identities, often in harrowing and potentially dangerous circumstances.
Its findings are shared with appropriate enforcement authorities for action, and used to highlight issues and bring pressure to bear on them.
See the full Feature Page here... |


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British Wildlife Photography Awards 2014 Winners Announced!
1 September 2014
The British Wildlife Photography Awards proudly announce the winners for 2014.
The Awards celebrate both the work of amateur and professional photographers and the beauty and diversity of British wildlife.
Winning and commended images are chosen from thousands of entries in sixteen separate categories including a special film category for Wildlife in HD Video and three junior categories to encourage young people to connect with nature through photography.
“Each year the British Wildlife Photography Awards generates an incredible catalogue of splendid, exciting, imaginative and artistic images, proving beyond doubt that we have the richest palette of life to celebrate in our own backyard. Anyone passionate about protecting and preserving wildlife will be inspired by the British Wildlife Photography Awards, which in its fifth year has done more than any other award to raise the profile of British wildlife”, Chris Packham, TV Presenter and Naturalist.
The Winners
British Wildlife Photographer

'The Tourist'
by Lee Acaster (London, England)
The winning picture ‘The Tourist’, is by Lee Acaster, for his image of a Greylag Goose in London.
"It was a real privilege to have such a close encounter with a wild bird in the very heart of London. I vividly remember the excitement I felt as she patiently waited for me to get the shot, and I knew immediately this was a once in a lifetime opportunity, I’m just grateful that she didn't lose interest as quickly as my children do when I’m taking photographs of them”. Lee Acaster.
Judge Mark Ward, Editor-in-Chief, at RSPB Nature’s Home Magazine commented “The winning photograph shows a familiar bird in a familiar setting, but the visual impact is extraordinary. The stormy, brooding backdrop sets a dramatic scene, while the orange and pink from the bird bring vibrancy to the monochromatic cityscape. Lee’s stunning photograph proves you do not have to travel far from home to capture the very best of Britain’s wildlife images.”
WILDLIFE IN HD VIDEO – 'Tide' by Rebecca Payne (Bristol,
England)
Tide from BWPAwards
Highlights of all the commended winners:
BWPA Highlights 2014 from BWPAwards
Highly commended entries:
A Sense of Placeby Max Smith
A Sting in the Taleby Mat Thompson
Squirrel Island by Sam Meyrick
Crustacean Sensationby Sue Daly
Arctic Charby Andy Jackson
Urban Foxes by Dani Godwin
Beauty and the Beast by Tim Balmer
Sex Life of a Snail by Kathryn Feavers
Morning Placidityby Hilxia Szabo
Congratulations to those above, especially to the Wildlife-film.com members highlighted!
WildPix Young People’s Awards here: www.bwpawards.org/static/young-winner-2014.html
See the full Feature Page here... |


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Jackson Hole Science Media Awards Announces 2014 Finalists
From Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival
1st August 2014
The Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival is delighted to announce the
finalists selected for its second biennial 2014 Jackson Hole Science Media Awards. This year’s saw more than 480 entries competing for 21 special awards.
More than 140 international judges screened
an aggregated 3000+ hours in order to select the finalist films. Finalists in the peer-judged Craft Categories (Visualization, Editing, Writing and Audioscape) and Special Consideration nominations were announced August 15.
The 2014 Science Media Award-winners will be selected by a distinguished panel of judges preceding
the three-day Science Media Symposium, an industry conference hosted in partnership with WGBH in Boston, September 17-19, and will be announced at a gala Awards Celebration at the New England Aquarium, on September 17th.
Jackson Hole Science Media Awards Trailer from JH Wildlife Film Festival
Congratulations to members Brian Leith Productions, Gulo Film Productions, Silverback Filmsand Montana State University, MFA Science and Natural History Filmmaking Program for their nominations...
Check out the list of finalists here... |



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Gray Area: Wolves of the Southwest
By Alan Lacy
29 July 2014
Missing from the landscape of Mexico and the American Southwest for over thirty years, the Mexican gray wolf is once again roaming the wilderness in portions of Arizona and New Mexico. This species of wolf, often referred to as the lobo, came within one female of extinction in the 1970’s. Thanks to the dedicated hard work of individuals and organizations, this species is now on its way to recovery. However, fewer than 100 are in the wild today. Gray Area: Wolves of the Southwest, is a film on this unique sub-species of wolf, and is intended to create more interest and awareness for this critically endangered species.

Mexican wolves once inhabited the Southwestern United States and throughout most of Mexico. After many years of extermination campaigns, wolves across America were effectively reduced to near extinction levels within the United States and Mexico. In 1973, the Endangered Species Act was enacted. The Mexican was listed as an endangered species in 1976, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service sent a trapper into Mexico to capture the last remaining lobos on the planet. He managed to capture 5 wolves in various regions of Northern Mexico, and found 2 more in a zoo; the entire species reduced to within 7 animals of extinction. The collaborative efforts between Mexico and the United States saved this species from extinction, and a captive breeding program began.
Gray Area: Wolves of the Southwest from The Last Pack
Read more and #FundThePack here... |


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The Demonising of Wolves by Animal Planet
By Richard Brock
22 July 2014
The wolf has had a bad press ever since the Little Red Riding Hood story broke…
“However, pressure from concerned citizens can sometimes make a radical difference. In May 2013, Animal Planet started promoting a new program called Man-Eating Super Wolves with this description: “Razor sharp teeth, killer instinct, and senses so precise they hear your beating heart, and your fear. They’re on the hunt, and now with numbers growing out of control, they’re threatening humans like never before.”
The environmental community was outraged. Jamie Clark, president of Defenders of Wildlife, told me, “At first I was so shocked. I actually thought it was a joke.” She described it as “reprehensible on so many levels.” In a letter to her members demanding that Animal Planet take the show off the air immediately, she wrote, “Animal Planet has sadly joined the legions of wolf-haters waging war on our struggling wolves…(It) is airing a lurid, factually absurd, and shameful special…(which) portrays wolves as bloodthirsty killing machines…This is pure tabloid sensationalism and just plain wrong…This despicable distortion of reality could not come at a worse time for wolves. Wolf-haters have mounted extermination efforts in Idaho and elsewhere, threatening to reverse two decades of hard-won progress for one of America’s most beloved wild animals.” Clark called the program a “shoddy tabloid pseudo-documentary.”
Criticism from the International Wolf Center, renowned wolf expert David Mech, and many others led Animal Planet to cancel the program, showing that public pressure on broadcasters can work.” (Excerpt from Chris Palmer’s upcoming book Confessions of a Wildlife Filmmaker.)
Except on 21st July 2014 Discovery’s Animal Planet showed that same wolf program at 10pm in Britain. And where else on world TV will they continue to desecrate wild animals in this way?

Discovery Promo Picture - Man-Eating Super Wolves - Sibera Hunter
Read more from Richard here... |


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Multi-Award Winning Wildlife Evolution Series Returns!
By NHNZ
4 July 2014
The second season of the multi-award winning and critically acclaimed series, Life Force, premieres on the Science Channel in the USA on Monday 7 July, at 10PM ET/PT under the title Mutant Planet.
Life Force 2 builds on the worldwide success of Life Force, a six part series that explored evolutionary hotspots around the world. The series has been co-produced with NHNZ, NHK and CCTV9, and will premiere in several nations over the next six months.
This blue-chip evolutionary wildlife science series follows the dramas of the daily lives of animals found in biodiverse global ‘hot spots’, unravelling compelling science mysteries, and showing how strange ties and curious connections bind our mutant world. The series sets itself apart from traditional natural history shows by carefully crafting a blend of genres, combining exceptional wildlife photography by world-class crews with CGI, cinematic-style narratives and cutting-edge science.
Read more here... |



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Nominations for natural history film ‘Oscars’ announced!
By Wildscreen
19th June 2014
Today, Thursday 19 June, the nominations for the bi-annual international wildlife TV and film awards have been announced.
Wildscreen’s prestigious Panda Awards received 488 entries from 42 countries, representing the very best in creativity, technological innovation and storytelling from across the industry.

David Attenborough’s Natural History Museum Alive
Over 30 UK-made wildlife programmes have made the shortlist across 22 different categories. David Attenborough’s Natural History Museum Alive (Colossus Productions) is shortlisted for awards in six categories acknowledging the series’ musical score, accessibility for younger viewers and technological innovation.
Bill Bailey’s Jungle Hero (BBC, BBC Worldwide, Science Channel and Glassbox Productions), Chimpanzee (Disneynature) and Leopards: 21st Century Cats (Icon Films for BBC) have also been shortlisted in multiple categories.

Chimpanzee
The Panda Awards – dubbed the ‘Green Oscars’ – forms the centrepiece of the Wildscreen Film Festival which celebrates the very best in natural history film making and takes place in Bristol, England from 19-24 October. The awards ceremony will be held on Thursday 23 October.
The shortlisted films represent some of the best international wildlife films this year with other nominations including the USA’s Mysteries of the Unseen World (National Geographic Entertainment), Kenya’s Lion Guardians (Kire Godal for Lion Guardians), Australia’s Sea Eagle (Mint Productions), and New Zealand’s The Last Ocean (Fisheye Films Ltd) amongst entries from as far afield as Japan, Switzerland, Canada and South Africa.
Read more and see the full list here... |



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Tom Mustill - Director of The Bat Man of Mexico
By Jason Peters
13 June 2014
An interview with member, Tom Mustill, the director of The Bat Man of Mexico, a Natural World Special, first showing on BBC Two at 9pm on Friday the 13th of June 2014.

What's the story of your latest film?
It's about a man called Rodrigo Medellin, who is a Mexican conservationist. His great passion is bats, and the film charts the end of his twenty year effort to pull a species called the Lesser Long-Nosed Bat back from extinction, and follows his journey alongside the bats on their migration, which takes them 1500 miles across Mexico from giant underground volcanoes to desert islands. What's rather special about the film is that it is a pretty audacious success story - Rodrigo and his team have brought the bats back from a very precarious level, and now their populations are thriving.
Read the full interview here!
Watch the film on BBC iPlayer until June the 20th! Don't miss it!! :) |




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Tutoring in Norway: Wildlife and the Northern Lights using Canon
By Adrian Cale
8th May 2014
I recently travelled to Norway with Canon kit to help tutor aspiring wildlife filmmakers for UK based wildlife filmmaking group Wildeye and our Norwegian host Bernhard Paussett of Norsk Naturfilm. Our mission – to film the wildlife and Northern Lights.
We stayed at Sandsøy Fort (an abandoned coastal fort now fitted out for visitors) on the northwest coast of Norway, where the wild landscape would not have been out of place in Lord of the Rings. Here mountain ranges cloaked in thick snow roll out as far as the eye can see, while all around, sister islands reach from the waves to the sky in equally epic proportions. Surrounded by such rugged beauty this white wilderness is truly a stunning place to visit.
The conditions at this time of the year are extreme to say the least. With temperatures dropping to -11° it was going to be a challenge. At these temperatures communication from brain to fingers can be short lived so the right clothing is essential if fingers are to remain in good working order around a camera.
Read the full Feature here... |


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Wildscreen appoints new Chief Executive
By Wildscreen
27th of March 2014
Wildscreen, the award-winning wildlife conservation charity, today announces the appointment of Caroline Copsey as its new CEO.
Caroline joins Wildscreen following 3 years at Dyson Ltd where she most recently held position as the head of marketing for international business development. She started with the company in 2011 as group marketing controller.
Her career to date has given her extensive commercial, marketing and management experience both nationally and internationally working across a wide range of industries. Before Dyson, she was responsible for the introduction and marketing of several national food brands to the consumer market.
Caroline’s experience puts her in an ideal position to spearhead the expansion of existing Wildscreen platforms and to drive forward the development of innovative new projects and the international ambitions of the organisation.
She replaces Richard Edwards, who stepped down as chief executive in November last year to take up a new opportunity with WWF-UK.
See more here... |



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Wild Pages 14/15 is Out Now!!
By Wildeye Publishing
18th March 2014
The wait for the second edition of Wild Pages: The Wildlife Film-makers' Resource Guide is finally over... We have just recieved the first boxes of the publication and it is now available in print, eBook and Kindle versions! :)
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Latest edition fully updated and expanded - 355 packed pages
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A complete tool-kit of information for all wildlife film-makers – established and newcomers
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Listings of wildlife production companies, footage libraries, distributors, broadcasters, location managers/fixers, film festivals, organisations, publications, freelancers and more, with contact details, weblinks and descriptions
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Including answers to those all-important questions such as whether companies take people on work experience or consider co-productions, how to submit proposals etc.
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Invaluable information at your fingertips to save hours of trawling through the Internet and sending many emails
Please order your copy from the first boxes now! Visit: www.wildeye.co.uk/wildpages/order.html Thank you!!
See more here... |


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Our urban neighbour - Dani Godwin on a year of wildlife education and filming Bristols foxes.
By Danielle Godwin
March 2014
My name is Dani Godwin. I am a wildlife photographer and filmmaker living in Bristol, UK. I have always had a passion for the world around me. I love to travel and come into contact with exotic wildlife and different cultures. I have spent much of my time photographing in the wild but I have also spent time observing animal behavior inside zoos. After spending six months travelling around the world, crossing borders by every method possible, playing Pictionary with tuk-tuk drivers and spending time with elephants, wombats and many other animals, I have to say my most memorable moment was giving a BBC Wildlife Magazine to a group of Cambodian children and seeing their faces light up in awe when, for the first time, they saw a photo of a wolf in snow. It was a truly inspiring moment for me.
I was lucky enough last year to be accepted onto the MA Wildlife Filmmaking course in collaboration with UWE and the BBC. It was, so far, the best year of my life. I have come out of the year with a well-rounded understanding of the film industry and have met many great people within the industry, who have given me the greatest advice.
During my time on the course, I was given many opportunities and have created films for WWT Slimbridge, undertaken research for BBC2’s The Burrowers and was, last year, really pleased to have one of my films “Highly Commended” at the British Wildlife Photography Awards. Winter Snow
The highlight for me was being able to create a film on a British animal that I believe needed some attention, The Urban Fox.
Read more here... |


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Help OFI build a Forest Enclosure for 3 Sun Bears in Indonesia
By Patrick Rouxel
March 2014
When I first saw Kevin in July 2012 at the OFI Orangutan Care Centre and Quarantine in Central Indonesian Borneo, I was impressed by the size of his canines, the length of his claws, and how powerful he looked. Like most people, I did not dare get too close to his cage.
Desi, much smaller in size and with grey hair on her face, looked much less impressive, but I also kept a safe distance because she seemed to be always grumpy and quick at biting if your hands got too close to her cage.
Hilda was in a dark cage where it was difficult to see her unless you got real close, which I didn't venture doing.
Every day I would get rotting logs from the nearby forest to give to the bears. They loved ripping through them to get to the termites, larva, and forest cockroaches. They just couldn't get enough of them. After a few days, the bears were greeting me with happy faces as I arrived in the mornings.
They were so thrilled about getting these logs and ripping them apart, thrilled about doing what sun bears love to do. They showed no aggression towards me and soon allowed me to stick my arms in their cages to pat them and play.
Read more here... |



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Meet the Mexican Ambassador for Keiko, the Untold Story of the Star of Free Willy – Member Karla Munguia Colmenero
By Jason Peters
March 2014
Wildlife conservationist and film-maker, Karla has been given the role of Ambassador in Mexico and Latin America for the film Keiko, The Untold Story of the Star of Free Willy.
Read the letter from the film-maker Theresa Demarest, describing Karla's background and outlining her task:
To Whom It May Concern,
We have entered into an agreement with Karla Munguia Colmenero, wildlife filmmaker and conservationist, to be our ambassador and representative in Mexico for our documentary film Keiko The Untold Story of the Star of Free Willy, which documents the life and true story of Keiko, the orca whale who starred in the hit film Free Willy, and the only orca ever released from captivity into the wild.
Karla was nine years old when she first met Keiko at Reino Aventura...
Read more here... |



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Introducing ROAR Talent!
By Wildscreen
5th March 2014
We are launching an incredibly exciting new initiative at the Wildscreen Festival this year. 2014 will be the inaugural year for the Wildscreen ROAR Talent Programme and Bursary!
ROAR Talent Programme
The ROAR Talent programme is a strand of sessions, workshops and events tailored to the knowledge level and requirements of industry newcomers, or beginners in specific areas. The aim of the strand is to teach vital foundation skills and provide valuable trade know-how, with each session acting as a thorough introduction to a specific topic.
The workshops are open to everyone, with the tickets being available to purchase in the same way as all Wildscreen workshop tickets.
ROAR Talent workshops will be denoted in the programme with the ROAR Talent logo, as will all events within the strand.
Read more here... |




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AU’s Center for Environmental Filmmaking
And the School of Communication
Present
The 9th Annual Spring 2014 Film Series
Hosted by Chris Palmer
THURSDAY, MARCH 20 at 7pm
JOURNEY TO THE SOUTH PACIFIC (A 3D IMAX Film)
TUESDAY, MARCH 25 at 7pm
Reception at 6:30pm
AN EVENING WITH CHRIS PALMER: CAN COMEDY ENCOURAGE CONSERVATION?
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26 at 7pm
STUDENT SHORT ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL
THURSDAY, MARCH 27 at 7pm
“OK, I’VE WATCHED THE FILM, NOW WHAT?”
FRIDAY, MARCH 28 at 6:45 PM
Reception at 6:00pm
Presented with the Embassy of Spain
STOP! RODANDO EL CAMBIO (Spain, 2014, 70 min.)
FRIDAY, MARCH 28 at 8pm
ROAMING WILD (USA, 2014, 65 min.)
SATURDAY, MARCH 29 at 6pm
SHOOTING IN THE WILD (USA, 2013, 27 min.)
SATURDAY, MARCH 29 at 7
Reception at 5:00pm
FARMING FOR THE FUTURE: ENDURING TRADITIONS – INNOVATIVE PRACTICES
Free and Open to the Public
– No Reservation Required
Note: The March 20-29 events below are all part of Washington D.C.’s Environmental Film Festival. www.dcenvironmentalfilmfest.org
Read more here... |


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BWPA 2013 Highly commended Entrant, Cain Scrimgeour, on his British Photography Experiences
by Cain Scrimgeour
26 February 2014
My name is Cain Scrimgeour I’m a naturalist, wildlife photographer and filmmaker from the North-East of England. Since an early age the natural world has had me hooked. Born and raised in the suburbs of North Tyneside, Newcastle Upon Tyne’s ‘green belt’ was only a stones throw away from my home. My passion developed in the areas of land which were left around the housing estates, wastelands as some people may call them, wildernesses to me.
In 2004 I discovered Holywell Pond, a local Northumberland Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve, it was here that I had the spark, that moment in the natural world, where an interest becomes a passion, and a life. My spark came in the form of a Great Crested Grebe sitting on its nest, how could something so wonderfully different be so close to my home, what else was out there?
Read much more here! |


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I was a Dog in Isiolo
– The Chinese, Roads, Steam, Rhinos, Elephants and Ivory.
The latest about the greatest wildlife threat of our time.
By Richard Brock
11 February 2014
"May I please draw your attention to this short film linked to the London Wildlife Conference this February on the illegal trade in wildlife, and possible solutions in the future?
Please circulate, distribute and pass on the contents to help, in particular, elephants and rhinos. Because they really need it. Just think how the Chinese would react if Africans started stealing their beloved pandas, which are protected by the death penalty!"
Richard Brock
Urgent and unusual, this short film tracks the trail of illegal elephant ivory and rhino horn and searches for solutions from Richard Brock...
Edited by member: Gareth Trezise
Read more, watch the film and make comment here! |


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Illegal wildlife trade conference offers a watershed moment to conserve iconic species.
By Paul Newman – EIA
07 February 2014
LONDON: Just days before UK Prime Minister David Cameron’s landmark Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade, the London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has set out the key actions it believes are essential to tackle the international organised criminal networks plundering the environment.
Drawing on 30 years of experience at the front lines of wildlife crime, a new EIA report released today, In Cold Blood – Combating organised wildlife crime, examines wildlife crime case histories and highlights the crucial lessons to be learnt for better enforcement and conservation.
Read more, watch the film a film... |



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2014 Panda Awards - Call for Entries!
By Wilscreen Festival
7th February 2014
Here at Wildscreen we are very excited to announce the entry call for the 2014 Panda Awards! Entry for the film competition will be open from 7 February - 18 April and we cannot wait to see what you have in store for us this year. In 2012 we received a record-breaking 500 entries from 46 different countries, and would love to beat that this year!
Also... New Categories Announced!
Read more and find out out to submit here... |


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Jack Perks introduces his ambitious project to get beneath the surface of our waterways and film all 54 species of British freshwater fish
By Jack Perks
6 February 2014
I’m a wildlife cameraman and photographer by profession, and cover all species from birds to insects, but I have always had an interest in fish, particularly freshwater fish, since growing up in Nottinghamshire there wasn’t exactly much in the way of a coast locally!
Freshwater fish face so many threats now; what with barriers to their movement, pollution, habitat loss and invasive species to name but a few, so I feel that it’s important to document and to show what’s happening. It’s often a case of ‘out of sight out of mind’ with freshwater fish so I’m very keen to put them ‘in sight and in mind’ both with the public and with any other bodies that control, areas of water.
Read more and see some great fish footage here... |


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British Wildlife Photography Awards 2014 - Call for Entries by Maggie Gowan of British Wildlife Photography Awards
1 February 2014
The 2014 competition is open from the 1st February.
Your chance to win a prestigious award, with cash prize of £5,000 and reach millions through national exposure. Help raise awareness about British wildlife and celebrate our natural heritage. Winners and commended entrants will have their work showcased in a touring exhibition and stunning book, and will be invited to an exclusive Awards ceremony, hosted by Naturalist and TV Presenter Chris Packham.
The overall prize fund worth up to £20,000 includes products from lead sponsors Canon and Sky.
The British Wildlife Photography Awards were established to recognise the talents of photographers practising in Britain, whilst at the same time highlighting the great wealth and diversity of Britain’s natural history. Now in its sixth year, this highly acclaimed and unique wildlife photography competition has captivated millions across the nation with outstanding and beautiful imagery. It is a celebration of British wildlife as well as a showcase for photographers and videographers, both amateur and professional.
Read the full 'Call for Entries' feature here! |



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Hy Brasil - a sound installation by member Chris Watson
Using wildlife sound recordings from around the world, Chris Watson documents a day on the mystical island of Hy Brasil at Opera North, the Howard Assembly Room, Leeds Grand Theatre. Entry is free and the opening times are 2pm-8pm (Tuesday to Saturday). Spaces are limited to hear Chris speak with special guest Alec Finlay on the 4 March, The Art of Listening, covers his work, career and the fine art of listening. To book a space call 0844 848 2727, visit website at howardassemblyroom.co.uk. Take a look at the trailer here.
More here! |




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New York Wild Film Festival Winners 2014
By Nancy Rosenthal - New York WILD Film Festival
28 January 2014
Africa: Kalahari – Best Wildlife FIlm and Best in Festival
Q & A with Executive Producer, Mike Gunton
Gloop – Best Short Film
Q & A with Producer Gaby Bastyra
The Last Ocean – Best Conservation Film
Q&A with Marine Ecologist David Ainley
See the full list of winners here. |


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Gloop Wins 'Best Short' at the New York Wild Film Festival 2014
By EcoTales
26 January 2014
Last night the celebrated short film Gloop, from EcoTales, won its fifth award for “Best Short” at New York Wild Film Festival!
Gaby Bastyra (pictured), EcoTale's talented Head of Media and one of the creative duo (Gaby and Joe Churchman) responsible for Gloop, was there to pick up the award.
Find out more here. |



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The Complete Camera Company in Denmark - NaturenLIVE
By The Complete Camera Company
January 2014
Check out what member The Complete Camera Company is up to in Denmark: #NaturenLIVE: Who's Coming to Dinner! A unique experiment using specialist camera equipment.
A Danish production company called ‘We Love People’ got in touch to tell us the amazing story that for the first time in nearly 200 years wild wolves had been sighted roaming the forests of Denmark. They believed that male wolves had crossed the border from Germany and were looking for food and new territory. The plan was to have a deer carcass out in the forest where we would rig 3 cameras, infra red lights and 2 mics.
See the full feature... |



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New member, Jonathan Jones, worked on Hidden Kingdoms!
From Ember Films
16 January 2014
Hidden Kingdoms is an innovative new series from the BBC's Natural History Unit. For the first time it takes the viewer into a unique and unexplored miniature world, immersing you into the action-packed lives of the planet's smaller animals.
Jonathan 'Jip' Jones (Ember Films) was the principal cinematographer on the first two episodes as well as filming the 40 minute 3D IMAX feature which is to be screened soon. It was shot on Red Epic using super slow motion techniques.
Read more... |


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Wildlife video Contributors wanted
By WWT
January 2014
WWT are looking for volunteers to work alongside staff in capturing the wildlife action at all our centres on video.
Find out more... |


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Wanted: unpaid freelance camera operators.
By Marcus Brent-Smith
January 2014
UK-based NGO is looking for young, keen camera operators to cover the Scottish Tropical Ecology Conference
Find out more... |

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