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A Tribute to Richard Brock, 1938-2024
By Jason Peters
January 2025
It is with great sadness that I share the news that Richard Brock died in the early hours of the 30th of December 2024, in hospital in Bristol, aged 86. I have been told he was peaceful.
I first met Richard in person at the 2006 Wildscreen Festival, where I joined him for a workshop entitled ¨How to make a difference on a shoe-string¨ (or some similar title) where he was keen to encourage a new generation of what he affectionally called ¨bright green sparks¨ to make conservation films — Not necessarily films for TV, but, rather, for wherever they could make the biggest difference. I’d recently completed a wildlife film course in southern Africa, some years after I’d embarked on a career in conservation, at a time when I was feeling like I was banging my head against a brick wall trying to make a difference in the field, and was very enthusiastic in my belief that it was telling stories through film that could really make a difference: Changing hearts and minds!
Years earlier I’d had work experience at the BBC Natural History Unit (NHU) and had been really inspired by Richard's story: A veteran producer who’d worked with David Attenborough making groundbreaking films about the natural world for many years before becoming frustrated that the corporation wasn’t telling the whole truth when it came to that money-making subject matter. He believed it was time to tell the whole truth about the state of the planet and he thought it was our (including the BBC’s) responsibility to do so: he thought it was urgent. He was way ahead of his time in this way of thinking. I’d worked on The Blue Planet (1!) in a very small way and was as frustrated as Richard that the episode that looked at man's influence on the oceans, called Deep Trouble, was not shown during primetime Saturday night on BBC 1 like the others, but was hidden away late on a Tuesday night on BBC 2. And the US (Discovery) didn’t even buy the episode.
It was great to meet him, after some correspondence, and I remember being wholly onboard with his plan to make a difference by any means possible “on a shoestring,” and being so inspired to make films about the real state of the planet, telling stories that would inspire change. We became friends and kept in touch, and then several years later, in 2010—after time living in Africa, and on the advice of many more wildlife film-makers who I’d met at wildlife film festivals around the world— I moved to Bristol, hoping to make it as a natural history TV researcher.
It was Richard, and Richard alone, who gave me any kind of chance there. Most of my contacts, people who had insisted I move to Bristol and then get in touch, ghosted me. I did some more work experience (at Icon Films for e.g., where I was titled their oldest ever work experience guy!) but Richard actually offered to pay me!
That early work helped me immensely, and it started a 15-year-long working relationship. I did everything from random research work, admin, website and media management, and setting up socials and other platforms, to help him get news of his work out there. Early jobs involved staying over for a week at his cottage in Chew Magna, sifting though piles and piles of papers and newspaper clippings trying to get them into some kind of coherent order. I’m not sure I really helped because soon after the piles were back to being mixed up and greatly enlarged! Richard was forever fascinated by what was happening to the natural world and what solutions there might be to help, so everything he kept, howsoever poorly filed, were his resources, his references; potentially a film idea. The first website consisted of photocopied newspaper clippings (which he’d send to me in the post), displayed like a scrapbook with his thoughts and ideas—a glimpse inside the mind of a man who wanted to share his unique understanding of what needed to be done to save the natural world, and us.
Of course, he rarely saw the website himself because of his refusal to become even a little bit tech-savvy. I spent a few years trying to convince him to get an iPad before giving up. I used to have to post him anything I needed him to read, before marvellous Moira Sage at Chew Magna Post Office came to the rescue!
I’d gone on to work for Piers Warren (who was the only other person who gave me a real chance!) at Wildeye—the wildlife film school—where Richard would join us sometimes as a star tutor on the conservation film courses in Norfolk, and Wildlife-film.com, which Richard was always an avid supporter of. I always kept working for Richard: through the release of his epic Wildlife Winners & Losers film series with Gareth Trezise (his editor) and the publication of Planet Crunch (both the book and the films) with Penny Delmon, Moira and our small team.
I always enjoyed hearing his take on other films, trends in wildlife film-making, the changes occurring in the industry, at wildlife film festivals—especially Wildscreen, which he boycotted in 2014—and much else.
We also collaborated on the ¨Films That Make A Difference¨ database, which aimed to be an online library of conservation films. We wanted to help prove that film-making can make a real and tangible difference to important conservation issues around the world. A favourite Richard quote of mine is ”Showing the truth on some minority channel is not the answer. Showing it where it counts is."
I will miss him immensely, and will be forever grateful to him for his mentorship, inspiration, wise words, kindness—and above all, his friendship. He really was a hero to me, as I know he was to many other people.
Some of their thoughts are below.
¨I was first introduced to Richard by one of his bright green sparks as they were affectionately known. He was looking for someone to do some macro filming of shrimps for his first egret film, The Egret Has Landed, narrated by the late great Tony Soper and I had the equipment to do the job, sort of...It was a lovely sunny day in Devon and once we were all done filming he said he would take us to meet Tony Soper. I was beginning to think we were lost. We were driving on the inside perimeter of a field but eventually at the end was this house overlooking the Kingsbridge Estuary. I couldn't believe I was actually going to meet one of my wildlife heroes and there I was, sat in his garden drinking a glass of squash listening to Richard and Tony having a catchup. I was made up and I think Richard knew I would be...
We kept in touch and it wasn't long before our next adventure. Richard knew about my love of butterflies. I had been fascinated with them since a child. A World About Us documentary got me hooked. Richard wanted to make a film about British butterflies. I had already filmed most of them and had good contacts at Butterfly Conservation. Richard came up with the storyboard and he said "I've also a good contact at Butterfly Conservation, the president, David Attenborough". Well that trumped me somewhat! The year was 2004 which coincided with Wildscreen and Sir David Attenborough would be there. David had agreed with Richard to spare a bit of his time and if we could get to the Natural History Unit during a break he would do a piece to camera for our Butterfly Conservation film. Richard asked if I would like to film it. I was lost for words. Me a nobody, filming Attenborough doing a piece to camera about butterflies. Richard quite easily could have just done that himself. Another example of his generosity and kindness. The most surreal moment actually was afterwards. Richard giving both David and myself a lift to the watershed where Wildscreen was taking place in his rather clapped out Ford Focus. Stop go traffic and many people doing a double take, is that really Sir David Attenborough waving and smiling...yes it was. Richard continued to make his films and I got gripped with filming wildlife in Kenya. Then one day I was having a quiet pub lunch in Chew Magna with my wife and tap, tap on the window "I thought it was you, how do you fancy a bit of editing this time?" Eleven years later, well over a hundred films, and we're still editing to the end.
Richard was a lovely, kind, remarkable and passionate human being. It was a privilege to have worked so closely with him, a real friend. I will miss him dearly.¨ – Gareth Trezise
¨I first met Richard 12 years ago in Bristol, from that moment I went on to work with him on loads of his films. It was a working relationship that very quickly turned into a great friendship. I've got many great memories of being away with him all across the UK. It was one of a very small number of jobs you get where it feels more like going away with a friend for a few days.
After moving back to Essex , I didn't see as much of him as before. But whenever I made the trip back down, he would be first on the list to catch up with. He had an amazing career, travelling around the world. But his passion for wildlife and conservation was his burning motivator. Speaking up for animals that didn't have a voice. His films were charming and powerful. One that stands out was a blue shark that had drifted into a port in Majorca. After receiving bad press from the media referring to jaws and monsters, Richard was on the next plane out to make a film about it. At the age of 84. Nothing would stop him making his films, he was always either in the process of making one, editing one with Gareth or planning his next one. His passion and dedication was infectious. I'm really glad I got to spend so much time with him over the years and will miss him.¨ – Ross Birnie
¨Very sad to hear we have lost Richard Brock who was always a huge inspiration to me and hero of conservation film-making. I first met him in the 1990s at a time when some of us were frustrated at the lack of conservation content on TV. But rather than just being another moaner he picked up a camera and just got on with it by himself. With nothing more than a camcorder in a lunchbox he travelled the world making hundreds of self-funded hard-hitting conservation films, never failing to tackle big corporations or issues whilst making films on a huge array of subjects. Later he would occasionally join us on our Wildeye courses as a special guest, and I remember him shaking his head with a smile as I tried to teach the value of tripods to achieve steady shots - happily telling students that he had made hundreds of films without ever touching a tripod! Making and promoting his films right until the very end, the world is a poorer place without him.¨ – Piers Warren
¨I didn't know Richard in his previous role at the BBC, only as a very kind thoughtful gentleman who was very passionate about many subjects and wanted people to know about the things he felt should be known. He was funny and always appreciative of the work/typing I did for him. We had a really good working arrangement over the past eight years and rubbed along very well together. I miss him massively, expecting him to come into the post office every day, as was usual. Actually I miss him way more than my ex-husband!!¨ – Moira Sage
¨I first worked with Richard at the BBC in Bristol in the early '90s, and became his colleague, friend and graphic designer. I continued to work with him when he left the BBC and set up his own company. What I loved about Richard was his tireless energy and passion for wildlife and the natural world. He never stood still and was always exciting to work with, even if he was sometimes difficult to keep up with!
He was old-school, with old-school humour – he could be funny, rude and risqué – titling a recent film 'Poodunnit' and adding farts to the soundtrack. He delivered handwritten copy in a world developing digital transactions, with Moira and I deciphering his unique thoughts delivered in pencilled script. He was the only client I had who insisted on paying by cheque.
One area where Richard had his finger on the pulse was current affairs. Reading four daily newspapers he was often ahead of the mainstream as he sifted out ideas for his next projects.
I will always have fond memories of lunch meetings where he supplied a cheese and wine-based feast.
He was a kind, up-beat, creative, deeply individual, independent and passionate man. I will miss him so much.¨ – Penny Delmon
¨I am lucky enough to have known Richard for over 40 years. When I started at BBC Bristol in 1983 he was just completing work on The Living Planet. But I remember
him even then as a friendly and rather suave figure. In 1985 when I moved to Chew Magna we became neighbours and over the years I got to know him much better. Having said that Richard was quite a private man, quietly going about his business, often seen in the village even on cold days wearing shorts and either flip flops or crocks. A very distinctive look! He was a real charmer, whether catching up with Moria in the post office or chatting with the staff in the Co-Op he had always time for a joke and a cheery wave as he picked up the papers to keep up with the latest news. He was a great supporter of the local branch of Avon Wildlife Trust and often showed his films at their monthly meetings. They were kindred spirits. He enjoyed sharing his passions, which were always about the natural world and our impact on it. In 2021, just before he published his book Planet Crunch I interviewed him for my YouTube channel and he was delighted to share his own story about how his love of wildlife developed, and his concerns and hopes for the future. Looking at it again now many of his comments ring even more true today, for example he was totally against the billionaire’s space race. As he said there is so much to fix down here, that’s where the energy and resources are needed.
In a 35 year BBC career that included Life on Earth and The Living Planet Richard went on to make many other films including some for The World About Us, The Natural World and Wildlife on One. It was on a Wildlife on One that our professional paths crossed in 1987. Richard went to Poyang lake in China to film Chinese cranes, but that year no cranes arrived. Unperturbed he decided to film local village life and show how the villagers celebrated these special birds. However the film camera they were using did not record sound and as the assistant editor one of my jobs was to put the soundtrack together. I had a silent 30 minute film full of Chinese people chatting away and not a frame of sound! So I organised 6 Chinese students from Bristol University to come into the BBC and give the villagers a voice. Richard was of course amusing, positive and supportive throughout. I often wonder what the locals would have thought if they ever saw it!
I now wish I had spent more time with Richard, I could easily have popped into his cottage by the river Chew more often but at least I have the memories of the times we did share and I know he would be glad that all his films are still available, and with that wonderful voice of his to keep his message going, it is a message that the world needs today more than ever.¨ – Peter Brownlee
¨In early 1978 I was a PhD student in the Zoology Department of Bristol University, researching thermoregulation in lower vertebrates. What had brought me there was a life-long passion for reptiles and amphibians, and my research involved a lot of fieldwork, surrounded by my favourite creatures.
Out of the blue I received a phone call ,“Hello, my name is Richard Brock from the BBC up the road, and we are making a series called ‘Life on Earth’, presented by David Attenborough. Episode 6, ‘Invasion of the Land’ covers how amphibians evolved a more terrestrial life. We hear you know a lot about reptiles and amphibians and wondered if you help us.” He had barely finished the sentence when I said “Yes!”
Two days later he, and Neil Cleminson, came to my home to discuss sequences and see my collection of weird and wonderful frogs. As well as filming some of my captive species, especially those that exhibited some sort of parental care, Richard asked, if they were to obtain the specimens, would I build naturally planted terraria with a view persuading the frogs to breed in front of the cameras. Over the next twelve months, with the help of some very skilled camera crews, we ticked off the ‘wants’ list, Darwin’s Frogs, Marsupial Frogs, Viviparous Toads and many others.
Being involved, even in a small way, in the planning, filming, editing and dubbing of the films triggered my own desire to pursue Wildlife Filmmaking as a career. Richard willingly provided both the advice and encouragement I needed and, shortly after Life on Earth was broadcast, I joined ITV’s ‘Survival’ team in London.
We remained good friends over the subsequent 45 years, often meeting up at various film festivals and on Wildeye’s Conservation Filmmaking Courses that we both tutored.
Richard also had a passion for frogs, and I was happy to help him once again with the ‘Fantastic Frogs’ episode of his important, mammoth series ‘Wildlife Winners and Losers’.
We have lost a true pioneer of wildlife filmmaking. As both Producer of the first Wildlife mega series - Life on Earth, or prolific maker of hard-hitting, conservation documentaries, Richard certainly made a big impact. If it wasn’t for him my own career would never have taken the direction it did, and I shall remain eternally grateful to him for that. I shall miss him very much.¨ – Mike Linley
¨I am so sad to hear about Richard. He was such a blessing to me when he contacted me to do the film pretty Polly and the Ancient Mariner, part of the BBC series SURVIVORS. The film was so beautiful. I have a VHS copy of the film which I will cherish for the rest of my life. Please give my love to all those closest to him.¨ – Chris Luginbuhl. Founder of the David E. Luginbuhl Research Institute For Endangered Species
¨Richard Brock was one of a kind. He refused to be intimidated by high-level, powerful people. He saw through the shallowness of much natural history programming and excoriated over-paid muckety-mucks in places like the BBC, whom, he claimed, ignored the environmental issues that plague us. He admonished them to do better and to raise their moral standards. He told the truth, as he saw it, boldly and audaciously. A distinguished iconoclast with a discerning (and disconcerting) ability to detect hypocrites and superficial documentaries, Richard Brock led a life that mattered and that had meaning. He will be sorely missed.¨ – Chris Palmer, author, Achieving a Good Death, www.ChrisPalmerOnline.com
¨I am very sorry to hear that Richard has passed away.
I was lucky enough to work with him during his BBC days.
We made Wolf Saga and Man-Eater: To Be or Not To Be, together and I wrote and partly filmed the original Wildlife Winners and Losers two-part special, featuring an update of the work of Eugen Schuhmacher.
For me, Richard was a complete delight to work with. He was very bright, very funny and very appreciative of me as a colleague. This sort of good-natured encouragement from a major player like him was very supportive. We had enormous fun working together. He was, without doubt, the most companionable producer I’ve ever worked with. He taught me how to be a better listener, as I watched him elicit information from other people. He, who had achieved so much, always kept a low, respectful and totally engaged profile as he talked with the various contacts we made. I learned by his example that really successful people are relaxed and comfortable in their skin and that they put other folk at their ease.
My autobiography was published last year (Natural Causes: The wild life of a wildlife filmmaker, Chiselbury) and it contains a couple of chapters about the films we made together, how much fun we had and how effortlessly efficient he was. I have to say that working with Richard marked a high point in my life.
¨ – Stephen Mills
¨I first met Richard when I first got into wildlife TV over twenty years ago. He was always so friendly, kind and helpful to newcomers, providing career advice and inspiration to me and many others. I had previously been working for Television Trust for the Environment and the Environmental Film Festival so we had a shared interest in green issues. Over the years I would often meet up with him and he became a mentor to me. He was a legend, a pioneering wildlife filmmaker and a champion for conservation issues for the whole of his life. I admire his passion and tenacity for trying to instigate change in the industry and educate the public. He was ahead of his time. Richard Brock RIP. Thank you for your huge contribution to wildlife filmmaking and the preservation of our living planet.¨ – Ingrid Kvale
¨Richard was a BBC producer that I admired immensely. It was an honour to meet him as a our small wildlife team from SVT visited the NHU in Bristol in January 1981, in between Life on Earth and The Living Planet.
Several years later, in 1999, as the whole blue chip genre was in deep decline, we met again at the wildlife film festival in Sundsvall, Sweden. Then I was working with the SVT news show Aktuellt, producing a story about wildlife film making and all the tricks involved. One of the producers I interviewed was Richard, and our conversation also touched on the sad develepment of the business. I will always remember his drastic conclusion:
”And today, I don´t know how many crocodile wrestling shows there are. I can just honestly say that I hope the crocodile wins.” ¨ – Henrik Ekman, SVT
¨I was very sorry to hear the sad news about Richard. I haven't seen him for many years but have happy memories of working with him in the 1990s on his conservation films. I was the online editor at Applecart - in the good old days when I think he was shooting on Hi 8 and mastering onto Digi Beta.
He was a delight to work with, a brilliant storyteller both in his films and recounting his personal experiences, someone who had time to share his huge knowledge - and someone who stood up for what he believed in.
He will be missed but I hope his passion lives on through the people he has encouraged and influenced.¨ – Sharon Stiles
¨Richard and I always had time for each other and our ideas - one spin off was for the LIVING DANGEROUSLY series GRIZZLY! THE BEAR FACTS, mostly filmed in Alaska, where I was already filming for a NATURAL WORLD about these charismatic creatures.¨ – Roger Jones
¨Richard was a true Gent in every sense of the word. Always so cheery, positive and encouraging - I feel very lucky to have worked with him. Back in the ’90’s he gave me my first paid job in television. I was a Runner on his Winners and Losers conservation series. Despite my lowly position, he was always very generous with his time and gave me many invaluable opportunities. And just a few months ago I had pleasure of working with him again, on a film celebrating the landmark Life on Earth series.
A natural raconteur, he entertained us with stories from his early Producer days back in the day. He’s had an amazing career and, as many have reflected, he was the true pioneer of conservation film-making.
RIP Richard, you are an inspiration to us all and will be hugely missed.¨ – Anuschka Schofield
¨Richard Brock - In Memoriam 1938 - 30 December 2024
– It is with great sadness we share that renowned wildlife television producer and conservationist, Richard Brock, has passed away.
Having always had a passion for wildlife, Richard studied zoology and botany at Cambridge University and, keen to communicate his ideas, joined the BBC Natural History Unit (NHU) upon his graduation.
Working as a general assistant, Richard was taken under Jeffery Boswall's wing in the radio department. When Jeffery moved into television in 1964 he gave Richard his first film to produce, a compilation piece entitled Masters of Movement which aired on Peter Scott's famous Look strand.
Richard's big break came when David Attenborough, then Head of BBC2, invited him to produce his next series set in Southeast Asia. Eastward with Attenborough was released in 1973 and was the start of a successful working partnership between the two.
The pair collaborated again on the groundbreaking series Life On Earth (1979), with Richard taking responsibility for the sixth episode and amphibian segment, Invasion of the Land.
Richard was appointed executive producer for the second of David's epic Life trilogy - surveying the world from an ecological point of view; The Living Planet was broadcast in 1984.
A highly successful producer, Richard made numerous contributions to the BBC NHU's output, working on many individual features as well as a multitude of programmes for the Wildlife On One and The World About Us strands.
Richard left the BBC after 35 years, concerned about the lack of willingness within the wildlife film industry to address the state of the environment. He went on to set up his own production company, Living Planet Productions, which made over 100 films on a wide range of environmental topics. A highly determined conservationist, Richard also set up The Brock Initiative, to educate decision makers and local communities about surrounding conservation issues by using archive footage.
A constant presence within the Wildscreen community over the past 5 decades, Richard and his frog jumper, which he wore to every Wildscreen Festival, will be very much missed by us all.
Our thoughts are with Richard's colleagues, friends and family at this time.¨ – Wildscreen
Richard said: ¨My Wildlife Winners and Losers series shows that films can be made – with basic footage filmed on any device – to help get the word out about conservation. “There is still time to save the planet. My Wildlife Winners and Losers series is my contribution. Now it’s your turn. Watch these free films. Choose from these 80+ films of different lengths to inspire you to take action. They’re free to watch and share with as many people as possible. Use the Series to give you ammunition to help save the planet.” Watch these here on our website or visit our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@brockinitiative
¨Cherry Aitken (nee Brock) and family are sad to announce the death of her brother Richard Brock on 30 December 2024.
A Bristolian by birth, Richard was born in 1938 and inspired his family and the world, from his work in the BBC and latterly the Brock Initiative, which he founded in 2006.
His commitment to wildlife and conservatism was unwavering, as was the love of his rural community in Chew Magna where he spent most of his life.
Reading all the tributes and wonderful stories about him makes us so proud.
Close family and friends are invited to the cremation on 31 January. If you require more information, please email: livingplanetproductions@gmail.com.¨
Welcome to our Newest Full Organisation Member:
Wildlife Film Productions inc. – a boutique production company specialized in creating groundbreaking natural history films for audiences worldwide.
Wildlife Film Productions (WFP) was founded by Alex Jones, an Emmy-nominated and Panda award-winning Director of Photography (DOP) who has worked with top broadcasters like Disney, NatGeo, BBC, Netflix, and Apple. With over a decade of experience, Alex is known for his breathtaking macro and long-lens work, creating world-class wildlife films. Initially hired as head DOP on many shows, he quickly became involved in the creative direction and writing, showcasing his storytelling talents beyond the camera. His ability to shape the overall vision of a project adds a unique depth to every production.
Award-winning filmmaker Jaap Perenboom joined Alex after a chance encounter while filming in the jungles of Corcovado, Costa Rica. Their mutual passion for wildlife filmmaking brought them together, and they soon realized they shared the ambition to build a boutique Blue-Chip wildlife film company. With Jaap’s background in both business and filmmaking, he brings a rare combination of business savvy, strategic insight, and hands-on experience as a DOP, perfectly complementing Alex’s creative vision.
United by their love for wildlife and a shared dream to produce top-tier films, Alex and Jaap are building a strong, passionate team. Their collective vision and expertise drive WFP to deliver captivating, high-quality wildlife content that stands out in the industry.
Planeta Microbio available worldwide, now subtitled in English!
The wonderful ¨Planeta Microbio¨ series from member Rubén Duro/Science into Images is now available worldwide on the CaixaForum+ free streaming platform with subtitles in English!
Planeta Microbio (Planet Microbe) gives us the opportunity to discover the importance of microbes both in our daily lives and in the planet we share with them.
Thanks to the use of special imaging techniques, we will be able to see microbes live and observe how they reproduce, feed and move around.
Directed by Rubén Duro and with the help of different scientists, Planeta Microbio is an opportunity to learn more about microbes with an informative and accessible narrative and beautiful images.
Too Wild are hosting REDucation in South Africa next year - the country's very first!
FOUR-DAY workshop with TOO WILD in the Timbavati BIG 5 Game Reserve of South Africa–
FEB 21-25th, 2025.
Don't miss your opportunity to join a community of amazing creatives, REDUCATION alumni, and actively engaging instructors. You'll receive a certificate of completion and spend time with industry-leading instructors and guests such as Atlas Lenses, Cooke, Litegear, Aperture, and amazing FPVs and robots from Aether Films.
There will be a mix of classroom training and hands-on with RED V-RAPTOR, KOMODO, and KOMODO-X. We’ll cover all aspects of the RED ecosystem including exposure dynamics, focus tools, image composition, deep dive into the menu settings, and compression for shooting scenarios. We’ll also cover a comprehensive overview of file management and post-production workflows including Resolve, Premiere, and REDCINE-X.
Experience will include:
Luxury tented accommodation in the African Bush
All-inclusive stay with nightly South African 'braais' under the stars
Daily game drives with qualified guides to ethically film wild animals
2 modified filming vehicles which can be utilised
Private transfers from domestic airport to camp
Additional workshops in the evening with in house naturalist about the surrounding environment
Attendees also have the option to extend their stay if they wish:
Anyone who joins will also be able to stay on in the camp and do the Too Wild 4-week Wildlife Film Course from 27th February - 26th March and will receive a discount on the course for having joined the REDucation
The BBC has acquired The Americas, an epic ten-part special event nature series narrated by Tom Hanks with music by Oscar winner Hans Zimmer, for BBC One and iPlayer from NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution..
Produced by BBC Studios Natural History Unit, in association with Universal Television Alternative Studio, The Americas showcases the wonders, secrets, and fragilities of the supercontinent, using cutting-edge technology to uncover never-before-seen behaviour, and highlight the extraordinary, untold wildlife stories that will deeply connect with millions around the world.
Five years in the making, and filmed over 180 expeditions, this groundbreaking series reveals the spectacular landscape of Earth’s most varied habitats and the only landmass to stretch between both poles. The Americas’ unprecedented scale and ambition delivers remarkable world firsts; new species, new intimate courtship, dramatic deep-sea hunting and some of nature’s strangest stories – even a frog that seems to defy death every day! Each episode features a different iconic location across the Americas: The Atlantic Coast, Mexico, Wild West, The Amazon, The Frozen North, The Gulf Coast, The Andes, The Caribbean, The West Coast and Patagonia.
In November, the two Call for Entries for the NaturVision Film Festival 2025 started.
Until the 31st Productions suitable for the NaturVision Award of the Children's Jury as well as the International NatureVision Short Film Award can be submitted:
Film can be submitted for the this year for the NaturVision Prize of the Children's Jury.
We look forward to films on the topics of animals, nature and the environment, which convey their content to the cinema audience of tomorrow in an entertaining and understandable way.
The submission is now possible.
This year, the International NaturVision Short Film Award is all about the forest wonderful world: short film stories from the forest ecosystem.
Filmmakers from all over the world are called upon, short films (max. length 20 minutes) that inspire the forest habitat and the biodiversity, which consciously advertise the dangers and aflight for careful handling of this habitat.
The submission starts on 19. November.
The Call for Entries for the International Competition and thus all other price categories starts in December.
Entries will be released in stages:
NaturVision children's jury award: 6th November 2024 - 31st January 2025
NaturVision short film award:
26th November 2024 - 31st January 2025
International competition:
04th December 2024 - 31st January 2025
The Early Bird discount of 25% starts ends on 31st December 2024.
Gypaetus: The Last Bone Breaker by Juan de la Cueva Aldea
Gypaetus: The Last Bone Breaker isa "blue-chip" production/short film about the bearded vulture and the Iberian scavengers from the Pyrenees, fully produced and directed by Juan de la Cueva Aldea throughout 2024.
This project was created as the final project for the Wildlife Filmmaking MA at UWE Bristol, in partnership with the BBC NHU, and I had the pleasure of premiering it at the Arnolfini cinemas in Bristol, UK at the end of October, in front of a large audience of BBC NHU producers and other indies wildlife production companies from the UK.
"We have been awarded a $5,000 conservation grant from the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund! And..... on the night of November 11th we picked up our first clips of a Sunda Pangolin since the fire last March.... so now we know, they are still here!
With this money I have been able to buy more camera traps, so we currently have four on the land. Also, at last, after many years of trying, we will get a large water reservoir on the land to help the wildlife through the hot dry season, and to act as an emergency supply for us in the event of another fire. Thirdly, we have cut a new firebreak around the back of the land where this year's fire came in. Lastly, we will make some artificial tree stumps, or adapt some natural tree stumps into 'drinking trees' for pangolins, as it is believed they like to drink from small pools in tree stumps.
I also want to say a big thank you for everyone who has donated or become a member of the Buy Me a Coffee page for Huai Khayeng Nature Park. It really does give me the confidence to plan future developments knowing that I have that money available."
This month (November) marks 25 years since SeeSense first became involved with the small lens industry.
Way back in 1999 SeeSense Technical Director Nigel Paine joined Pentax selling the Cosmicar-Pentax range of CCTV and machine vision lenses.
Since then he has dealt closely with well known high quality lens brands including Entaniya, Fujinon, Kowa, Ricoh, Senko ADL and Theia Technologies.
This has enabled Nigel and the SeeSense team to develop a deep understanding of lenses and how to find the most suitable solution for any camera system whether it be in Space, the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, in Antarctica or the Sahara desert.
They've done it all in virtually every industry!
DIRECT FROM MANUFACTURERS
Nigel says, "Since establishing SeeSense in 2008, we have steadily grown and probably now offer the most comprehensive range of specialist small lenses in Europe. We choose our suppliers carefully, always looking for the best quality glass, ensuring high resolution across the lens whilst maintaining low distortion. We can offer anything from the longest zoom lenses right through to a fisheye lens with an incredible angle of 280 degrees!!!
SeeSense has a close working relationship with all of our lens manufacturers and can offer competitive pricing to end users and resellers alike. This is solidly backed up by comprehensive technical support, demonstration equipment and a lot of stock.
I think this explains why we have so many repeat customers from so many different industries. It certainly makes my job interesting."
WHY DEAL WITH SEESENSE?
Free lens specification and technical support service available
Comprehensive Range of high quality lenses available
Almost any angle of view from 0.17° ~ 280° standard
C-mount, CS-mount and (M12) S-mount lenses
Prime, varifocal or zoom manual or motorised
We only deal direct with the manufacturer
Stock carried for our most popular products
Competitive pricing for end users and resellers
Some demonstration lenses available for hire
FREE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
It is worth stressing that we are happy to discuss your requirements. Often an area of confusion, we regularly help customers find lenses with an equivalent "35mm SLR" angle of view for smaller size camera sensors.
Ask us about methods for optimal depth of field focussing or multispectral imaging and we can help too!
SeeSense has a long established relationship with the following brands which all contribute unique aspects to our lens range. Here are our principal suppliers:
ADL - Prime, motorised zoom, varifocal and M12 board mount lenses
Entaniya - The best quality ultra wide fisheye lenses available
Kowa - High quality prime, zoom, and telephoto varifocal lenses
Mapir - (M12) S-mount lenses for multispectral imaging
Ricoh - High quality prime lenses
Theia - High resolution low distortion varifocal lenses
SeeSense - Our unbranded range includes
- High resolution low distortion S-mount lenses
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C-mount varifocal lenses for 2/3" and 1" sensors
-
AND MUCH MORE!
The SeeSense team has over 25 years experience specifying and supplying lenses and we are here to help.
Find the best lens solution for your application. CONTACT US for free advice and assistance
Watch: trailer - Apple TV+ Secret Lives of Animals
Apple TV+ has unveiled a trailer for the 10-part docuseries The Secret Lives of Animals, made by BBC Studios NHU and narrated by Hugh Bonneville.
The series is set to premiere December 18.
The 10-part series features never-before-seen footage of rare and remarkable animal behaviors, highlighting the brilliant intelligence of the natural world
The Secret Lives of Animals highlights 77 unique species in 24 countries over three years. Hailing from the acclaimed BBC Studios Natural History Unit, the series will debut globally on December 18 on Apple TV+.
The Secret Lives of Animals uses cutting-edge technology to showcase new and remarkable animal behaviors. For the first time, The Secret Lives of Animals captures the sounds and vibrations of a unique jumping spider courtship dance, a killifish in Trinidad breathing through its tail when out of the water, and a wood mouse marking its territory with signposts.
Cameras have captured a rarely seen relationship between a frog and a tarantula, a land lizard that can breathe underwater, and a monkey that uses a bizarre nose-poking ritual as a test of friendship.
Each episode focuses on specific behaviors that are pivotal in the life cycles of various animals — from birth and leaving home to raising a family, and from finding food to growing old — highlighting their striking intelligence and adaptability.
The Secret Lives of Animals is produced for Apple TV+ by BBC Studios Natural History Unit, with Matt Brandon (Planet Earth III) serving as showrunner and Roger Webb (Mammals, Big Cats 24/7) serving as executive producer.
The series marks the third collaboration between the BBC Studios Natural History Unit and Apple TV+, following the hit Emmy Award-nominated series Prehistoric Planet and The Year Earth Changed.
The Secret Lives of Animals is now streaming on Apple TV+
4-Years In, VMI On Track to Net-Zero-By-2030
VMI’s journey to net-zero began in 2021, with the company committing to achieving net-zero by 2030, publicly reporting annual CO2 emissions and aiming for continuous annual reductions and by 2023, the company had more than halved its emissions.
Significant climate actions followed, reducing VMI’s carbon footprint annually and as a recognised Albert supplier, VMI became fully certified Carbon Neutral in 2022 and by 2023, we had more than halved our 2019 carbon emissions, surpassing expectations two years ahead of schedule.
Our third carbon audit, audited by Albert, confirmed VMI’s offsetting of its 2022 emissions through investing in an approved Brazilian Rainforest project and last year saw VMI offsetting its 2023 emissions by investing in a Moroccan Solar PV farm. VMI uses only 100% renewable energy and has installed 55KW of solar panels, becoming a net power exporter for the first time, for five months in 2023.
VMI has eliminated single-use plastics, uses only biodegradable sheathing for filters and recycled paper cable seals and has converted the vast majority its vehicle fleet to EVs/EV hybrids during 2024.
VMI’s dedication has earned multiple awards, including the Hero of Net Zero, awarded at COP26 by the UK Government and also recognition from West London Business winning the Park Royal Company of the Year in 2022, amongst others.
Most importantly though, this chart shows the 10-year planned target emissions for VMI to be able to achieve net-zero by 2030 and as you can see, we are on target! Our 2023 CO2 audit confirmed that in its current year, VMI’s success has been so pronounced, that when mapping VMI against the SME Climate Hub’s suggested reduction pathway for Scopes 1, Scope 2 and business travel emissions, VMI is already ahead at just 0.7tcO2e above the 2030 target in 2023!
From producers Magic Light Pictures, this Christmas’ animated adventure Tiddler is the 12th Magic Light Pictures adaptation for BBC iPlayer and BBC One.
Tiddler is the story of a small grey fish with a big imagination who gets lost in the deep wide ocean, until he’s saved by his own storytelling.
The half-hour animated special will be voiced by a cast led by Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso, Game of Thrones) as the narrator, Lolly Adefope (Ghosts, Saltburn) as Miss Skate, Jayde Adams (Ruby Speaking, Alma’s Not Normal) as Plaice and other characters, plus Rob Brydon (Gavin and Stacey, The Trip) – returning for his twelfth Donaldson and Scheffler adaptation – in the multiple voice roles of Fisherman, Whale, Starfish and Anchovy.
Tiddler will also feature the voices of child actors Reuben Kirby in the title role, and Theo Fraser as Johnny Dory.
175 countries are currently negotiating a legally-binding, international treaty on plastic pollution that could change the world. It’s a big deal. So let’s break it down.
Since 2022, the United Nations has been negotiating an international treaty on plastic pollution. It’s a big deal. And in just a few weeks, the fifth and final round of negotiations are set to conclude at INC-5 (Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee) in Busan, South Korea as delegates from across the globe meet from November 25 to December 1.
It’s getting down to the wire, and there’s still uncertainty as to what we’re going to get. Will you join us in calling on world leaders to pass a strong plastic treaty?
Richard Brock said, “Some years ago when I was in the renowned BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol I was getting more and more angry that some programmes were basically “lying”.
I even said that to David Attenborough, perhaps not a great career move. But there was a definite reluctance to show much at all about what was really happening to the planet. In fact, any “gloom and doom” was rejected by the commissioners – in their apparent wisdom. Indeed, the series Blue Planet (One) was shown in full on BBC1 but the truth, in the last episode, was hidden away on BBC2. In the USA, where that last episode “Deep Trouble” was not shown at all, a potential donor to charity said he’d seen the series, as shown, with no problems visible in the oceans. Now, years later, David tells it as it really is – plastics and all. What a difference the truth makes."
He explains, “My series “Wildlife Winners and Losers” looks carefully with well-documented evidence at these changes – past, present and particularly the future.
My Wildlife Winners and Losers series shows that films can be made – with basic footage filmed on any device – to help get the word out about conservation.
There is still time to save the planet. My Wildlife Winners and Losers series is my contribution.
Now it’s your turn. Watch these free films. Choose from these 80+ films of different lengths to inspire you to take action.
They’re free to watch and share with as many people as possible. Use the Series to give you ammunition to help save the planet.”
The following films show us some species that are winning, some that are losing ... the losing very much tied up with the plastic problem plaguing our planet, particlarly our seas, and their birds.
The Puffin Picture is a film about this charming seabird, and also about its up and downs over the years as we affect its survival. Its food at sea varies with the climate, so we also explore the worrying connections with the tiny plastics out there. Called nurdles and produced in their billions they're linked to a huge factory and one of the country's richest men. Nurdles may sound amusing, and the puffin is often called "comical", "like a clown", but this picture is definitely serious as well.
The Fulmar's Warning - the flying dustbin. This beautiful seabird nests on cliffs and feeds at sea. But its food often contains plastics which are then passed on to the chick, which may then die, as will the parents as the plastic build-up continues. And that's the same stuff we "excrete" from our lifestyles - often innocently.
Diary of a Ghost Net ... Ghost nets? Across all oceans lost fishing gear drifts forever killing dolphins, whales, seals and seabirds. Used originally to catch food for us, that plastic's now in the human food chain.....as seen by the "fish hawk", the osprey.
St Hilda to St Kilda ... Join an exciting ecotrip through the Outer Hebrides off Scotland to the outermost islands of all. St Kilda, famous for its millions of seabirds, they were the basis of life for an extraordinary human community that depended on them, but which has come to a sad end. Puffins, seals, basking sharks and beautiful beaches all connect in a changing marine world as seen by our intrepid adventurers with St Hilda to St Kilda.
Firstly, if you haven't already read it, we can't recommend Craig Foster's AMPHIBIOUS SOUL: Finding the wild in a tame world enough ... for anyone that loved "My Octopus Teacher", it's a must read ... and it'd make a marvelous Xmas gift! Get it here!
In addition to being an excellent read (or listen!) Amphibious Soul has a collection of twenty-seven short films created over two and half decades highlighting some of the most compelling moments in Craig Foster's book ... from diving with crocodiles to meeting the San tracking masters of the Kalahari to learning the secrets of the animals of the Great African Seaforest.
Deer are a central component of Scotland’s ecosystems, contributing to vital natural processes through grazing, browsing, trampling, nutrient cycling and seed dispersal.
Additionally, in many Scottish communities, deer stalking plays a significant role – providing jobs, food, and for some people, a sense of place and cultural identity.
Nobody contests the value of deer, or the affection these animals inspire. However, at high densities deer can negatively impact fragile peatlands and inhibit woodland regeneration, reducing biodiversity and impairing climate resilience, while adversely affecting economic productivity and even their own health.
In the first in a series of films from the Fiadh project, SCOTLAND: The Big Picture introduce the work of The Common Ground Forum, a network of stakeholders from the upland deer sector, who are committed to a more collaborative approach to deer management, based on mutual respect and consensus building.
The return of wolves to Europe is a conservation success story, reflecting decades of effort to reverse their near-extinction.
In a controversial move, in December 2024 the Bern Convention’s Standing Committee has voted to lower the protection status of wolves. The reclassification shifts wolves from ‘Strictly Protected’ to ‘Protected’ status, permitting them to be hunted if deemed a threat to livestock, public health, or safety.
This change disregards the flexibility already provided by EU nature laws and undermines essential conservation protections without a solid scientific basis. In fact, scientific evidence shows that wolf populations are still vulnerable, and culling is ineffective in reducing livestock attacks. While human-wolf conflict needs management, culling can destabilise pack dynamics and exacerbate conflicts with the livestock sector.
Over 300 NGOs, scientists, and hundreds of thousands of voices agree that wolves are essential for nature’s balance - from controlling wild populations to boosting biodiversity across grasslands and forests.
Conservationists are calling for renewed commitment to science-based governance to safeguard the integrity of European environmental policies. Rather than adopting and implementing short-term measures, European countries should foster long-term measures of coexistence through traditional and modern methods of damage prevention.
Even with the latest decision from the European Commission, it’s crucial for people to continue signing the petition to raise awareness. This will help highlight the importance of safeguarding wolves and other keystone species which are fundamental to maintaining Europe's biodiversity.
"The wolf is no longer an animal with two ears, four legs, and one tail; it is a political subject."
— Luigi Boitani, leading zoologist and chairman of the Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe
In a landscape torn between harmony and conflict, 'The Wolf Within' delves deep into the relationship between wolves and humans in Europe. Through the lens of diverse characters, the film unveils the fragile balance of nature and the need for coexistence. As wolves face an uncertain future, their journey intertwines with the resilience of communities, offering a poignant reflection on the essence of cohabitation in the modern world.
Coexist with keystone species – Use your voice to protect wolves; help build a European continent that lives alongside the wildlife we need. Encourage the EC to support livestock owners in the long-term through practical measures of coexistence instead of culling. Join more than 300,000 members of the public in signing the below petition: secure.avaaz.org/campaign/en/stop_wolf_hunting_loc
Don't Cry Wolf, You May Be Winning ...
Richard Brock made a film about the return of wolves to Europe several years ago:
Don't Cry Wolf You May Be Winning ... Wolves across Europe.
From Portugal to Russia we see how wolves are winning - often despite man.
We focus in documentary making on land and underwater, we do high speed, infrared and thermal filming. We can also help as fixers in Cyprus and Greece.
Victoria Clarke – an Australia-based Presenter/Host/Narrator
Victoria is a freelance television presenter, broadcaster, science communicator and narrator for documentaries and television series specialising in wildlife, science, natural history and adventure/travel.
She studied a Bachelor of Science in Zoology at the University of Queensland, which she paired with formal training in television presenting and communications, and has since combined the two fields as a host for wildlife and natural history media.
Her work as a wildlife presenter has taken her to many interesting and remote places in the natural world, and she is an avid traveller and adventurer.
Victoria believes in the power of storytelling, and it's her objective to share information about our planet, and the scientific discoveries made here, to the wider community through compelling, entertaining and accurate stories.
Victoria knows that through the art of nature filmmaking, the importance of conservation and exposure to the beauty of the natural world can be truly understood and appreciated.
Massimiliano (Max) Finzi – a Marine Supervisor – Assistant Underwater Camera – Water Safety Diver
Max is a professional Marine Supervisor and Safety diver in Media, Film and HATV at Netflix, Prime, Lionsgate, Disney, BBC amongst others.
Based in both the UK (Devon) and Italy.
He says" "I have great experience in water diving safety. I am a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, an SSI Divemaster Instructor and the HSE Scuba L.4 and I’m also Instructor of many diving specialties; I’m an underwater camera assistant and also operate independently. I also have experience of training cast and crew in scuba diving to facilitate underwater sequences.
I have done over 10,000 dives in extremely different places and locations such as sea, ocean, river, altitude, lake, caves, under ice, deep and wrecks using all different equipments; I have worked as a dive instructor and dive manager for 21 years and in the last 5 as part of a team in the Marine department in film and TV.
Before becoming a diver in 1996 I was a studio still-life photographer a profession that I brought with me underwater;
I have the Gates STO (Setup/Test/Operate) certification made by Esprit Film; RYA PowerBoat L2, VHF Radio Operator, Day skipper.
I also have the IRATA Rope Access certification L1 and A1/A3 Drone open category.
Remote, based in the US. Must be able to travel to Jackson, WY for the week before and during the Summit.
Hours:
Part time (20-25 hours), with an option to become full time in Spring 2025.
Compensation:
Commensurate with experience
Job description:
Jackson Wild’s Marketing Manager develops and executes marketing and communications strategies to reach JW’s target goals and audiences. The Manager leads campaigns for JW’s programs (including but not limited to the Jackson Wild Summit, Media Labs, the Jackson Wild Collective, the Jackson Wild Summit, World Wildlife Day) to increase engagement and facilitate the growth, identity, and visibility of JW. The Manager leads all content creation and community management for social media, and plans omni-channel campaigns that span digital marketing, email newsletters, and grassroots marketing. This role also leads all communications strategy for Jackson Wild, including drafting press releases, pitching to media outlets, and developing talking points for key events and programs. This position reports directly to the Executive Director.
Responsibilities include:
Marketing and Communications Strategy:
Develop and implement marketing plans to promote Jackson Wild’s programs, events, and initiatives.
Maintain partnerships with other organizations and facilitate marketing exchanges and promotional agreements with their communications teams.
Social Media Management and Content Creation:
Managing all social platforms (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) and researching, developing, and producing all digital content for web and social media
Design graphics for social media, email, and promotional materials using tools like Canva or Adobe Creative Suite.
Interact with the Jackson Wild community on social media, including responding to comments and messages on social platforms and engaging with posts from members of the community.
Produce and facilitate the review and dissemination of email marketing newsletters
Edit highlight clips and reels from Jackson Wild initiatives and events for promotion on social platforms.
Collaborate with the Director of Partnerships to create content to highlight event Sponsors in accordance with Sponsorship Agreements
Update website to keep current, improve user experience and be optimized for Google and SEO.
Analytics and Optimization:
Monitor audience feedback and engagement to adjust strategies and optimize reach.
Track social campaign results, analyze data, develop reports as needed, and create action plans for marketing improvement and optimization
Cross-departmental support of Media Awards, Event Programming, and Development
Provide cross-functional support to other department leads and programs.
Jackson Wild is an equal opportunity employer and encourages candidates from all backgrounds to apply. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. From: jacksonwild.org/jobs
Christie Quinn named Interim Executive Director of Jackson Wild
“We are thrilled to announce that Christie Quinn has been named Interim Executive Director of Jackson Wild” says board chair Jared Lipworth.
“Christie is uniquely positioned to hit the ground running and pull together as successful a Jackson Summit as ever. We’re lucky to have her and eager to see where her vision and commitment will take us.”
Quinn, who has been with the organization for 12 years, will continue to guide Jackson Wild through the 2025 Summit, ensuring our programming remains dynamic, relevant and high-impact.
Enter the 2025 World Wildlife Day Film Showcase: Wildlife Conservation Finance
Jackson Wild and Cites have teamed up again for the World Wildlife Day 2025 Showcase, one of many global events illustrating this year’s WWD theme: “Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet”
They are now accepting films that explore how innovative finance can contribute to halting biodiversity loss, raising the interest of private sector stakeholders to invest in wildlife conservation, and creating a sustainable future.
Films must be available globally at no cost from March 3, 2025 to December 31, 2025.
Best of all: entry into the showcase is free of charge!
Jackson Wild 2025 coming September 29th to October 3rd
In 2025, the Jackson Wild Summit is coming home to Grand Teton National Park.
Join us September 29 - October 3, 2025 for five days of exciting programming, thought-provoking conversations and innovative storytelling, all taking place with the stunning mountain backdrop of the Jackson Lake Lodge.
This will be a gathering you won’t want to miss. We’ll see you in Jackson!
Stay tuned — we will have information on lodging options announced in January.
BBC Studios, Shanghai Media Group close broadcast deal for natural history programs
BBC Studios and Shanghai Media Group (SMG) have inked a three-year agreement that will see SMG’s Dragon TV broadcast three forthcoming BBCS blue-chip natural history programs in China: Kingdom, Blue Planet III and Hidden Planet.
Filmed in Zambia over the course of four years, Kingdom (6 x 60 min., pictured) will chronicle the real-life sagas of four African animal families, depicting how the lives and fates of leopards, hyenas, wild dogs and lions are inextricably linked as they battle for supremacy. The project is coproduced with ZDF and France Télévisions for BBC One and iPlayer.
Blue Planet III (6 x 60 min.) continues BBCS’ flagship underwater franchise, capturing never-before-seen footage of aquatic life from the tropics to the poles while charting the impact of humanity on these fragile environments. The six-episode series is coproduced with BBC America for BBC One and iPlayer.
Finally, Hidden Planet (5 x 60 min.) will employ the advancements in camera technology pioneered in the BBCS plant-life doc The Green Planet to dive into the secret world of insects, showcasing new behaviors and gleaning new insights about these creatures whose success is critically important to all life on Earth.
The agreement between BBCS and SMG — which also includes a pact to continue exploring brand development opportunities in the territory — follows on from a previous deal for the new BBCS natural history production Asia, which will debut on Dragon TV on Tuesday (November 5).
Missed out on Wildscreen this year? You can now purchase a Post-Festival Online Pass for as little as £15 (for WildPhotos)!
Brush up on your cinematography knowledge, delve into the world of digital content creation, find out how to fund your film and more at the touch of a button from now until January 31st 2025.
Our Online Pass gives you post-festival access to our delegate app, allowing you to catch up and watch back live streams of dozens of sessions from this year’s festival including Headliners, Masterclasses, Decision Maker Clinics and more!
PLUS access our full film library of this year’s Official Selection and Panda Award Nominees. That’s over 60 natural history films and episodes at your fingertips!
ZDF Studios is continuing its long-standing partnership with WildBear Entertainment, taking on international distribution duties for three of the Australian factual studio’s latest productions.
The first of the new titles, How We Celebrate (6 x 60 min.), explores the diverse and meaningful ways people around the world celebrate six major holidays. Each episode looks at the traditions, rituals and cultural significance behind a single holiday — Christmas, Easter, Halloween, New Year’s Eve, Carnaval and Valentine’s Day — to show how these celebrations connect people and provide opportunities for unity, reflection and joy.
Nature docuseries Home Sweet Home: Incredible Animal Habitats (6 x 60 min., pictured) journeys to six environments — oceans, deserts, rainforests, grasslands, snow, and rivers and wetlands — as it explores an array of different domestic dwelling spaces in the animal world. Drawing parallels to human houses, the series shows how a variety of creatures have created their own versions of living rooms, kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms.
Finally, War Machine: Modern Warfare (5 x 60 min.) spotlights some of the most advanced and iconic military weaponry in the contemporary world, delving into the tactical thinking that has driven their development and exploring how they revolutionize combat and redefine global defence.
The deals for the new titles were brokered by Wild Thring Media.
Animal Activism On and Off Screen examines the relationship between animal advocacy and the film and television industries.
Leading scholars, activists, and film industry professionals critically analyse the ways in which animal activism has been represented inside and outside film and television programs in relation to the politics of celebrity, vegan, and animal activism.
Case studies include UK, US, and German television crime fiction, feature-length advocacy documentaries such as Blackfish (2013), The Ghosts in Our Machine (2013), The Animal People (2019) and Meat the Future (2020); fiction films such as Okja (2017) and Cloud Atlas (2012); as well as celebrity chefs, French activism and celebrity activists Pamela Anderson, Joaquin Phoenix and James Cromwell.
By exploring three key aspects of the current context for animal rights: representations of activism on screen; activist texts and their reception; and celebrity vegans and animal advocates, Animal Activism On and Off Screen evaluates the efficacy of advocacy narratives in film and on television, and offers important insights intended to inform animal advocacy strategies and campaigns.
“A great read for those interested in activism, how the media spreads messages, and how the cultural landscape around us is formed.” – Anthony Morris, Books+Publishing
Published by Sydney University Press on the 3rd of July 2024
How We Adapt to Climate Collapse: Transformative Adaptation with Rupert Read and Manda Scott
Transformative Adaptation (TrAd) helps us to transform our civilisation to be in readiness for the future and makes life worth living.
Impacts beyond 1.5 degrees C, the agreed maximum limit-target for global overheating, are already here. In this context, adaptation, preparedness and resilience-building are no longer optional. They become central, pivotal to whether we survive, let alone flourish.
In this expansive conversation between Permaculture magazine's editor, Maddy Harland, Emeritus Professor, Rupert Read, and award-winning author, Manda Scott, we learn how we can all use Transformative Adaptation to create a path towards a flourishing future.
Understand what Transformative Adaptation is, how we can become agents of positive change and the fundamental connection to Nature that we all need to live fulfilling lives, and the wider impact this has on our communities and our planet.
Manda Scott has written a significant chapter, and Rupert Read and Morgan Phillips are the editors and contributors of 'Transformative Adaptation: Another world is still just possible.
Maddy Harland is the editor of Permaculture magazine and the publisher of this book.
We are out of the safe zone. Transformative Adaptation (TrAd) helps us to transform our civilization to be in readiness for the future and makes life worth living. Impacts beyond 1.5oC, the agreed maximum limit-target for global overheating, are already here. In this context, adaptation, preparedness and resilience-building are no longer optional. They become central, pivotal to whether we survive, let alone flourish. The struggle to define adaptation will be the defining struggle of the coming decade. TrAd is adaptation that works with, not against nature. It reduces greenhouse gas emissions in the same breath as it guards us against the impacts of those emissions. This book sets out TrAd as a theory and a practice, a community and an attitude. Creating a flourishing future even in the jaws of adversity requires us first to imagine it together. Thrutopias are TrAd boldly and concretely imagined. Thrutopian stories show how we can get through by adapting to what is coming at us by transforming our systems. This book unpacks the theory of thrutopias and offers existing practical examples. Transformative Adaptation is the quintessential idea whose time has come.
Content Climate: How the producers of nature doc “All Too Clear” are meeting buyer demand with multiple cuts
In the cross-platform era, “one size fits all” models for content funding or distribution aren’t sufficient, and creative strategies for meeting varied buyer demands are gaining in importance. Case in point: the TVO Original nature doc All Too Clear, from Bruce Peninsula, Ontario–based Inspired Planet Productions.
The project is co-directed by husband-and-wife duo Zach Melnick and Yvonne Drebert. Narrated by Melnick, the doc uses advanced underwater drone technology from the New Zealand–based company Boxfish Robotics to explore how quadrillions of invasive mussels have impacted the Great Lakes’ ecosystem.
“The first funding we got was from the Trebek Initiative [a funding partnership between the National Geographic Society and the Royal Canadian Geographical Society] for a 20-minute short,” Drebert, who also produced the doc, tells Realscreen sister publication Playback Daily. “We were able to convert that into support for longer versions … [TVO] wanted a series, the American broadcasters are looking for an hour. So, we’re just really adapting the content. We have to really fit what the demand is.”
That demand has seen the project — which is self-distributed in the U.S. and Canada by Inspired Planet, with UK-based TVF International handling international distribution — morph into four separate cuts, to effectively meet the scheduling needs and formats of the platforms involved.
Silverback wins Best Nature or Environmental Documentary at this year's Grierson British Documentary Awards
Off The Fence says "A huge congratulations to our fantastic Silverback team and partners BBC, France Télévisions and Featuristic Films, and of course all the other winners!"
Silverback is a feature-length documentary following wildlife cameraman Vianet Djenguet as he joins the effort to protect the critically endangered eastern lowland gorillas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Born in the neighbouring Republic of the Congo, Vianet has been invited by the Kahuzi-Biega National Park to document this often challenging but vital conservation work. However, with the DRC still suffering the impacts of war, can the planet’s largest primates be rescued from extinction?
"With a compelling, layered story set against a complex political, economic and cultural background, the Grierson jurors commended this powerful authored documentary for its clever handling of the moral quandary at the heart of the narrative. An emotional watch, the filmmakers’ bravery in capturing truly wild, unhabituated animals in an extraordinary way – and in such a dangerous environment – truly impressed the panel who were unanimous in their praise."
For more award winning programming from OTF visit our website: offthefence.com
Why you shouldn’t watch ‘I’m a Celeb’
So it's that time of the year again when ITV's flagship 'entertainment' show lands back on our screens, giving a chance for washed up celebrities to save what's left of their careers.
Needless to say Protect The Wild's Rob Pownall won't be tuning in. Nor me! JP
It's really disturbing that in 2024 we are still seeing a major TV network like ITV subject live animals to unnecessary suffering for cheap thrills and it's a real shame that nothing seems to have changed in over 20 years of the show being on air.
Rob decided to have a good old rant about it so if it's something you'd like to see you can have a watch below.
Nadeem Perera: natural history representation hindering next generation of diverse storytellers
One Show and Springwatch presenter outlines difficulties facing people of colour in breaking into genre.
Current representation in natural history remains the greatest barrier for people of colour looking to work in the genre, according to wildlife broadcaster Nadeem Perera.
Speaking on the TV Collective podcast, the One Show and Springwatch presenter said despite great efforts to tackle representation in natural history, it’s still incredibly rare to see “someone that looks like you in that space”, either on- or off-screen.
Echoing sentiments about the problems facing diverse-led indies, Perera said: “The biggest change I’d like to see in TV is to have companies that are owned by people that are from communities that represent us.”
Reflecting on his career thus far, Perera said once in the natural history arena, his experiences have been positive: “There have been a lot of people that I would have probably thought would push me back who have actually opened doors for me and allowed me to work in these spaces.”
However, having worked in several organisations and production companies, he conceded: “I have not met one black man. It’s tough.”
Additionally, in natural history, “most of the opportunities are in Bristol”, and if you want to work in wildlife, you have to move there.
“No one told me that,” he said. “They’re in bars and pubs [in the city] chatting to each other about what opportunities are around. If we want in on that we have to be there.”
Perera said he had set up his own company to “bring the next generation through and really connect a group of young talent who are literally the tastemakers for youth culture and beyond across the world”, adding that he believes “natural history needs that energy and input.”
He is also the co-founder of nature collective Flock Together - alongside creative, author, and boss of agency Futurimpose Ollie Olanipekun - which brings people of colour together for monthly walks and birdwatching and has almost 30,000 followers on Instagram.
“It’s important our voices are heard in this space because historically and almost systematically they’ve been shut out and I think that it is important that people are able to express themselves by any means they see fit,” Perera told podcast host and TV Collective head Simone Pennant. “I see it as my role to highlight nature as another one of those mediums.”
Cat videos and wild caracals: how the internet’s viral trends can help conservation
Have you recently opened YouTube or TikTok and immediately gone looking for cat videos? If your answer is “yes”, then you’re not alone: the global consumption of cat-related media online is simply massive. In 2015, there were over 2 million cat videos on YouTube alone, with an average of 12,000 views each – a higher average than any other category of YouTube content.
“Cats” is also one of the most searched keywords on the internet. As of 2023, there were 502 billion views of TikToks with the hashtag #cat. Clearly, domestic cats are the darlings of the digital world.
But how can this popularity be leveraged to help conserve their wild cousins? Many small wild cat species – like caracals – face threats from widespread habitat loss, poaching and conflict with people, but they are highly cryptic and therefore understudied.
Scientists have recognised the potential of widespread internet usage and harnessed it in a range of ways.
Engaging the public in scientific endeavours fosters increased connections between science and society. However, little is known about how these projects contribute to conservation goals or environmental awareness outcomes and how this links to how their findings are communicated.
We set out to help fill this knowledge gap in a recent paper about caracals in Cape Town, South Africa. The caracal is a highly adaptable medium-sized wild cat with long, tufted ears and a reputation for eating sheep in rural areas across southern Africa.
We found that social media is an effective way to raise conservation awareness about wildlife living on the urban edges. We hypothesise that posts to our social media pages are popular because caracals are beautiful, charismatic cats that look very similar to their domestic relatives. The internet is already primed to receive cat content, and the project our research is based on has delivered.
Looking for lions - A Namibian Nightmare - when a train safari went disastrously wrong. How lion safaris vary between the good, the bad and the ugly - for example "Cecil" the lion.
Asia's breathtaking beauty with Sir David Attenborough
Filmed over nearly four years, explore the amazing wildlife and natural wonders of our planet's largest continent.
From the Himalayas to the Gobi Desert, witness the stunning landscapes and unique ecosystems of Asia.
Plus, discover extraordinary animal behaviour, including rhinos in Nepal playing a courtship game, and sea snakes hunting with fish in the Western Pacific.
Seven-part wildlife landmark Asia, now on BBC One and iPlayer, is made by BBC Studios Natural History Unit, co-produced with BBC America, France Télévisions and ZDF. It was commissioned by Jack Bootle, Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual, with commissioning editor Sreya Biswas, Head of Commissioning, Natural History.
The following behind-the-scenes account is taken from BBC interviews.
The Natural History Unit made the series Seven Worlds, One Planet with the BBC five years ago and this series was born from the episode on Asia. The series took four years to film after getting the greenlight.
“For whatever reason, our cameras have not heavily focused on those animals in Asia before,” says Roger Webb, executive producer. “Technology has moved on so fast in the last five or ten years. To be able to apply that to filming stories that have rarely been told or not told at all is just super exciting for us.”
“It feels that Asia is a continent that’s looming large internationally,” says series producer Matthew Wright. “It now contains more people than the rest of the planet put together. Having such a huge size and a huge reach north, south, east, west, it’s got an unparalleled array of animals.”
With Asia extending to the Arctic Circle, very close to Australia and to the edge of Africa, it has great diversity.
“Obviously, Asia’s got these big familiar box office animals, tigers and elephants and polar bears, and so on,” says Wright. “But there’s also a cast of unsung heroes, and we’ve tried to focus on creatures that we may not have seen before. We are also showing well-known creatures doing things that we’re not familiar with like tigers in a city or elephants looking for food on a bus. It’s fresh to the audience and shining a light on a part of the planet that’s been underserved.
The series is narrated by Sir David Attenborough. “He’s painstakingly gone through every script and fed back to us,” says Webb. “He interrogates every word and will review things in great detail. It’s been a great dialogue. Together we’ve been truly able to hone the scripts.”
Asked to cite favourite scenes, Webb starts with the opening sequence in the whole series.”A school of Moorish idols are chased by grey reef sharks…. That has been on quite a few wildlife filmmakers’ bucket lists, but producer Mark [Wheeler] really went for it. He will probably say he got lucky, but he planned everything down to the nth degree, and he worked with a brilliant team. They managed to capture something that’s never been captured before…. The energy and the music and, of course, Sir David’s narration combine with that to create a very powerful and engaging sequence.”
CBS slates weekend series Extraordinary World with Jeff Corwin from Hearst
CBS has set a January 4 premiere for a new weekly series from Hearst Media Production Group (HMPG) fronted by Emmy-winning conservationist Jeff Corwin (ABC’s Ocean Mysteries with Jeff Corwin).
Made in partnership with the Miami-based Brady Hunter Foundation, Extraordinary World with Jeff Corwin will spotlight everyday people who are making an extraordinary impact on the world through animal advocacy, wildlife conservation, youth empowerment, and aiding those dealing with food insecurity issues. Each 30-minute episode will see Corwin (pictured) traveling across the country to visit those making positive change on the frontlines, from cleaning Florida’s beaches and supporting local animal sanctuaries to providing essential community services on the streets of New York and Los Angeles.
The series will air on Saturday mornings as part of CBS’ weekend educational/informational programming block, and will also be available to stream on Paramount+.
Spring 2024 - Ch, ch, ch, changes at The Sound Room NZ ...
After twenty years, Tom has decided to leave The Sound Room as a partner to open up space for some exciting new creative projects and collaborations. Marshall and Tom will still work together on select ongoing projects and with their regular clients and The Sound Room continues working as usual.
Check out our latest showreel below and some pics of our lovely brand new Takapuna studio left
Prince of Wales to feature in new BBC Earthshot documentary
Prince William will introduce The Earthshot Report to the BBC’s audience, a royal source says ...
The Prince of Wales is to feature in a new BBC documentary about the Earthshot Prize amid a PR push on his projects in the UK and the US.
Prince William will introduce The Earthshot Report – which will be presented by Hannah Waddingham, the actress, and will highlight the “impact and exciting growth” of finalists – to the BBC audience, a royal source said.
In a brief trailer released on social media, the Prince says: “Our planet needs our help and every year counts, so what have we achieved in 2024?”
He was filmed sheltering under an umbrella as he walked through woodland in Buckinghamshire.
The documentary will be broadcast on the BBC on Dec 15 and on Public Broadcasting Service in the US on Dec 18.
Watch The Earthshot Prize on BBC iPlayer: bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00259zl/the-earthshot-prize-2024 Join Prince William for The Earthshot Prize 2024 in South Africa. A celebration of solutions that drive global change in protecting our environment for future generations.
The Earthshot Prize 2024: Meet the Inspiring Winners of This Year's Awards
15 incredible solutions to repair our planet joined us in Cape Town for this year's Awards - and 5 have now been awarded £1M to scale and grow their solution in 2025 and beyond.
The Winners are:
Build a Waste-Free World - Keep IT Cool
Protect and Restore Nature - Altyn Dala
Fix Our Climate - Advanced Thermovoltaic Systems
Revive Our Oceans - High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People
Clean Our Air - GAYO (Green Africa Youth Organisation)
Congratulations to all the Earthshot Winners and Finalists!
Over the last ten years, the evidence that we face urgent challenges to protect the environment has become indisputable, and it’s clear that the time to act is now. Drawing inspiration from the concept of moonshots, which since the moon landing in 1969 has become shorthand to talk about the most ambitious and ground-breaking goals, Prince William announced The Earthshot Prize: an ambitious set of challenges to inspire a decade of action to repair the planet.
Protect the Wild is a nonprofit organisation that works to end hunting, end shooting and end the Badger cull.
The Royals are one of the UK’s most wealthy and well-known shooting families. And so new calls from Prince William to “make peace with nature” stink of hypocrisy.
"Best Documentary 2024" - 'CHRISTSPIRACY' is now FREE to watch online.
It started with a question we weren't supposed to ask...
What Would Jesus Do? Kill?
Christspiracy: The Spirituality Secret is a thrilling, eye-opening documentary revealing the most explosive cover-up in 2,000 years.
As two fearless filmmakers journey across the world, they unravel a hidden conspiracy that has twisted sacred teachings, manipulated religions, and deceived humanity for centuries. With the stakes higher than ever, they expose the powerful forces that have shaped our beliefs and betrayed the core principles of truth, compassion, and freedom that lie at the heart of every spiritual path.
This is the documentary they don't want you to see—will you dare to uncover the truth?
Watch for FREE on the website, and you can also Pay it Forward to allow anyone in the world to watch Christspiracy.
The film-makers say "Everyone must see this film, but not everyone can afford to pay. That’s where you come in.
Our original streaming partner demanded we redact key information from the film, which took seven years and over a million dollars to produce. After boldly buying our film rights back, and creating this independent platform, Christspiracy is now freely accessible and uncensored. We intend to keep it this way, but we cannot do it alone."
Have you ever wondered what a fully vegan world could look like?
The Vegan Society are excited to announce that their brand-new immersive campaign, The Future is Vegan, now launched!
"In honour of our 80th anniversary, this exciting and one-of-a-kind campaign looks forward to what the next 80 years of the vegan movement will bring.
Donald Watson, one of the key founders of The Vegan Society, will be your guide.
Head to our campaign website via the green button and explore today on desk top. Be sure to share widely with friends, family and on social media to amplify our message and inspire change."
Factory farming is unquestionably the single biggest cause of animal cruelty on the planet. It also pollutes our environment, degrades our wildlife and drives climate change. Yet the industry keeps on expanding.
A mucky business
Alongside our friends at Sustain, the alliance for better food and farming, and Friends of the Earth, we’ve mapped out the pollution caused by slurry and manure from factory farms. This “muck” high in nitrogen and phosphates is spread on fields, some of the nutrients eventually washing into rivers.
The result? Soils in every region of England are now oversaturated with nitrogen. We see Special Areas of Conservation, such as the River Wye facing ecological crisis. The picture it paints is alarming – and it needs to stop here before it’s too late. Will you email Angela Rayner, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and call on her to put an end to new factory farm proposals?
Agriculture is the number one cause of river pollution in the UK and the biggest contributor to wildlife decline in the UK. The nitrogen surplus is so high in many areas of England that it is damaging protected areas, and the new housing promised cannot be given authorisation to be built.
But there is a solution. Recently, a report from the Environmental Audit Committee made recommendations to the Government to reject planning applications for new factory farms in areas with already excessive nitrogen pollution. Makes sense, doesn’t it? The National Planning Policy Framework is currently being reviewed, so we have the chance to urge Angela Rayner to build in as a default that no new permissions for factory farming are granted where pollution is already damaging wildlife.
So now is our window of opportunity. We have a chance to strengthen the law and ensure that local authorities have clear power to reject planning applications for new factory farms. It takes just two minutes to send your email to Angela Rayner and help stop the spread of cruel and polluting intensive livestock farming. Are you ready to act now?
You will have seen and heard about the bad conditions on our waterways, rivers, lakes, shores and coasts.
Clean water is precious, both to us and wildlife, as Sir David Attenborough has stressed in his major wildlife conservation series on BBC 1, “Wild Isles”. Fixing it will be a massive challenge and costs will be high affecting what we will have to pay. But who is getting richer too? And how? It’s a scandal, involving what amounts to a crime, or rather a number of crimes. So, in addition to the massive media coverage and long-term news campaigns, we offer a film “POODUNNIT?” Different from the inevitable foul examples in what were pristine rivers “POODUNNIT?” tracks down the potential culprits with several Sherlock Holmes logos (+ farts!) in an hour-long hunt for the criminals on one of Britain’s most favourite rivers – the Wye, which flows between England and Wales – 155 miles. The journey follows the threatened Wye, through one year, from source to sea, using that ace fisherman the heron, and the handsome wild duck the mallard, as our guides, revealing whodunit? along the course of the dying Wye. This is a wildlife detective story, very watchable, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but with a serious intention, plus outstanding wildlife film production values with BBC Natural History Unit experience. Watch it. Become a Sherlock Holmes and find out! “POODUNNIT?” Whodunnit? Is doing it?
On World Vegan Day (Nov 1st) Ed released Matilda and the Brave Escape, a new family-friendly animated short film narrated by Bella Ramsey. It's based on the incredible true story of Matilda, a pig who escaped from a farm in the UK and gave birth to her piglets in a nearby woodland - saving herself and her piglets from certain death..
But this is not just a story of one pig’s fight for freedom; it is a call to action reminding us that every animal deserves a life free from exploitation. Ed's hope is that viewers of all ages will be inspired to see animals as the amazing individuals that they are.
Ed says "It would mean the world to myself and the team if you could watch and share the film with a non-vegan loved one in your life."
Matilda now lives with her family in safety at Surge Sanctuary. Winter is fast approaching and if you'd like to sponsor the real Matilda or contribute to the upkeep and care of all the animals at Surge Sanctuary, donations allow the sanctuary team to continue providing the best lives possible for Matilda, her children and the other residents.
Head over to matildaandthebraveescape.com to learn more about the film, how to go vegan and to find out more about the real Matilda!
I am an Octopus (Narrated by Peter Egan) | #StopOctopusFarming
Peter Egan says "I am delighted to share that I have narrated a beautiful and powerful animation about octopus farming with my Plant Based Treaty friends."
Inspired by Greenpeace'sThere's A Monster in My Kitchen, Plant Based Treaty's talented animator Hoshimi Sakai shows us the frightening reality of the millions of octopuses destined to suffer if the multinational corporation Pescanova is granted a permit to build the world's first octopus factory farm.
In the animation, the octopus's life is shown in two contrasting versions—one where she is stuck inside a tank in an octopus farm and the other swimming happily and freely in the oceans. In the end, the humans learn an important lesson from the octopus and realize that all life is one. The epilogue is a reference to Leo Tolstoy's short story Esarhaddon, King of Assyria—a reminder that it is impossible to harm others without harming ourselves..
I am an octopus trapped in a tiny tank,
Crowded prison cells, which they call farms.
It’s dark, dirty and deadly, I can’t stretch my eight arms.
I am an octopus trapped in a tiny tank.
No solitude or peace, I weep and shake,
So a greedy two-armed man can take cash to the bank.
I don’t yet know how to get out and dream of escape…
I am an octopus who is free to roam the salty seas.
With eight arms I jet along the ocean floor.
I crawl, I climb and through rocks I squeeze,
To forage for food and explore.
When I feel sleepy or want to hide away,
I build a den using shells from scallops and clams.
When I see a shark, I fear I’ll become prey,
So my skin goes lumpy, bumpy, and changes color.
My home, the ocean, is dying.
Men steal fishes from the sea to feed us.
They say breeding us will save the planet, but they are lying.
The octopus farms cause me and the ocean so much harm.
The two-armed man artificially impregnates the females.
Then he prods and stabs us to find out how best to kill us.
Big business is trying to play God,
But Mother Nature strikes back with climate chaos.
I am an octopus but I am like you.
On the surface we may look very different -
Your blood is red and mine is blue,
You have one brain and I have nine.
Don’t eat my brainy arms,
They think and feel and are not for you to chew!
Drop your knife and raise your placards,
And shout out ‘NO, to octopus farms!’
Make your one heart big,
Listen to my one, two, three hearts beat.
The free rhythms of this short song called life
Ring-a-ding-ding ring–a-ding-ding, be my octopus defender!
Swimming in the ocean I feel so alive,
Now planet Earth can bustle and thrive.
Dive deep and show compassion,
Link your arms in octopus fashion,
Plant Based Treaty's petition to Stop Octopus Farming has over 140,000 signatures. They held global days of actions outside Spanish embassies and mobilised environmental scientists to submit objections to Pescanova's planning application. With your help, they can do so much more to save these magnificient creatures.
Viva! has been at the forefront of change for 30 years. As you know, we have specialised in undercover investigations and high-profile campaigns since 1994, and in that time it’s incredible to see how far we have come.
But our work continues, and until a kinder sustainable world is created for humans and animals alike, our work will never be done.
Factory farmed animals face torture daily – we know because we’ve filmed it over and over again. Slaughtering animals who don’t want to die is obscenely cruel, and entirely unnecessary.
More than one billion animals are killed for meat in the UK every year, and most live in filthy overcrowded industrial-sized sheds.
In fact, Viva! has been a huge catalyst in triggering the vegan revolution. We are finally winning; but not fast enough.
Unity is strength and we need you to join us and help change the world – because that’s what’s needed. Join Viva! today and help our vital work continue for another 30 years.
We’ve filmed over 100 pig farms – filth, cages, suffering and despair, everywhere.
28 per cent of an estimated 10.4 billion eggs a year come from hens in overcrowded cages. They survive for just 18 months. And free range isn’t much better.
Viva! – first to expose duck factory farming. The number of ducks killed dropped from 19 million to 14 million.
Dairy – a cruel industry where mother cows are worked to death and male calves are the unwanted by-product.
Turkeys – tens of thousands to a shed. We exposed barbarity at Bernard Matthews and sales fell.
We went inside the UK’s four biggest chicken producers – and witnessed dead and dying birds everywhere.
Please, join our fight for the animals. Join Viva!: join.viva.org.uk
Avian Influenza Confirmed in Poultry, California Factory Farm Ban Fails & more | Month in a Minute
The November 2024 edition of Sentient Media's popular Month in a Minute series is here! Watch their 60-second recap of the top stories in animals, food and farming.
In November…
Cop16 ends in disarray and indecision, as meat, oil and pesticide industry lobbyists turn out in record numbers.
Voters in California and Denver reject proposals to ban ‘factory farming’ and slaughterhouses.
A new comparative life cycle assessment of plant-based meats and conventional animal meats finds that plant-based meat reduces impact on global warming by 94% compared to beef, 88% compared to pork and 67% compared to chicken.
Cultivated meat company Vow unveils the world’s first cultured quail ‘foie gras’, while cultivated seafood producer Forsea announces a breakthrough in cell-cultured eel production.
Smaller meat portions contribute the most to reducing meat consumption in the United Kingdom, according to a new study, as low-meat meals present fewer barriers than adopting meat-free meals.
Meanwhile Avian influenza is confirmed in poultry in England, and in British Columbia a teen with avian flu is in critical condition, with the virus undergoing mutational changes that would make it easier for that version to infect people.
And RFK Jr’s plan to Make America Healthy Again is called into question, as he’s photographed tucking into a McDonald’s.
Narration by Jasmine C. Perry
Watch all this and more in the November media recap!
Would you like to participate in a "first of its kind" festival in Türkiye?
We set out to organize a brand new festival to attract national and international attention to Anatolia's wildlife, contribute to nature conservation efforts and support the development of wildlife documentary filmmaking.
The first of the Ankara International Wildlife Documentary Film Festival will take place in the capital city of Ankara between May 15 - 18, 2025. Over four days, we will present a rich program filled with documentary film screenings, Q&A sessions with filmmakers, workshops, and seminars.
The festival, where wildlife filmmakers from different countries will have the chance to meet with the Turkish audience and filmmakers, will also host a competition.
Submissions to the festival opened on July 1st, 2024 through filmfreeway.com! We invite all wildlife filmmakers from Türkiye and across the globe to submit their films to the festival.
We look forward to welcoming you to our soon-to-be-launched website…
Festival Founder and President,
Ece Soydam
Highly endowed awards await the winning films in six categories:
Best European Film: Wildlife
Best European Film: Biodiversity
Best European Film: Nature Conservation
Audience Award
Best Story
Best Short Film
The first award ceremony will take place February 15th 2025.
All selected films will screen at the EWFA´s very own theatre in the ´Botschaft der Wildtiere´ (Wildlife Embassy) in Hamburg HafenCity over the course of the following year.
Our course is hosted by
industry professionals including
experienced naturalists, trackers, impact producers, cinematographers and natural
history editors to help you create your own story.
What’s included:
6 weeks of immersive training;
Live in the Timbavati Big 5 Game
Reserve;
Daily safaris to ethically film wildlife;
Use industry standard film equipment;
Small groups of up to maximum 8
participants;
Dedicated 1-2-1 mentoring;
A panoramic teaching style with expert
mentors;
Learn basic tracking skills and insights into animal behaviour;
Build your own showreel and wildlife documentary short;
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.
Membership fees help to keep the site going too ... Your support is much-needed! Hoping to relaunch the site this year ... Updated for the new decade ... Will be looking for help from all over the world!!
Since the late 1990s Wildlife-film.com has been the leading source of information for the wildlife filmmaking industry worldwide. For over twenty years the site has been Google's number one ranking site for 'wildlife film' and related searches. Our site is viewed in over 195 countries. Our newsletter, Wildlife Film News, is read every month by thousands of people involved in wildlife filmmaking - from broadcasters and producers, to cameramen - we encourage readers to submit their news. We also serve as an online resource for industry professionals and services. Find producers, editors, presenters and more in our Freelancer section, and find out about festivals, training and conservation in Organisations. We encourage amateur and professional freelancers to join our network and welcome all wildlife-film related organisations to join our team.
