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Producers of
Wildlife Film News
The free monthly e-zine for the wildlife film-making industry

Introduction to Wildlife Film-making

These weekends, in the heart of Norfolk, provide a unique hands-on introduction to wildlife film-making. The sessions cover all aspects of wildlife film-making with opportunities for filming wildlife at the Animal Ark and Country Park (formerly the Norfolk Wildlife Centre). Wildlife you will see and film at the park include otters, meerkats, wallabies, peacocks, fallow deer and much more. The pictures on this page show some of the wildlife at the park.

This course is the perfect start for those wishing to work in the wildlife film-making industry, whether as a camera operator, producer, researcher, script-writer, presenter and so on. It is also suitable for those wishing to pursue wildlife film-making as a fascinating hobby.

Professional wildlife film-makers with a wide range of experience will be your guides and tutors throughout the weekend. You will find it a fun and valuable experience, and will enjoy mixing with other people enthused by wildlife films. Accommodation will be camping in your own tent at the Animal Ark and Country Park, or there are nearby bed and breakfasts if you prefer. Breakfast and evening meals will also be provided at the park and there is a cafe for snacks/lunches.

No experience is required, but it is recommended that you bring a camcorder, however basic, for use during the course.

Itinerary

Friday: Aim to arrive at least by 6pm in time to put up your tent before the evening meal.
7pm - evening meal served (no problem if you arrive later)
8pm - introductory chat - who we are, who you are, and what we will be doing this weekend.
9pm - relax around the camp fire

Saturday:
8am - breakfast
9am - introduction to the wildlife film business with video examples – the variety of approaches and productions
10am - the role of the producer and team - who does what - tips for success
11am - one hour guided tour of the park to orientate yourselves
12am - intro to cameras, formats, lenses, support systems and techniques for working in the field
1pm - lunch at park cafe
2pm - brief on filming tasks at the centre
2.30pm - working in small groups you will be given tasks and have one and a half hours to film 3 different subjects
4pm - view footage shot - critique and advice
5pm - tea-break
5.30pm - script-writing and narrating with guest speaker Malcolm Penny
6.30pm - free time
7pm - evening meal served - if the weather is good this will be a barbecue.
As darkness falls there will be a demonstration of infra-red camera technology and a further chance to view footage shot during the day

Sunday:
8am - breakfast
9am - the importance of the soundtrack and sound recording techniques
10am - markets and finance, the future of the industry
11.30am - further filming tasks building on what was learnt the day before
1pm - lunch at park cafe
1.30pm - view footage shot - critique and advice
3pm - how to get started in the business and careers advice, conservation aspects plus intro to Filmmakers for Conservation, ethics in wildlife film-making, final questions and answers
4pm - course ends - pack tents etc

Staff/Tutors

Piers Warren (pictured left) - Principal of Wildeye - conservationist, writer, photographer and teacher of wildlife film-making. Founder of Filmmakers for Conservation, Executive Producer of wildlife-film.com and Editor of Wildlife Film News. Author of Careers in Wildlife Film-making and Go Wild with Your Camcorder - How to Make Wildlife Films.Through Wildeye, Piers leads wildlife tours and training expeditions around the world

Mike Linley (pictured right) - Mike was a producer and scientific advisor to Survival the Internationally acclaimed wildlife programme making company from 1980 until its demise in 2001. During this time he filmed and produced over 60 documentaries, many of which won major International awards. He also researched, wrote and produced over 200 wildlife programmes for children including the series Animals in Action. He then formed Hairy Frog Productions, an independent wildlife production company.

Malcolm Penny (pictured left) - freelance narrator and script-writer. Since leaving Survival in 1994, Malcolm worked for HIT TV in London, versioning many Japanese programmes for Discovery and Animal Planet. Later he was taken on by ZDF in Germany and ORF in Austria, translating scripts from German and narrating the English versions, completing a total of about 300 programmes. He wrote scripts and recorded voice-overs for Afikim Productions and SET Productions, both in Israel. It is rumoured that he recorded three half-hours (broadcast) and three one-hours (educational) for the BBC. He loves the sound of his own voice.

Simon Beer (pictured right) Simon from Production Gear Ltd. has worked in the broadcast equipment sales industry since leaving school at the age of 16. He started his career in equipment service, moving on for a short spell in rental before ending up in sales and marketing. He is a regular contributor to the IOV's Focus magazine writing articles on technology. Simon has studied non-linear editing at BBC Wood Norton and worked as a camera operator at Pinewood Studios. Production Gear Ltd. is a UK based company supplying a concise range of broadcast and professional production equipment, ranging from a roll of gaffer tape through to a complete studio.

Booking Information

Costs: £195 per person
This includes tuition, entrance to Park, camping, breakfast and evening meals (the park has a snack cafe for lunches).

Forthcoming Dates:
23-25 May 2008
20-22 June 2008

Booking: Initially contact info@wildeye.co.uk to reserve a place on the date of your choice. You will be required to pay a deposit of £25 to confirm your booking. Places are limited and will be awarded first-come-first-served - so you are advised to book early. View our Terms and Conditions for Booking Courses.

Comments from previous students:

" 'THANK YOU' for such a clear insight into the world of wildlife film making. We have all come away stimulated by the wealth of extensive information so openly provided. Not only has it been a great education and a memorable experience, it's been an enormously fun weekend.

Many thanks for taking the time and putting so much effort into producing a course that is both encouraging and inspirational to new Wildlife Film Makers. You have offered an opportunity with this insight and have provided a great basis to move forward from. I have certainly come away eager and enthused to continue this work.

Thanks for a truly wonderful weekend and like all the best things in life you've left us wanting more !

Thanks for such a fantastic weekend. It was inspirational. I learnt so much in such a short time. It really did exceed my expectations. To have such fantastic mentors sharing their knowledge, experience and insights was just wonderful, and I would definitely like to come to further training weekends or weeks!

This Wildeye training weekend was put simply, incredible. To be in a place with so many great people as devoted to wildlife as myself was a tremendous experience. I have come away fully equipped to tackle the industry with vital information that you can only get from such experienced, positive and open producers and cameramen as can be found on this course. Worth double the price I paid. And the food was out of this world!

I wanted to thank you for your time, effort, hospitality and most importantly a head start in the industry..... You even answered questions I didn't know I had!

Thank you so much for a truly inspirational weekend, it confirmed and strengthened my interest in the business. ... I havent been this excited about anything for a long time.

As a complete beginner I didnt feel out of my depth and it was really useful to gain insight into a range of aspects of the wildlife film industry as well as camera work

The strength of the conservation message was incredibly refreshing and welcome, and a real spur to try and help to get things going in this field, whether novice or professional. The manner in which you made us all feel truly comfortable with the subject matter, regardless of experience, is something I personally very much appreciated. I am still amazed we managed to cover so much in such a short space of time."

Staff and students - July 27-29 2007

Staff and students - July 13-15 2007

Staff and students - June 8-10 2007

Click here for photos of staff and students from previous year's courses

Thanks to the following companies for loaning equipment for the training:

Manfrotto - tripods
Vinten - tripods
Wildlife Watching Supplies - camouflaged accessories and hides
Rycote - windshields, windjammers etc
SCV London - Fostex recorders and microphones
Deben - camouflage clothing
Gardenature - bird box camera