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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 practical filming work as well as advice about how to get started and what equipment to use. 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. The
location is Whitwell
Hall Country Centre in the centre of Norfolk, UK with part of the practical work at Pensthorpe (former hosts of BBC Springwatch). Accommodation
is shared rooms (or there are nearby bed and breakfasts/hotels if
you prefer), and there will be excellent home-cooked food.
No
experience or equipment is required, but it is recommended you bring
your camcorder and tripod if you have one.
 Itinerary
Friday:
aim to arrive by 6pm
7pm - evening meal served
8pm - introductory chat - who we are, who you are, and what we will
be doing this weekend.
9pm - time to relax, chat with new friends, and watch wildlife
films in the viewing lounge.
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 - tea break
11.30am - intro to cameras, formats, lenses, support systems and techniques
for working in the field
 1pm - lunch
1.45pm - brief on filming tasks
2.30pm - working in small groups you will be given tasks and have
one and a half hours to film three different subjects
4pm - tea break
4.30pm -
view footage shot - critique and advice
5.30pm - the importance of the soundtrack and sound recording techniques
6.30pm - free time
7pm - evening meal served
As darkness falls there will be a demonstration of infra-red camera
technology and a further chance to view wildlife
films in the viewing lounge.
 Sunday:
8am - breakfast
9am - script-writing and narrating
9.30am - depart for Pensthorpe
10am - filming tasks at Pensthorpe
11.30am - return to Whitwell
12pm - view footage shot - critique and advice
1pm - lunch
1.45pm - continue to view footage shot
2.30pm - a demonstration of editing and outputting a film - the final stage.
Markets and finance, the future of the industry, making money
from your productions/footage.
4pm - course ends
Tutors
 Piers
Warren - Principal of Wildeye - Piers is well
known throughout the wildlife film-making industry as the editor
of Wildlife Film News and producer of wildlife-film.com,
which he created in the 1990s. With a strong background in biology,
education and conservation, he has had a lifelong passion for wildlife
films and has a wide knowledge of natural history. He cut his teeth
in the industry as a sound engineer and multi-media producer, running
a studio for many years. He is one of the founders of the international
organisation Filmmakers
for Conservation and was Vice President for the first three
years. Piers is the author of many magazine features and several
books including Careers
in Wildlife Film-making and Go
Wild with Your Camcorder - How to Make Wildlife Films.
Mike
Linley (pictured left) - 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. Since then he has worked on productions for Granada, National Geographic and Discovery/Animal Planet.
Simon
Beer (pictured right) Simon runs Production
Gear Ltd, a company specialising in the sales of broadcast and
professional video production equipment. Simon has worked in the
broadcast industry since leaving school in 1993, during this time
he has been involved in varying capacities on numerous projects
with roles including grip and camera operator. Simon has extensive
technical knowledge of production technology and has in the past
written articles on cameras and post production for magazines including
DV User and IOV Focus.
Booking
Information
Costs:
£295 per person
This includes tuition, accommodation, and meals.
Forthcoming
Dates:
28-30 June 2013
To be informed of future courses please add your email address in the column on the right to receive Wildeye Bulletins.
.
 Booking:
If the home page shows that there are places available for the course of your choice - please complete the online application form and send in your deposit/fee as detailed.
Recommended
reading:
Wild Pages: The Wildlife Film-makers' Resouce Guide
Wildlife Film-making: Looking to the Future
Staff and students - 17-19 May 2013
Click
here for photos of staff and students from previous years' Introduction courses
Thanks
to the following companies for loaning equipment for the training:
Vinten -
tripods
Wildlife
Watching Supplies - camouflaged accessories and hides
Olympus - Linear PCM Recorder LS-11
Rycote
- windshields, windjammers etc
SCV
London - Fostex recorders and microphones
Gardenature
- bird box camera |
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Comments
from previous participants:
"The weekend was awesome and I had a really good time. It was informative whilst being fun and you guys were so open and willing to share your knowledge and expertise and for that I’m very grateful.
'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.
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."
 
For
news of wildlife film courses, equipment for sale, footage
required and jobs offered,
add your email address
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