Echo the Elephant RIP

The Amboseli matriarch Echo, probably the most filmed elephant on the planet, has died. On May 3rd, she collapsed near the lodge at Ol Tukai, and seemed to be having trouble breathing. She died the next day, at 2.42 p.m. with the elephant researchers Soila, Norah and Katito at her side. She was thought to be in her mid sixties, and had led her family for more than thirty years. She had starred in many films, including “Echo of the elephants”, in 1989, “Echo of the elephants – the next generation” in 1993, “Echo of the elephants – the final chapter?” in 2000, “An eye for an elephant” in 2005, and most recently the 13-part series “Echo and the elephants of Amboseli” in 2008, and certainly featured in many others. Echo’s sister Ella who is in her forties will now lead the family group of 40.

From The ViewFinder ISSUE NO 56 www.viewfindersltd.com

Sad Loss of Peter Schofield

Sadly we must announce the death of Peter Schofield who worked for SURVIVAL Anglia Ltd for 35 years until its closure in 2001. As Production Controller, Peter was responsible for the high quality of post production on Survival's many productions. He died after a short illness.

Peter was 61 and leaves a wife, Tina, daughters, Nicola and Jennifer, and grandson, Jack.

Exclusive BBC documentary uncovers our earliest ancestor - 26 May BBC One

On Tuesday 26 May, BBC One shows the exclusive story behind a scientific discovery that could revolutionise our understanding of human evolution.

Narrated by David Attenborough, the one-off 60-minute documentary, Uncovering Our Earliest Ancestor: The Link, tells the story of an important scientific development that could tell us more about where we come from. The fossil, known as Ida, could be an indication of one of the roots of anthropoid evolution – the point at which our primate ancestors began first developing the features that would evolve into our own.

Co-funded by the BBC and produced by award-winning filmmaker Anthony Geffen of Atlantic Productions, the documentary will offer unique access to a scientific discovery announced today at the American Museum of Natural History. The documentary will show the University of Oslo's two-year journey to secretly analyse and verify Ida, piecing together her forensic secrets.

Dr Jørn Hurum says: "This is the first link to all humans... This fossil is so complete. Everything's there. It's unheard of in the primate record at all. You have to get to human burial to see something that's this complete."

Today, a group of Norwegian scientists, led by Dr Jørn Hurum, announced that they have discovered a 47-million-year-old human ancestor. Discovered in Messel Pit, Germany, Ida is 20-times older than most fossils that explain human evolution, and is 95% complete. Ida is a transitional species showing characteristics from the very primitive non-human evolutionary line (prosimians, such as lemurs), but is more related to the human evolutionary line (anthropoids, such as monkeys, apes and humans).

The documentary brings Ida's world to life, using 3-D animations and imaging technologies to recreate Ida and the world that she would have inhabited.

Jay Hunt, Controller of BBC One says: "I am delighted that this ground-breaking piece of scientific research will be showcased on BBC One. There can be nothing more compelling than the story of how the human race evolved."

David Attenborough, writer and narrator, says: "This little creature is going to show us our connection with all the rest of the mammals."

The programme came into development after a chance meeting between Dr Jørn Hurum, vertebrate palaeontologist, University of Oslo, and Atlantic Productions.

Anthony Geffen says: "It is incredibly rare to get the opportunity to document ground-breaking science as it happens. Even more exciting is to be involved with breaking the news in conjunction with the scientists and across multiple platforms with a story that connects to every person on the planet."

Uncovering Our Earliest Ancestor: The Link was produced by Atlantic Productions and is co-funded by BBC, the History Channel, ZDF and NRK. The one-part, 60-minute special will be screened at 9.00pm on Tuesday 26 May 2009 on BBC One.

Big Cat Film Safari in the Masai Mara 2010 - open for booking

Wildeye have now finalised the details for the Big Cat Film Safari 2010 in the Masai Mara, Kenya with Gavin Thurston, which you can find at www.wildeye.co.uk/bigcats.html. The dates will be 3-13 March 2010.

Not only will you witness the high-speed chase of the cheetah, and watch prides of lions hunting their prey, but you will do this alongside the veteran BBC Big Cat Diary/Week cameraman Gavin Thurston who will show you how the series is made in the bush and accompany you throughout the trip.

Also in the group will be team leader Piers Warren and professional editor Laura Turner who will show you how footage is pieced together with state of the art video editing technology to make programmes such as Big Cat Diary. Our base for the safari will be the beautiful Mara Bush Camp, discreetly tucked away in a riverine forest on the banks of the Olare Orok River. Exclusively for our group, the camp features luxury tents equipped with comfortable 4 poster beds with mosquito nets, en-suite flushing toilets and sink units in the bathroom with running water and hot bucket showers.

Make your own Big Cat Film - at the end of the trip you will take away a DVD that was produced during the safari. Note you do not need to be a videographer to come on this trip - many of our guests are keen stills photographers or simply want to watch big cat behaviour with the experts - no experience or equipment is required. But for those of you who want expert instruction on the use of camcorders then this will be available at all times.

We regularly meet up with the real stars of Big Cat Diary/Week/Live on these safaris - on previous trips we have seen Shadow, Bella, Chui, Olive and Kali the leopards, the Marsh and Ridge pride of lions with stars White-eye and Red, Cheza and Sala, and memorable close encounters with Kike the cheetah and her cubs, and more recently Shakira and her cubs and Honey's Boys.

Booking: To check availability contact: info@wildeye.co.uk

Extreme Makeover for NHNZ Website

NHNZ has completed an extreme website makeover. The New Zealand-production company’s updated website will showcase its award-winning catalogue of programmes with the focus on recent and current work.

NHNZ EVP of Development and Marketing Neil Harraway says the new look site reflects the creativity within the world renowned production company. One of the key objectives of the upgrade was to showcase the scope of NHNZ’s productions from history to science and nature to social presented in a range of formats from traditional blue-chip documentaries to populist docu-soaps.

“The updated site features more footage and more photos from our current and recent production slate. We’ve added a whole new section with stories from our crew in the field giving visitors insight into how our programs are made. Visitors can subscribe via RSS feeds from our postcards and news pages, giving them real time updates of our work. It’s important to us that our website truly reflects the calibre of our productions. We’ve put a lot of thought into how people will use the site and are confident it will meet the needs of our clients as well as providing an excellent overview of NHNZ’s work and the people at the heart of our stories,” he says.

Other new features include an ideas section where producers can submit programming ideas to NHNZ’s development team and a secure section where NHNZ’s clients can view footage complementing program pitches. The site also highlights non-core business including sections for hiring equipment and facilities and links to the popular footage service NHNZ Moving Images.

Another aim of the upgrade was to enhance functionality with the redeveloped site making it easier to buy NHNZ’s DVDs through the integration of an existing online store, and to browse and order from a back catalogue of programmes spanning three decades of filmmaking.

The site also highlights NHNZ’s long-standing and successful partnerships with links to some of the world’s top networks and broadcasters including National Geographic, Animal Planet, Discovery, Travel, A&E Television Networks, CICC, NHK and France 5.

www.nhnz.tv uses a new scalable framework content management system Prima which was designed and developed by Dunedin-based company Loop Solutions.

Save Our Seas "Seas the Day" Film Competition

The oceans are in deep trouble, but the facts of this dire situation have not reached the mainstream. If we are to turn the tide, it has to be now. Help us spread the word. Make your own short conservation film urging and alerting people to change their ways regarding the world's oceans. "Seas The Day," is open to all filmmakers who can get a marine conservation message 'out there' in a short, smart & innovative way. The campaign film can be amusing, entertaining or inspiring, but must leave a strong, memorable insightful impression.

Entry is free. The deadline for the competition is September 1st. You may submit as many entries as you like, provided each entry is your own original work. Three finalists will get one pass each to the Jackson Hole Film Festival. The winner will be announced at the Festival and receive $2,500. For more information see the competition page at: www.saveourseas.com/seastheday

Jackson Hole Lifetime Achievement Award

The highest honor bestowed by the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival, will be awarded to Dr. Richard Leakey, in October.

Paleoanthropologist, politician & political activist, and environmentalist, Richard Leakey has been making international headlines for more than 40 years. Son of the famous Louis B. and Mary Leakey, he has been credited with some of the most significant fossil discoveries in history and was named one of TIME's 100 Greatest Minds of the 20th Century.

As Director of Kenya's National Wildlife Service, Leakey was called on to rescue the country's chaotic park system and combat an epidemic of rhinoceros and elephant poaching. He created well-armed anti-poaching units when gentler measures failed, to counter well-armed poachers who had the upper hand for years. In 1989, Leakey staged a dramatic burning of 12 tons of confiscated tusks, setting the stage to stabilize Kenya's elephant population.

After surviving a plane crash that cost him both his legs, Leakey founded an opposition party, Safina, to combat the corruption of the Kenya government and to advocate for reforms and better government. Subjected to constant harassment, death threats and even beatings by the regime's supporters, he became a member of Parliament, where he continued to press for constitutional and legal reforms. Later he resigned from Parliament to take up the challenge of heading Kenya's Civil Service and serving as the Secretary to the Cabinet, to campaign against corruption in the civil service and he secured a resumption of international aid. Now retired from politics, he remains a passionate and effective advocate for the environment, for the rights of the disabled, and for the cause of democracy in his beloved Kenya.

Now a Professor of Anthropology at Stony Brook University and an elected Fellow of the Royal Society of London (FRS) in 2007, Leakey recently founded WildlifeDirect, an online service that supports conservationists and allows anyone to play a role in the survival of the world's most endangered species. He initiated the Turkana Basin Institute at Stony Brook University which is a multidisciplinary research institution.

BBC seek Trainee Wildlife Camera Operator

The BBC are looking to fill the following vacancy within BBC Bristol:

Trainee Wildlife Camera Operator
Natural History Unit (NHU)
BBC Vision
Bristol (with location work in the UK & overseas)
Salary £16,000 - £18,000
Grade 02
Scheme length : 2 years

The BBC Natural History Unit, renowned for its innovative production techniques, is offering a two year traineeship to an individual, qualified or experienced in the fields of natural history photography and wildlife behaviour.

The traineeship is aimed at those who have acquired sufficient skills and experience to enable them to progress rapidly to full professional competence.

All wildlife content is acquired from freelance operators; there are no BBC staff positions in this category. Consequently, on completion of year 2 the trainee will be released to compete on the freelance market for work - either from the NHU or elsewhere.

Applicants need to demonstrate a knowledge of photographic technique; flair for creative composition; and the ability to understand complex production technology. A developed interest in natural history and extensive experience of observing animals in the wild is required; as is the patience, tenacity and dedication essential for successful wildlife filming.

Applicants who are successful in the first stage of recruitment will be required to provide a DVD containing relevant examples of their work. These may include video and stills.

Closing date : Tuesday 14th April 2009
Interviews likely week beginning 11th May 2009
Vacancy link: https://jobs.bbc.co.uk/fe/tpl_bbc01.asp?newms=jj&id=27152

BBC announces new Springwatch presenters

This Spring Chris Packham joins Kate Humble as co-presenter of BBC Two's popular natural history series Springwatch and Autumnwatch. And former Springwatch producer Martin Hughes-Games makes his debut in front of the camera as he joins the presenting team.

Chris and Martin join the existing presenters Simon King, Kate Humble and Gordon Buchanan when Springwatch returns to BBC Two in late May this year. The moves follow Bill Oddie's decision to take a break from the programme earlier this year.

Zoology graduate Chris began his career at the BBC in 1985 as a presenter of The Really Wild Show. He has worked in TV as a natural history broadcaster for 22 years, on 75 series and more than 500 programmes, being most recently seen in Nature's Calendar and Nature's Top 40 (BBC Two). Chris is active in many wildlife conservation bodies: he is Vice-President of the RSPB, The Wildlife Trusts, Butterfly Conservation Trust and The Wildfowl and Wetland Trust, and is President of the Bat Conservation Trust, The London Wildlife Trust and The Hampshire Ornithological Society.

Martin is also a Zoology graduate and has over 30 years' experience working on the BBC's natural history programmes. Most recently he has been a producer on Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Shetland Diaries With Simon King (BBC Two).

Emma Swain, Head of Knowledge Commissioning, says: "I'm delighted Chris is bringing his in-depth knowledge and presenting skills to the team. And it's great that having made such and important contribution to these programmes behind the scenes we're able to share Martin's experience with the viewers."

Chris Packham says: "To be asked to be the new presenter of Springwatch and Autumnwatch was a dream come true and I hope to make a real contribution to the team."

Martin Hughes-Games says: "It will be a real challenge swapping life behind the camera to life in front of it, but I am really looking forward to it."

Kate Humble says: "Chris and Martin are both great communicators and real experts on wildlife. I am looking forward to working with them immensely."

Tim Scoones, Executive Producer, Springwatch and Autumnwatch, says: "With a new presenter team in place we're raring to go for the new series of Springwatch."

New Wildlife Sound Recording Courses with Chris Watson

Wildeye have announced dates for their sound recording courses with Chris Watson for this year, including new advanced courses:

* Advanced Wildlife Sound Recording (Fieldwork) (UK) 16-18 Nov 2009 - www.wildeye.co.uk/soundfield.html
* Advanced Wildlife Sound Recording (Editing and Mixing) (UK) 18-20 Nov 2009 - www.wildeye.co.uk/soundedit.html

* Introduction to Wildlife Sound Recording (UK) 30 Nov - 2 Dec 2009 - www.wildeye.co.uk/sound.html
* Introduction to Wildlife Sound Recording (UK) 2-4 Dec 2009 - www.wildeye.co.uk/sound.html

Please see each course's web page for full details, itinerary, costs etc. As usual we expect places to go on these courses very fast so you are advised to book asap.

Note that this year all these sound courses are during the week, not at weekends. We expect many people wishing to book the advanced courses will want to do both (which is partly why they are back-to-back, saving travel etc) - so please make this clear when booking. For practical reasons numbers on the Editing and Mixing course are fewer than on the Fieldwork course, so not everyone can do both.

Booking: Initially contact info@wildeye.co.uk to check availability and reserve a place.

Bill Oddie takes a break from Springwatch and Autumnwatch

The BBC's Natural History Unit (NHU) is producing a special edition of Springwatch celebrating some of presenter Bill Oddie's most memorable moments from past series.

After four years of presenting Autumnwatch and Springwatch on BBC Two Bill is stepping down from the team for a while and concentrating on some different projects with the BBC which will include two new editions of Bill Oddie's Top Ten...

Springwatch will be back on BBC Two this May and although Bill won't be presenting the programme the new series will launch with a one-hour special in which he looks back on his favourite moments from previous series of Springwatch and Autumnwatch.

Bill says: "I'm really going to miss working with Kate, Simon and the team but after an amazing four years of really intense work it feels like the right time to take a breather and recharge my batteries."

Neil Nightingale, Head of the NHU, says: "Bill's inimitable style, in-depth expertise and unflinching dedication have helped establish Springwatch and Autumnwatch as two of the nation's favourite natural history programmes and although he's stepping out of the picture for this series he remains an important member of the Springwatch family."

Janice Hadlow, Controller, BBC Two, says: "Springwatch and Autumnwatch bring a unique flavour to BBC Two and a chance to really connect with our audience and much of this is down to Bill's amazing ornithological knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject. As Bill takes a break we're going to use this opportunity to celebrate all that's great about Springwatch and Autumnwatch and viewers will be able to enjoy Bill in some new roles over the coming months."

There will be more news about the new series of Springwatch later this year.

Neil Nightingale stands down as head of BBC's Natural History Unit

After six years as Head of the BBC's Natural History Unit, Neil Nightingale is to stand down and return to programme making. Neil's first project will be a six part BBC One landmark series, Africa – a definitive television series on the greatest wildlife continent on earth.

During his time as Head of the NHU its output has gone from strength to strength, including a diverse range of natural history programmes on television, radio, online and for the cinema. The unit has constantly excelled and created a world-class reputation for ambitious and groundbreaking factual programmes that inform and entertain audiences.

Recent output from the Natural History Unit on television includes Life In Cold Blood, Planet Earth, the Saving Planet Earth season, Wild China, Big Cat Live, The Secret Life Of Elephants, Lost Land Of The Jaguar, Expedition Borneo, Springwatch, Autumnwatch, Galapagos and Natural World.

On radio, recent series include Nature, Living World, Soundscapes and a major live event, World On The Move.

Peter Salmon, Chief Creative Officer, BBC Vision, says: "Neil has made a huge contribution to the BBC’s Natural History Unit. His in-depth knowledge, passion and skill for programme making meant that he was a first-class head of the BBC's Natural History Unit. I wish him every success with his next move, to return to programme making. Thanks to Neil and his teams the NHU is at the top of its game and in great shape for the challenges that the future will bring."

Tom Archer, Controller, BBC Factual Production, BBC Vision, says: "I am thrilled that Neil will be staying within the BBC to resume his brilliant programme making career. He's been a superb head of the NHU and I am sure he will now make some world-class programmes across the BBC."

Neil Nightingale says: "I have enjoyed my time as Head of the NHU immensely. It has been a great privilege to lead the world's most innovative group of wildlife producers but now I feel is the right time to return to my first love, programme making. Africa is an ambitious project and I can't wait to get started on it."

An announcement about the new Head of the NHU will follow in due in course.

Planet in Focus Call for Video Instructors

Job description: Planet in Focus is looking to fill three video instructor vacancies for the Greensceenz Project running from March 16-20, 2009. School groups from across the GTA were invited to submit their ideas for a commercial for the City of Toronto’s new greening initiatives. Six concepts were selected and winning groups will have the opportunity to bring their commercial concepts to fruition over March Break week. Groups will each be partnered with an instructor to shoot and edit their commercial which will then be premiered at the Green Toronto Awards in April.

Interested candidates should visit www.planetinfocus.org/employment for further details. Please direct inquires to Myan Marcen-Gaudaur, myan@planetinfocus.org

Introduction to Wildlife Film-making and Wildlife Camera Operator weekends

Wildeye have announced dates for their Introduction to Wildlife Film-making and Wildlife Camera Operator weekends in Norfolk UK this summer:

Introduction to Wildlife Film-making (UK) 29-31 May 2009 and 10-12 July 2009 - www.wildeye.co.uk/ukweekends.html

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, whooper swans 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 hobby.

Wildlife Camera Operator Course (UK) 19-21 June 2009 - www.wildeye.co.uk/camera.html

Whether you want to film wildlife as a fascinating hobby, or are hoping for a career as a professional wildlife camera operator, this course will arm you with the knowledge and techniques to create stunning shots and sequences. As camera technology advances apace it can be difficult to know what equipment to use (and then how to use it!), with a high tutor to student ratio, this course is unique in content and value for money. It will answer all the questions you have and many you haven't thought of yet.

This weekend is aimed both at those who already have a camcorder and wish to explore its features in more depth, and try a variety of attachments and ancillary equipment, but also at those who have yet to buy a camera and are confused by all the possibilities. It also introduces the latest technology and camera systems for those who may upgrade their equipment in the future. The knowledge gained will help you choose and use the right gear for your purposes and will save you wasting money on unnecessary or inappropriate technology. The Creative Camerawork element will help you improve your techniques under expert instruction.

See the webpages for further details and costs. 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.

Code of Best Practice in Sustainable Filmmaking

Filmmakers for Conservation have announced that advance details on the Code of Best Practice in Sustainable Filmmaking is now online at:

http://www.filmmakersforconservation.org/conservation-filmmaking/sustainability.html

The Code, which was created by American University and Filmmakers for Conservation, supported by WWF UK and the Ford Foundation, provides guidance to help filmmakers reduce their carbon and environmental footprints. We hope it will be the first step towards a full certification scheme for ‘green’ production.

If you’d like more details – or you or your organisation are interested in supporting the Code and being recognized for this at the launch - please get in touch with Larry Engel direct at socialmedia@american.edu for a full copy and related documents. Please also pass this information on to anyone else whom you may think would be interested.

The code will be launched at the RealScreen Summit in Washington DC in early February.

Nature's Great Events - coming soon to BBC1

Using state of the art filming technology, Nature's Great Events on BBC One captures the Earth's most dramatic and epic wildlife spectacles and the intimate stories of the animals caught up in them.

From the flooding of the Okavango Delta, in Africa, to the great summer melt of ice in the Arctic and the massive annual bloom of plankton in the northern Pacific Ocean, each of the six programmes features a different event set in one of the world's most iconic wildernesses.

The series is narrated by David Attenborough.

The characters include tiny grizzly bear cubs emerging from their den in snow-covered mountains; baby elephants struggling to survive against drought and lion attack in Africa; humpback whales hunting as a team; the world's largest concentration of dolphins and sharks gathering off the coast of South Africa; and polar bear families navigating their precarious way on ever-thinning ice.

The world-renowned BBC Natural History Unit uses sophisticated high definition cameras, cutting-edge aerial, underwater and ultra slow-motion filming techniques to capture in intimate detail some of the audience's best-loved wildlife, as their lives become entwined with these dramatic events.

As the Earth is rapidly changing, we can no longer take these great natural events for granted. By filming the events and their fluctuations this series takes the pulse of the planet.

A BBC/Discovery Channel/Wanda co-production. The series producer is Karen Bass and the executive producer is Brian Leith.

Nature's Great Events is also being simulcast on the BBC HD channel – the BBC's High Definition channel available through Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media. With up to five times more detail than standard definition television, HD gives you exceptionally vivid colours and crisp pictures to make Nature's Great Events a truly cinematic TV experience.

UWOL announces new ‘long form’ wildlife video contest

The Under Water, Over Land (UWOL) Challenge, the planet's largest online nature and outdoors video contest, is announcing the introduction of its first long-form video production contest.

The past two years the short form contest has seen over 300 films made from 15 countries around the world. The long-form contest aims to really push the UWOL boundaries and will require players to post footage and progress on a longer film (minimum 20 minutes in length) four times throughout the course of a year. The players will receive feedback and support on their progress from the UWOL community, and post their finished masterpiece on the UWOL website at the end of one years' time. Completed films will be judged by outside judges and prizes will be awarded.

UWOL’s founder Meryem Ersoz….
“What sets UWOL apart from other video contests is the opportunity for players to give and receive feedback on films and to be part of a great community of people from all over the world,” says Ersoz. “The process of sharing works-in-progress means that the learning curve is very steep for our players. In the two years since the contest started, at least five of the regular players have been able to find work as professional wildlife cinematographers and several have won film festival awards.UWOL is an incredibly supportive community,” says Ersoz, “beginners and professional play alongside each other, with the common purpose of getting out there, having fun, and making great videos.”

For information on both the long form and regular 3-minute short-form contest visit www.uwolchallenge.com to join a growing community of film makers, learn to make great wildlife films, win prizes and have fun!