Experience
a filmmaking course and produce real wildlife footage in South Africa. Wildlife
Film Academy offers students the chance to learn more about wildlife filmmaking
and help you to develop your career as a wildlife filmmaker.
This placement
operates a globally unique one-month intensive course in South Africa, one of
the most beautiful well-known countries. This exciting and educational course
has been developed by International, experienced and award-winning wildlife filmmakers.
If your dream is to film the wildest of animals in their natural environment and
develop your skills as a wildlife film maker then this course is a must.
This
course has been designed with you in mind and the following key elements make
the course successful: - A practical filming location shoot in a stunning
wildlife game reserve to give you hands on camera experience in Southern Africa.
- Tutorials and lectures developed by renowned wildlife filmmakers
who know how hard it is to make a start in the wildlife filmmaking industry.
- Individual
access to editing suites and tutors to enable you to complete your own film at
the end of the course, which you can use as a promo for a bigger project.
- Specific
focus on Business Skills to provide you with an understanding of budgeting, negotiations
to enable you to survive long-term in the industry.
Pre-Production
and Lectures at the Academy - Introduction, orientation and inspiration
-
What do commissioning editors, broadcasters and distributors want?
-
Conceptualising and pitching
- Camera technology, high definition,
shot composition and lighting
- Soundtracks, sequencing and an introduction
to shooting and editing
- Funding and budgeting
- Exposure
to key industry contacts, networks and wildlife film festivals
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MORE
INFORMATION ...
To make a successful wildlife or natural history film,
you need to combine creative and technical camera and editing skills with a good
appreciation of animal behaviour, ecological processes, ethics in the natural
world and local communities, and some serious business knowledge. The Wildlife
Film Academy teaches all these areas of expertise and inspires its students to
combine these skills in unique and successful ways.
On the course you will
have the opportunity to film and experience a huge diversity of wildlife including
lion, buffalo, elephant, leopard, rhino, cheetah, giraffe, zebra, antelope, hippos,
reptiles, smaller creatures such as mongoose, abundant birdlife and raptors and
rare flora. All lecturers at the Wildlife Film Academy are experienced and successful
wildlife filmmakers and make use of vastly different filming styles. They use
a variety of techniques such as hands-on practicals and the use of wildlife films
as case studies. Their combined input helps you to experience the many different
facets of the wildlife filmmaking industry. All lectures are interactive and encourage
lively debates between the students.
Once you have come to grips with the
theory surrounding Wildlife Filmmaking, you will then get the opportunity to put
it into practice! All your equipment is provided (camera, tripod and accessories)
and you are accompanied by highly experienced wildlife filmmakers. A logistics
representative from the Wildlife Film Academy will also be with you to help with
any general queries you may have. This is the chance to watch your storyboard
come to life. You will be in close proximity to amazing African wildlife under
the expert guidance of your experienced ranger.
You will be driven around
the reserve in an open top Land Cruiser which facilitates filming, with the express
purpose of finding the shots you need for your personal film. You will be accompanied
by an experienced wildlife filmmaker who will act as your tutor, a ranger to locate
the wildlife for you and answer your zoological questions, a technical expert
to help with camera technology and a logistics assistant to ensure that your trip
runs smoothly and everything is to your liking.
What to Expect:
-
Early mornings to film sunrises and late nights to enjoy the nocturnal animals.
-
All filming equipment is provided, but bring your own if you prefer.
-
You will be expected to clean the equipment every evening after use and take immaculate
care of it.
- Game drives in open top vehicles, usually land rovers,
with experienced wildlife guide/ ranger.
- Game viewing of some of
Africa's most charismatic species in close proximity.
Location
The
Wildlife Film Academy is located in the Southern Numbi Gate area of South Africa.
Nasikazi Wilderness Camp, where the students are accommodated, is located
on the 6000 hectare Mduli Concession in the Kruger National Park. The predominant
trees in the concession are Silver Cluster Leaf, Marula and Fig trees. There is
an abundance of bird life and a good flow of game, whilst the Nsikazi river flows
through the concession, with the dam creating a home to the resident hippo.
The
Kruger National Park and Mdluli Concession are Big 5 areas, and as well as lions,
leopards, buffalo, elephant and rhino you should get the opportunity to see crocodiles,
baboons, vervet monkeys, kudu, impala, reedbuck, zebra and other game.
There
is also a resident pride of lions that roam 60km of territory. As their territory
is so large, we cannot guarantee you will see them.
There is access to
digitizing decks, playback facilities, and the latest editing hardware and software.
Other
facilities for your use at the Academy include pc's, internet and email, a film
library with the latest wildlife films for you to watch at leisure, and a reading
library with the latest journals, magazines and books on wildlife and filmmaking
- all available for your use at no extra cost to your course fees.
Delicious
home-cooked lunches are served at the Wildlife Film Academy every day, and are
included in your course fee.
Click
here to read more about South Africa |
Accommodation
Students
are located in Nsikazi Wilderness camp, part of the Mdluli Concession at the south
of Kruger National Park. Nsikazi has a covered Boma and restaurant area, and there
is a fully serviced bar (students pay for drinks), swimming pool and Jacuzzi.
The camp is surrounded by an electric fence, and bathrooms are communal with separate
gendered warm showers.
Tents are serviced daily so it recommended one of
your bags have locks on so you can keep valuables safe. A laundry service is available,
but please make sure clothes are marked with your name.
Food
Three
basic meals per day are provided for you. Vegetarian and other dietary requirements
are catered for; please contact the Worldwide Experience team if you have any
specific requirements.
Time
Off
Due to the extensive nature of the course time-off is very limited,
with evenings being free to relax at leisure. |
Project Duration and Rates
| 2
weeks | 3
weeks | 4
weeks | 8
weeks | 12
weeks | | | | £2,499 | | |
|
