Wildlife Film Academy Project

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 Africas most charismatic species in close proximity.

Your course will be held in the Entabeni (the place of the mountain, in the local language) Private Game Reserve, 23 000 Ha of bushveld, ravines, savanna, sandy wetlands and wooded hills, on the eastern end of the Waterberg Escarpment, a 3 hour drive from Johannesburg (OR Thambo) airport. Entabeni is situated north of Johannesburg and is a malaria free area.

Because of the 5 different ecosystems within the reserve, game viewing and bird watching are most rewarding in terms of the variety of species to be seen. This magnificent reserve has a wonderful array of fauna and flora, including the infamous ‘Big Five’ – Lion, leopard, buffalo,  rhino and elephant.

There are also frequent sightings of cheetah. Diversity  on the reserve is astounding, with more than 55 mammal species, 350 flowers, 70  grasses, 200 trees, 410 birds and innumerable insects, reptiles and amphibians.

Entabeni ensures that the game viewing and opportunities to film wildlife close up are unrivalled. The accommodation and food are fantastic and of course the bonus is that Entabeni is malaria free. Students stay in shared canvas rooms (2 students of the same gender per room) on raised platforms interlinked by walkways, which have an en-suite shower and toilet. Each room is equipped with fans but there is no air-conditioning. Three meals are served daily and include an early morning snack, light brunch and a delicious dinner. There’s a boma for campfires, a swimming pool and communal area.

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

4 WEEKS – £2,949

Comments or questions are welcome.

*(denotes required field)

Name: *

E-Mail Address: *

Your Phone Number

Your Interest *

Message: *

CAPTCHA Code: *