How to Get Started in Wildlife Filmmaking

Being a wildlife filmmaker is a wonderful job I travel to remote locations and capture incredible animals on camera But what exactly does daily work entail And how does one go about getting started In this video I spoke with Abbot Duncan my close friend and a wildlife filmmaker They are the people she worked with on a Netflix series scheduled for release later this year They shared what inspired them to start filming wildlife and offered advice and tips for those looking to begin wildlife filmmaking I'm Sebastian a documentary filmmaker with over 20 years of experience in video production This channel introduces the tools techniques and tips you need to create your own dream documentary First I asked Abadankan about the inspiration behind starting wildlife filmmaking I fell in love with nature when I was a child And as you know nature was right nearby Gradually I began to grow fond of getting muddy and climbing trees in the woods And I had a remarkably unconventional mentor There's simply no other way to describe him He rescued every animal he could think of in Britain starting with foxes There were also foxes sleeping in beds and jackdaws that could be fed by hand As a child I was completely captivated by him—utterly and irrevocably I wanted to know what his life had been like and how he had come to be there And he was a wildlife photographer I became involved in wildlife filmmaking through science and science communication I gained hands-on experience at BBC Science and became captivated by the art of storytelling through film and television And that's when I made up my mind that this was exactly what I wanted to do From then on I got involved in producing science programs which led me straight into the world of wildlife When I asked for advice from someone aiming to make a movie they shared six helpful tips with me Knowing the local wildlife and understanding what creatures inhabit the area You might even have captured footage of them before Even in cities you can find foxes and various other animals and learn how to spot them and coexist with them Although you might think you need to travel far to have amazing encounters with wildlife there are actually countless wild animals all around us right here in the UK So much is happening right now Go to the neighborhood park and get outside—starting out doesn't require expensive equipment at all Simply taking photos of wildlife with a mobile phone is an excellent way to hone your eye for capturing animals beautifully through the lens Use your mobile phone—use whatever is available With affordable cameras on today's smartphones we can now create stunning stories from anywhere Many wildlife and typical documentary programs are largely created on the spot impromptu In many cases rigs are held in place with zip ties or tape so don't hesitate to come up with your own rigging or shooting setup Because it's often the best approach and that's exactly what we do Yes exactly Discover interesting filming techniques and make the most of what you have Storytelling is especially crucial in the production of natural history documentaries We strive to help audiences empathize with creatures that feel utterly alien to us That's why it's extremely important to craft a story that allows the audience to empathize and become emotionally invested Of course on location we always consider adjusting our ideas based on the animals' actual behavior and the footage captured I often consider what emotion is conveyed through that footage Through the story it aims to convey something meaningful transforming a mere sequence of beautiful images into something captivating compelling viewers to want to watch and evoking deep empathy Ultimately what we aim to achieve is connecting human audiences with the natural world It frequently answers questions about who the characters are what they're trying to do what they aim to achieve and what challenges they face Although the initial question may evolve during filming and editing keeping these considerations in mind throughout the process will help transform a mere collection of beautiful shots into a cohesive compelling narrative However the first film I started with a kickstart was about an expedition to Madagascar I shot the entire film by myself experimenting with various techniques—truly a remarkable experience and an incredible process Later I spent nearly nine months editing it with a friend before releasing it to the world And this piece remains a cherished memory to me to this day Thanks to this work I was able to secure even more opportunities Over the past few decades forests have rapidly dwindled and today less than 10% remain Blood flows from a place once covered in forest turning the river red That's why it's truly important to go out into the world and make films You never know where it might lead Thanks to that I was able to create a wonderful portfolio and now I truly believe this is what I'm capable of In this industry building connections is extremely important We often work as freelancers taking on jobs intermittently In other words the people I work with are also freelancers scattered across various locations Whenever you work with someone new or meet people in various situations never forget to always strive to make a positive first impression I strive to be the one someone remembers when a particular job or role calls for them Gathering information in advance about someone you're trying to build connections with can be extremely helpful Knowing what specific production company they are and what programs they have created in the past is essential It's highly effective in demonstrating interest in their activities As previously mentioned watching a lot of television It's important to understand what types of programs and content each production company creates It's beneficial because when you meet people from that company you have the opportunity to discuss the works they've created and the pieces that inspired you They'll think highly of the work calling it a wonderful piece If you know that company that well You clearly did your homework and that’s often very impressive Participating in volunteer activities at a festival is also a great way to get involved Bristol hosts a wonderful festival called the Festival of Nature Then there's Wild Clean a fantastic international festival You'll have the chance to meet exceptional filmmakers from around the world who specialize in nature documentaries Bristol where I'm based is home to a vibrant community of wildlife photographers and filmmakers They enthusiastically collaborate and are eager to share equipment and experience Such groups are not necessarily professional It is extremely helpful for enthusiasts who have a good understanding of specific animal photography techniques So see if there are people in your area who might be interested in such things I've always sought to innovate in film production taking on considerable risks to do something a little different and to make even small changes in the way wildlife is filmed That's why I failed countless times Despite all those failures the pieces that didn' t fail were truly exceptional uniquely different and people thought they were amazing You'll say "How did you manage to do something like that " And that's why I believe it's best not to stick to ordinary methods but to step outside and try something new Once you've mastered your skills go out and do something a little different Making wildlife films involves experiencing failures and learning from them is part of the process Every time a shot falls short a sequence falters or a moment misses its mark You can learn from what didn’t work and apply those lessons to make the next project a success Always be prepared to face the possibility of failure even if you're driven by ambition because not knowing the risk of failing is never wise Without doing so we cannot expand our limits or capture the astonishing wonders of nature This is truly beautiful I just don't understand why no one shot this movie before now We hope these insights and tips serve as a starting point for enhancing your skills in wildlife filmmaking Keep this in mind Start with what you already have step into nature and always stay alert for those unexpected moments that make this work truly special Additionally if you'd like more tips on video production we've created a free wildlife filmmaking guide to help you get started You can download it by clicking the link in the description below Also don’t forget to like this video subscribe to the channel and share it with fellow aspiring wildlife filmmakers Thank you for watching See you in the next video