The wildlife filmmaking syllabus is centred on three pillars that are critical to the production of every wildlife documentary – Pre-production, production and post-production.
The wildlife filmmaking syllabus is centred on three pillars that are critical to the production of every wildlife documentary – Pre-production, production and post-production.
Syllabus may vary slighty from that advertised below due to weather conditions.
DAY 1-5 (Estimated)
Orientation – arrival and welcome. A day spent ensuring all paperwork is completed, living arrangements established and a familiarity tour of the local town/area. Introduction to the program, instructors, and assessment of each participant’s skills and capabilities.
Camera Training – A day spent learning about broadcast standard cameras and other camera types. Included is practical training in camera operation and basic functions of camera. Data management is covered.
Practical – Explore working farm and film animals, including reading their behaviour and determining best approach to filming different subjects. Footage download and start in editing sequences.
Human talent – a day spent learning about working with human talent, conducting a varied number of interview styles, and mastering the use of audio in documentaries.
Monkeyland – Practical filming expedition to Monkeyland and Birds of Eden. Focus on filming sequences and collecting full array of shots to build compelling sequences. Master animal behaviour and assessing behaviour to gain shots of difficult subjects.
DAY 6-10 (Estimated)
Editing mastering – Day working through entire process of editing sequences and productions from footage obtained at Monkeyland and Birds of Eden.
Story development – Practical workshops on writing stories and developing protagonists and characters. Master writing treatments and pitches and present pitches to class for general critique. Packing for travel to game reserve.
Travel and Orientation -Finish packing personal items and travel to game reserve for beginning of filming expedition. Afternoon spent on orientation game drive and meeting of guides and staff at reserve.
Filming practical – Full day spent filming and producing your personal documentary throughout game reserve. Using broadcast camera, radio control vehicles, drones, effects cameras, sliders and other production equipment.
DAY 11-15 (Estimated)
Filming practical – Full day spent filming and producing your personal documentary throughout game reserve. Using broadcast camera, radio control vehicles, drones, effects cameras, sliders and other production equipment.
Travel – Morning recreation drive, packing of equipment, departure from game reserve, travel back to Mossel Bay, cleaning of equipment and checking in of filming equipment.
Data Management & Editing. Day spent organizing video footage and ensuring all content is fully backed up on separate drives. Afternoon begin editing production, focusing on building sequences and timelines.
DAY 15-20 (Estimated)
Editing – Editing of video production with focus on building timelines, establishing narrative, writing narrative and ensuring timeline creates narrative and story of desire.
Editing – Finalizing rough draft of timeline, building soundscape including music. Recording narration and finalizing audio of onscreen characters.
Editing – Finalizing production areas including production soundscape (laying narration) and conducting color correction on timeline. Presenting rough draft to program instructor for one-on-one critique.
Exporting and pitching – Finalizing with final edits to the timeline and then exporting the final production. Afternoon spent preparing a pitch for evening pitch and presentation of documentary to Africa Media.
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