Training

Nutshell Productions is very committed to new comers learning how to be professionals in this rewarding profession. Now that the 'apprenticeships' no longer exist it is often difficult for new comers to learn the skills necessary to enter the industry or even begin to understand what role they might play in it.

Wildeye and Nutshell Productions present:

Make a Film That Makes a Difference
Conservation Filmmaking Course

There are many conservation and environmental issues that could be tackled effectively if only the people involved were informed or educated about the causes and solutions that could make a difference.

Films and the Media are some of the most powerful communication tools we have, we just need to make the right films and distribute them to the audience \ decision makers \ community \ corporation \ law enforcers \ government bodies who can create that change.

But how do you go about this? How do you produce a clear message, Who are your target audience, How long should it be, What style of film would be most successful, What equipment do you need, How do you record sound, How do you edit everything together, Do you need music, What part should a narrator play, How do you monitor effectiveness???

All of these questions and more are answered in a very special training programme. It is designed specifically for YOU if you are someone interested in using films and the media for conservation, environmental issues, animal behaviour, social issues, education in the field, training, promoting your research or creating change in anyway.

The tutors for the course are Madelaine Westwood - Director of Nutshell Productions, Piers Warren - Principal of Wildeye, and wildlife film-maker Mike Linley.

The location is Whitwell Hall Country Centre in the centre of Norfolk, UK. Accommodation is shared rooms (or there are nearby bed and breakfasts/hotels if you prefer), and there will be excellent home-cooked food.

No experience is required, but it is recommended that you bring a camcorder, if you have one, for use during the course.

Itinerary

Friday: Aim to arrive by 6pm if possible
7pm - evening meal served (no problem if you arrive later)
8.30pm - introductory chat - who we are, who you are, and what we will be doing this weekend.
9.30pm - Why Make Conservation Films
10.30pm - time to relax, chat with new friends, and watch conservation films in the viewing lounge.

Saturday:
8am - breakfast
9am - Overview of production
10am - Introduction to Cameras
11am - tea break
11.30am - Practical camera work - working in small groups you will be given tasks and have one and a half hours to film a variety of different subjects using different techniques
1pm - lunch
2pm - Review camerawork
3pm - Films involving Local Communities  
4pm - tea break
4.30pm - Introduction to Sound
5.30pm - Ethics of filmmaking  
6.30pm - free time
7pm - evening meal served
8pm - Post-production - the use of music and sound effects, editing it all together and producing a master (followed by hands-on practice in small groups)
Further conservation films will be shown and you will be free to continue chatting to the tutors and looking at the equipment provided

Sunday:
8am - breakfast
9am - Writing the script  
10.30am - tea break
11am - Media and the Message – using the internet and venues to get your films seen (Caroline Brett)
1pm - lunch
2pm - Getting the message out
3pm - How are YOU going to make a difference
4pm - course ends

Staff/Tutors

Madelaine Westwood - Director of Nutshell Productions - Film and the media can alter perceptions, engage hearts and minds, reveal issues and  offer solutions,. It was this realisation that led Madelaine to use her creative skills to produce films in aid of conservation. Madelaine  has been a wildlife and conservation filmmaker  for international broadcasters and conservation charities for many years but discovered that making films is only the beginning - if a film is to make a contribution to the many  issues faced by people and their environments worldwide then they have to be seen by the people who can use the information. Madelaine founded the Great Apes Film Initiative to address this, whereby existing  films from BBC and independent filmmakers are distributed to Presidents, Government Ministers, National Television audiences, schools, universities, wildlife management centres and local communities in 14 countries across Africa and SE Asia.

In addition Madelaine and her team produce films about specific solutions to local issues which help communities establish a healthier and more sustainable future for themselves. Knowing that there are so many films that could be useful to many different audiences across the globe, Madelaine is committed to training potential filmmakers, non government organisations, charities, students, researchers and interested individuals to be able to produce these films by themselves, with a special emphasis on giving these skills to the local communities she works with.

Piers Warren - Principal of Wildeye - Piers is well known throughout the wildlife film-making industry as the editor of Wildlife Film News and producer of wildlife-film.com, which he created in the 1990s. With a strong background in biology, education and conservation, he has had a lifelong passion for wildlife films and has a wide knowledge of natural history.

He cut his teeth in the industry as a sound engineer and multi-media producer, running a studio for many years. He is one of the founders of the international organisation Filmmakers for Conservation and was Vice President for the first three years. Piers is the author of many magazine features and several books including Careers in Wildlife Film-making and Go Wild with Your Camcorder - How to Make Wildlife Films.

Mike Linley was a producer and scientific advisor to Survival the Internationally acclaimed wildlife programme making company from 1980 until its demise in 2001. During this time he filmed and produced over 60 documentaries, many of which won major International awards. He also researched, wrote and produced over 200 wildlife programmes for children including the series Animals in Action. He then formed Hairy Frog Productions Limited, an independent wildlife production company. Since then he has worked on productions for Granada, National Geographic and Discovery/Animal Planet.

Caroline Brett - a highly experienced and award-winning producer/ director. Caroline worked for twenty one years for the prestigious Survival series making programmes in numerous locations including out on the ice in Arctic Canada, in the rainforests of Sierra Leone, high on the tundra in Alaska and on a remote Vietnamese island in the South China Sea. She produced the highly successful ‘Predators with Gaby Roslin' and directed some of the ‘Wild about Essex with Tony Robinson’. She is now employed by the Save Our Seas Foundation as their film director/producer.

Booking Information

Costs: £250 + VAT per person (£293.75)
This includes tuition, accommodation, and meals.

Forthcoming Dates:
Pending, please enquire below

Booking: please complete the online application form and send in your deposit/fee as detailed
Alternatively you can contact Madelaine Westwood:
Tel: 01491 575 017 \  07770 577 549
Email:  madelaine@nutshellproductions.co.uk.

Please note: This course has generated a lot of interest and early booking is recommended.