A Call in the Rainforest - preview
 

I am sharing a short preview of my film "A Call in the Rainforest". I have shot this short film with my Canon EOS 1D Mark IV camera in 1080p at 24p. It is 18 and half mins long. Instead of creating a trailer compiling various shots, I have chosen to create a preview which is the opening sequence of the film. It is one minute long. You can find the preview in this link:

Inspiration for the Film – A Call in the Rainforest | Diary - Tales from India's Wilds

Look forward to your comments.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

Re: A Call in the Rainforest - preview
 

I liked it, I would put the name of the park on and maybe a quick map of where this is. Your sound is very good, and adds a lot to the preview.

Ken.

Re: A Call in the Rainforest - preview
 

Sabyasachi

I found this very interesting, the subject is very interesting and i have no doubt after looking at the preview that the full 18 minutes would be truly amazing
My interest was in looking at the DSLR video and you give me hope as i am too using the DSLR for wildlife.

Waiting to see your full documentary.

Best wishes

Vishal

Re: A Call in the Rainforest - preview
 

Ken,
Thanks for your encouraging words. The details about the place etc are in the main film. It documents the human-induced changes in the habitat of the Lion-tailed Macaque.

Vishal,
There are obvious limitations to a DSLR. However, the main thing is the story. I view films as another medium to pass on my conservation messages. The codecs of the DSLR may not be approved and shown by BBC, however, I am ok with it, as my primary objective of making this movie is to spread the awareness. The first screening is in Bangalore, followed by screenings in Chennai. Later will hold screenings in small towns and will ask people to explain to the local people in local South Indian languages like Tamil, Kannada, Malaylam.

All the best for your film.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

Re: A Call in the Rainforest - preview
 

Hello,

Congratulations on your wonderful effort, both in making the film and in spreading conservation awareness.

Just had two quick questions: how easy or tricky is it to achieve critical focus on a DSLR? Do you rely on an external viewfinder as well?

Amit

Re: A Call in the Rainforest - preview
 

This nice preview makes me want to see the entire production. The quick shot of the fighting Gaurs could be a highlight and something not often seen.

Re: A Call in the Rainforest - preview
 

Hi Amit and Stephen,
Thanks. I am happy that you liked it.

It is not easy to get the focus right with a DSLR. I use a LCDVF view finder. However, it is not easy pulling focus during a scene while recording. Especially because while recording I can't quickly zoom in and check the focus.

I have contemplated the use of external monitor, however that adds one more item to be carried during a trek. My main lens ie. the Canon EF 400mm f2.8 L IS USM is already 5.3kgs. The OConnor 1030 HDS fluid head at around 3.8 kgs and tripod at the same weight makes life much more difficult.

In the preview there is a scene where the gaurs (which are often mistaken as buffalo) are jostling with each other was filmed before dawn at ISO 12800 at f2.8 at 400mm. It was really difficult for me to see. So focusing at that tiime was really difficult.

The film recently got screened in Haida Gwaii International Film Festival in Canada and in Kirloskar International Film Festival, Pune. I have done a limited DVD release.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

Re: A Call in the Rainforest - preview
 

Sabyasachi, the use of ISO 12800 to get a shot like that in the dark is astounding. It's very clear and you obviously found a way to focus it right. You may be able to use the high ISO capabilities of this camera to capture many other nighttime scenes that people would never be able to see otherwise.

Re: A Call in the Rainforest - preview
 

Great job, Sabyasachi - you took the effort and the results are worth it.

You might want to try using a smaller sensor (like APS-C or 4/3) to reduce your lens size and total weight. Thanks for sharing!

Re: A Call in the Rainforest - preview
 

Sareesh,
I am happy that you liked it.

I was primarily a still photographer and conservationist. I got into filmmaking because the technology allowed it in the same package ie. stills and video packed into a small camera and made it convenient.

I use the heavy 400 f2.8 IS lens as that enables me in shooting in low light. For low light work, I would rate my Mark IV better than the 7D. I will look at the 5D III later to see how much better the low light is and whether the codec is acceptable for broadcast.

Steve,
There are many lowlight stuff that I want to capture. The other day I was filming a sloth bear in near darkness and the noise was a bit too much. So I need a camera which is even better than the Mark IV in terms of low light. The cost of C300 is a bit too much at present as I am not into full time filming. So it looks like I will have to remain filming with DSLRs for another year atleast.

Unfortunately, yesterday's Union Budget resulted in increasing the basic customs duty by 10% of all digital cameras with video (above 800x600 ) minimum 23 fps, for at least 30 minutes in a single sequence. So cameras will become costlier.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

Re: A Call in the Rainforest - preview
 

Thanks for the informative reply, and congratulations on your festival success. Agree with Steve, it is hard to tell the Gaur were filmed in near darkness. Nice camerawork.

Re: A Call in the Rainforest - preview
 

I really enjoyed the film. I am so glad you are using it to spread news about conservation issues. As a former primatologist, I definitely understand the need to conserve their habitats. I wish you continued success with the film.

Re: A Call in the Rainforest - preview
 

Thanks Ruth.
Great to know that a former primatologist has viewed it. I just got information that this film "A Call in the Rainforest" got a 2nd Prize in a film festival organised by the Government of Maharashtra Environment Department and Maharashtra Pollution control board. (Maharashtra is a state in the India with Mumbai as its capital). The award will be given on 5th June - world environment day by the Chief Minister. The film will be shown in various places in the state and will lead to more awareness building.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

Re: A Call in the Rainforest - preview
 

Sabyasachi, I'm pleased that your film won a prize. How long is the full version of it? is there some place we can view the entire production?

Re: A Call in the Rainforest - preview
 

Congrats Sabyasachi

Thats surely great news

Re: A Call in the Rainforest - preview
 

Steve and Vishal,
Thanks a lot.
Here is the post with images and other details:
Maharashtra Government awards 2nd Prize to “A Call in the Rainforest”

The good thing about the prize is that the Maharashtra Government will now show my film in many cities and that will help in raising awareness.

The full production is available in DVD and at some point I will put it up in the web.

In a number of screenings, I find that people have not even seen an image of the Lion-tailed Macaque. I seriously feel sad that India is a country with such amazing biodiversity and a majority of our people are not aware. Clearly we need to do more films on different topics.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

Re: A Call in the Rainforest - Full Movie
 

Finally I could upload the full film in the net for people to see. You can see the Main part here:
and the last part:
Cheers,
Sabyasachi

Re: A Call in the Rainforest - preview
 

Great story Sabyasachi,
Thank you for putting that up for all to see. Such a pity so much pressure is on so many species there in India. With the poplulation growing rapidly lots of effort will need to go towards saving these animals or they will surely be lost forever. Films like your will hopefully help raise awareness & help the cause.
Regards,
Bryce

Re: A Call in the Rainforest - preview
 

Thanks Bryce. I am happy that you liked it.

Unfortunately the situation is becoming really tough. With a billion plus population and net addition of one person every 29 seconds, we are running out of space. No idea what will happen. One by one, I am taking up the issues faced by each species.

Working on leopards now. Elephant project will be the next large project which has been delayed.

Hope the message reaches lot of people so that some positive change can happen.

Re: A Call in the Rainforest - preview
 

Sabyasachi,

Well done, nice work.

I think India has a hard task on her hands, I returned to India last year with a gap of 30 years in between. I was astounded at the population growth, and of course, the physical country has not grown!

Extrapolating on your '1 birth every 29 seconds' equates to ~63,072,000 new borns per year, astounding! Whilst I was there I was chatting to a couple of guys who told me the birth figures for New Delhi were in the order of 23,000,000 / yr. The calculated population for the whole of Australia, on the 22 Feb 2013, is 22,927,300. To put this into perspective, India is 3287590 sq km (1269219.3 sq mi) and Australia is 7686850 sq km (2967909 sq mi), so India is a little under half the size of Australia, but it's capital (India) has a birth rate of our entire nation in one year, and India in the whole, has ~3 times the birth rate of the entire population of Australia / yr.

One must remember that that is not population growth but the figures are nonetheless astounding.

Good luck with your endeavors. I feel you're capturing images that are likely never to be repeated and whose value will increase exponentially as every year passes. (I'm not talking monetary value here.)

Al

Re: A Call in the Rainforest - preview
 

Hi Allan,
I was talking of a net addition of one person every 29 seconds ie. birth minus death.

Some people think that if air is polluted, then they will stay indoors inside AC rooms. At times, I feel stunned by some of the responses from our educated mass.

India is changing too fast. When I go to some part of my country after a year, I find my favourite places for wildlife destroyed by some plantations, houses etc. Even the sanctuaries and national parks are impacted by the mad tourist rush.

I have seen perennial streams drying up. The once pristine places are filled with garbage. I used to drink water directly from the streams. Today, that is becoming a challenge. When I am trying to record sound in a forest, I find mostly sound of vehicles or some loudspeaker from some village etc. We are fighting a losing battle. May be fore every battle won, we are losing some thousand battles. Just trying to do whatever is possible.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi