UWOL #9 -Wildlife Quest at DVinfo.net

John Dennis Robertson · June 23rd, 2008, 09:07 AM

Started out by trying to portray how wildlife all search for food in different places,but all drink from the same water hole.I found this water hole late in the day and could have spent more than a day here.Let me know what you all think!

Catherine Russell · June 24th, 2008, 11:07 AM

Wow... John Dennis, you live in an amazing world. You certainly were on topic with this one. Were you out just roaming around to shoot this? Is it ever dangerous? It looks like it could be. You are really developing as a film maker! Nice selection of music and blend of animals. I could see why you could simply camp out all day at the water hole and just shoot it all there! Well done friend!

Cato

Markus Nord · June 25th, 2008, 09:41 AM

I feel that you hade a lack of story in you film, or I didn’t get it. To many different animal and not something that pulled them together. I would like to se more about a few animal and something about them. You hade some nice shot, like to se more.

Paul Mailath · June 26th, 2008, 06:04 AM

An amazing variety - but maybe Marcus is right in saying 'too many'

I wonder if we don't all make that mistake at times, we are used to seeing our own wildlife and want to show 'it all' rather than tell a story about one in particular. Boy I'd love to visit though!

Steven Gotz · June 26th, 2008, 11:49 AM

Perhaps a voiceover explaining how they all used the same waterhole? Or, maybe even a title that pointed it out?

It does all tie together if you know the theme.

Chris Barcellos · June 26th, 2008, 01:57 PM

John: Because it peaked our interest so much, this film deserves a bit more explanation, voice over, or at least end credits regarding place and circumstances of filming. Film was beautiful, in terms of imagery and feel and subject matter is the ultimate in wild...

Per Johan Naesje · June 26th, 2008, 03:40 PM

John, second what have been said about your entry. It seem to be a very busy waterhole with lots of action! Technically your scenes was very nice and stable to watch.

Mat Thompson · June 26th, 2008, 06:09 PM

Hey John

Well this was visually stunning and SO many species and such a beautiful landscape. On seeing the name of your film I was waiting for the 'quest' I have to say. Of course getting the footage is a quest in itself, I'm sure we all know that....but I guess sort of goal at the start might have set the scene better. That said it was a good piece to simply watch, relax and watch the wonderful world go by! Some shots needed stabilisation but I guess your shooting off the back of 4x4's on a lot of this which must be tough!

Great stuff fella....what a country!

Adrinn Chellton · June 26th, 2008, 06:24 PM

Wow you live in an amazing area indeed. Thanks for taking the time to document it. I would like to know the name of the crested bird about 11 cuts into the film.

Nice job and some VO or even text would have made it that much better. Hope to see you in the next one.

Steve Siegel · June 26th, 2008, 06:24 PM

At first I thought I was looking at a zoo, but then it became apparent...these guys are real!
You don't really get the sense, watching all the African wildlife shows on TV, that all these animals live, and are accessible in the same place at the same time. You certainly conveyed that, even without a narrative. I like your composition too, it makes the land look familiar yet exotic all at once. I would like to see a film of all the small birds that inhabit this water hole. One thing, your transition with the ostriches near the end didn't seem to work right. Good job all around. Keep them coming.

Ron Chant · June 27th, 2008, 05:00 AM

John, a nice mix of shots of African wildlife, which visit a drinking spot.
The Giraffe eating from the acacia tree was a very nice shot, it’s magic how it works it’s tongue around those long thorns to eat the trees leaves, I’d like to have seen a longer shot of the Grey Crowned Crane and the Ostridge or a few different angles.

Peter Damerell · June 27th, 2008, 06:51 AM

A very nice film indeed,

I'll second what others have said about it needing a small amount of narrative or text to give the location and set the scene/context but the footage itself was brilliant. Really nice shots of the giraffe! having spent some time wandering through the bush in Malawi I know that whilst many people will think that in Africa these animals are easy to come across the reality is that it can take a lot of time and patience to see these big creatures let alone see them exhibiting interesting behaviour.

Well done for this entry. The African scenery warmed me on what is a disappointingly cloudy and cold June day here in England.

Pete

David Gemmell · June 27th, 2008, 07:04 AM

Hi John,

As I'm sure you already know, you live in an amazing place.

I agree with Steve's comments about seeing this sort of stuff on TV or similar - you don't really think that it is accessible to us all.

Couple of things, you filmed the wildlife beautifully and certainly captured my interest throughout however, I would have focused on that water hole. I think that would have been a wonderful focus point to "tie" everything to. I also wouldn't have put in the plover shot or the crowned crane as they seemed to conflict with the wide angle plains type shots, which made up most of your movie.

I also would have loved to have seen you in the shot or heard from you at some stage. I think there would have been a lot of things happening that day, and I bet you wish you could share with us what happened here, and then there, etc.

I also picked up on the juddery transition towards the end which I think happens when your clips are not exactly butted up to each other on the time line (not too sure).

Great entry John - from an amazing part of the world.

Bob Thieda · June 27th, 2008, 08:24 AM

John,

Wow...what world. So many different animals. I loved all the individual shots, especially the giraffe.
I already had read your comments, so I don't know if I would have got the story or not, but I still was fasinated watching it.

Only thing I noticed was that a couple of the shots were really short. Hardly had time to figure out what I was looking at.

A fine entry...thanks!

Bob

Oliver Pahlow · June 27th, 2008, 09:32 AM

John,

I looked at your film twice. The first time I looked at it I said to myself "Man, some people just have all the luck". The second time I looked at it and I thought that those are some great shots. It looks dangerous (the lion eating). It's not like here where you can just walk around and take shots of things. Did you take your shots from the safty of a vehicle or where you hiking. I like it.

Oliver

June 23rd, 2008, 09:07 AM	#1
John Dennis Robertson Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Johanesburg South Africa Posts: 217	UWOL #9 -Wildlife Quest Started out by trying to portray how wildlife all search for food in different places,but all drink from the same water hole.I found this water hole late in the day and could have spent more than a day here.Let me know what you all think!

June 25th, 2008, 09:41 AM	#3
Markus Nord Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vastervik ,Sweden Posts: 639	I feel that you hade a lack of story in you film, or I didn’t get it. To many different animal and not something that pulled them together. I would like to se more about a few animal and something about them. You hade some nice shot, like to se more. __________________ www.nordproduktion.se https://vimeo.com/nordproduktion

June 26th, 2008, 06:04 AM	#4
Paul Mailath Trustee Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Central Coast - NSW, Australia Posts: 1,606	An amazing variety - but maybe Marcus is right in saying 'too many' I wonder if we don't all make that mistake at times, we are used to seeing our own wildlife and want to show 'it all' rather than tell a story about one in particular. Boy I'd love to visit though! __________________ Cheers - Paul M. www.perbenyik.com

June 26th, 2008, 11:49 AM	#5
Steven Gotz Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Clermont, FL Posts: 1,520	Perhaps a voiceover explaining how they all used the same waterhole? Or, maybe even a title that pointed it out? It does all tie together if you know the theme. __________________ Steven Gotz http://www.stevengotz.com

June 26th, 2008, 01:57 PM	#6
Chris Barcellos Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Elk Grove CA Posts: 6,838	John: Because it peaked our interest so much, this film deserves a bit more explanation, voice over, or at least end credits regarding place and circumstances of filming. Film was beautiful, in terms of imagery and feel and subject matter is the ultimate in wild... __________________ Chris J. Barcellos

June 24th, 2008, 11:07 AM	#2
Catherine Russell Trustee Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Lyons, Colorado Posts: 1,224	Wow... John Dennis, you live in an amazing world. You certainly were on topic with this one. Were you out just roaming around to shoot this? Is it ever dangerous? It looks like it could be. You are really developing as a film maker! Nice selection of music and blend of animals. I could see why you could simply camp out all day at the water hole and just shoot it all there! Well done friend! Cato

June 26th, 2008, 03:40 PM	#7
Per Johan Naesje Trustee Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Akershus, Norway Posts: 1,413	John, second what have been said about your entry. It seem to be a very busy waterhole with lots of action! Technically your scenes was very nice and stable to watch. __________________ - Per Johan

June 26th, 2008, 06:09 PM	#8
Mat Thompson Trustee Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kent UK Posts: 1,397	Hey John Well this was visually stunning and SO many species and such a beautiful landscape. On seeing the name of your film I was waiting for the 'quest' I have to say. Of course getting the footage is a quest in itself, I'm sure we all know that....but I guess sort of goal at the start might have set the scene better. That said it was a good piece to simply watch, relax and watch the wonderful world go by! Some shots needed stabilisation but I guess your shooting off the back of 4x4's on a lot of this which must be tough! Great stuff fella....what a country!

June 26th, 2008, 06:24 PM	#9
Adrinn Chellton Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Carlsbad, CA Posts: 195	Wow you live in an amazing area indeed. Thanks for taking the time to document it. I would like to know the name of the crested bird about 11 cuts into the film. Nice job and some VO or even text would have made it that much better. Hope to see you in the next one.

June 26th, 2008, 06:24 PM	#10
Steve Siegel Major Player Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA Posts: 839	At first I thought I was looking at a zoo, but then it became apparent...these guys are real! You don't really get the sense, watching all the African wildlife shows on TV, that all these animals live, and are accessible in the same place at the same time. You certainly conveyed that, even without a narrative. I like your composition too, it makes the land look familiar yet exotic all at once. I would like to see a film of all the small birds that inhabit this water hole. One thing, your transition with the ostriches near the end didn't seem to work right. Good job all around. Keep them coming.

June 27th, 2008, 05:00 AM	#11
Ron Chant Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: West-London - England Posts: 125	John, a nice mix of shots of African wildlife, which visit a drinking spot. The Giraffe eating from the acacia tree was a very nice shot, it’s magic how it works it’s tongue around those long thorns to eat the trees leaves, I’d like to have seen a longer shot of the Grey Crowned Crane and the Ostridge or a few different angles. __________________ <')))>{

June 27th, 2008, 06:51 AM	#12
Peter Damerell Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Truro, Cornwall, UK Posts: 51	A very nice film indeed, I'll second what others have said about it needing a small amount of narrative or text to give the location and set the scene/context but the footage itself was brilliant. Really nice shots of the giraffe! having spent some time wandering through the bush in Malawi I know that whilst many people will think that in Africa these animals are easy to come across the reality is that it can take a lot of time and patience to see these big creatures let alone see them exhibiting interesting behaviour. Well done for this entry. The African scenery warmed me on what is a disappointingly cloudy and cold June day here in England. Pete

June 27th, 2008, 07:04 AM	#13
David Gemmell Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bendigo, Australia Posts: 234	Hi John, As I'm sure you already know, you live in an amazing place. I agree with Steve's comments about seeing this sort of stuff on TV or similar - you don't really think that it is accessible to us all. Couple of things, you filmed the wildlife beautifully and certainly captured my interest throughout however, I would have focused on that water hole. I think that would have been a wonderful focus point to "tie" everything to. I also wouldn't have put in the plover shot or the crowned crane as they seemed to conflict with the wide angle plains type shots, which made up most of your movie. I also would have loved to have seen you in the shot or heard from you at some stage. I think there would have been a lot of things happening that day, and I bet you wish you could share with us what happened here, and then there, etc. I also picked up on the juddery transition towards the end which I think happens when your clips are not exactly butted up to each other on the time line (not too sure). Great entry John - from an amazing part of the world.

June 27th, 2008, 08:24 AM	#14
Bob Thieda Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 541	John, Wow...what world. So many different animals. I loved all the individual shots, especially the giraffe. I already had read your comments, so I don't know if I would have got the story or not, but I still was fasinated watching it. Only thing I noticed was that a couple of the shots were really short. Hardly had time to figure out what I was looking at. A fine entry...thanks! Bob __________________ Bob T.

June 27th, 2008, 09:32 AM	#15
Oliver Pahlow Major Player Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Woodridge Illinois Posts: 237	John, I looked at your film twice. The first time I looked at it I said to myself "Man, some people just have all the luck". The second time I looked at it and I thought that those are some great shots. It looks dangerous (the lion eating). It's not like here where you can just walk around and take shots of things. Did you take your shots from the safty of a vehicle or where you hiking. I like it. Oliver