‘Tree authors failing young, aspiring botanists’
SIX intrepid film-makers will journey up to Sodwana Bay in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park to participate in the Nature Environment & Wildlife Filmmakers (Newf) Advanced Underwater Film-making Lab this month.
Next Sunday, February 23, the participants’ “think tank” rolls out with stage one. The team will be based in the park for two weeks, where there is a strong focus on story, development and preproduction, and develop a concept for a short film. Participants will also undergo training for dive accreditation.
The second stage specifically for the cinematographers is to develop diving skills. They will undergo training for advanced diving accreditation. They will film and document some of the story development ideas.
The final stage is the postproduction, with the team tasked to complete their film. The polished product will be showcased at Newf Congress 2020 from July 21-24 at the Barnyard Theatre, Suncoast.
“On a continent surrounded by more than 30 000km of coastline, black African underwater film-makers are more rare than most of the species we seek to protect. We can’t save what we can’t see and therefore fast-tracking the specialised skills development for a new generation of Africa’s nature and wildlife filmmakers is vital,” says Noel Kok, Newf programmes director.
Selected from more than 100 applicants across Africa, Maishe Mosala from Johannesburg fulfils the role of director and producer for this expedition.
She has worked in long and short format productions and would like to use film-making to spread knowledge about the wonder of the ocean, marine life and ways in which humanity can harmonise its relationship with the underwater world.
Khayelitsha’s Loyiso Dunga, with a Master’s degree in marine biology, is the team’s marine scientist. He strongly believes that people will only conserve what they love, and sees this as an opportunity to tailor a message to the many young people who have no idea of what lies beneath the ocean’s “blue blanket”.
Cinematographers Duncan Tilley from Bez Valley in Johannesburg, and Fiona Tande from Nairobi,
Kenya, will share the responsibility of filming the content for the story.
Tilley has worked on some of the most successful and awardwinning South African social justice documentaries, including Uhuru Productions International Emmy Award-winning Miners Shot Down. He is a climate activist with a passion for documentaries and telling stories that matter.
Tande founded Pridelands Wildlife Foundation, a platform used to highlight conservation issues and produce wildlife films to inspire people to connect with nature and conserve it.
Weaving the story together will be award-winning editor Jolene van Antwerp, an award-winning editor from Johannesburg who considers herself an eco-warrior.
Wrapping up the team, Takalani Mulaudzi, Newf’s NEW Pitch Competition moderator and an award-winner herself, will be executive producer and team mentor.
Kok said: “Six African storytellers brought together by their love for the environment, tasked to make a short film after discovering the magic that lies beneath the surface of the ocean. The results can only be incredible.”
The Newf Advanced Underwater Film-making Lab aims to amplify Africa’s next generation of nature and wildlife film-makers and profile their voices. The Lab is made possible by Vulcan Productions and supported by the National Film and Video Foundation, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Adventure Mania and Earth Touch.
For more info on Newf and the project, visit www.newf. co.za Follow Vulcan Productions (vulcanproductions.com) on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
RENOWNED botanist Professor Eugene Moll believes tree book authors – of which he is one – have failed young people and amateur botanists, a subject he will explore in an illustrated talk this month.
“Why is it that we don’t see enough young people, representative of the SA diaspora, ‘getting into botany’? Yet we have so many excellent tree-identification books available in South Africa. And an amazing tree flora,” he said.
Moll feels a whole new approach to tree identification is needed for tree identity books to be meaningful to amateurs. “Over the decades it has become apparent to me that we authors have basically failed the majority of amateur tree enthusiasts. I have come to this very sad conclusion after some 60 years of working diligently with students and the interested general public.
“Over the years I tried my best to assist amateurs and students alike – by spending many years compiling leaf keys (Forest Trees of Natal (1967), Trees of Natal (1981 & 1992), writing a couple of minor tree books (the latest in 2011), and even completing the massive task of editing the first edition
“When I reflect on my early days with the then Wildlife Society (now Wildlife and Environment Society SA) and later BotSoc, and the many university students I had the pleasure of interacting with, the limited success I have had was not assisted by books – but rather was achieved by enthusiasm and the passion I shared with those of a similar ilk.
“The key to this success was fieldwork – walking in the bush! No books can replace seeing, touching, smelling and sometimes tasting trees in the bush,” said Moll. “However, I am aware that many people are more than capable of learning from books, and there are a few excellent treepeople who have acquired incredible knowledge with persistence.
“But two things trouble me: one, I don’t see enough young people, representative of the South African diaspora, ‘getting into botany’; and, two why have we failed when we have so many seemingly excellent books? And an amazing tree flora.”
Moll’s talk on “How Tree Book Authors Have Failed the Amateurs of Today” will be held at the Botanic Gardens Visitors Centre in Durban on February 24, 5.30pm for 6pm. Entrance including tea at the start is R35 for members, R55 for nonmembers, R25 for students. All are welcome. |