Ten million wildcats
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- Producers
- Production Accountant
- Production Coordinators
- Additional Editing
- Animal Wrangler/Carer
- FILM AUSTRALIA PRODUCTION UNIT Business Affairs Manager
- Executive Producer
- Tina Dalton-Hagege, Producer
- Alice Ford, Director, writer, researcher
- Lindsay Cupper, Cinematographer
- Mitchell Kelly, Cinematographer
- Keith Brust, Cinematographer
- Matt Cadwallader, Cinematographer
- Julian Ellis, Cinematographer
- Richard Dennison, Narrator
- The following scientists have contributed to the program
- Dr Tim Flannery Director, South Australian Museum
- Scientific advisers Dr Chris Dickman School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney
- Tim Low Environmental Consultant/Author
- Animal Olympians
ten million wildcats press kit A Film Australia National Interest Program in association with Wild Visuals for Discovery Channel. Produced with the assistance of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ten million wildcats synopsis Australia is the only continent completely overrun by feral cats. It is estimated there are now some ten million domestic cats gone wild and that each year they kill billions of native animals. Where did they come from? How did they spread so quickly? And how much of a role have they really had in the destruction of the country’s fauna? Ten Million Wildcats shatters some common preconceptions. Feral cats look much the same as domestic cats; their main diet is rats and mice rather than native animals; and when it comes to damage wrought on native species, sheep have had a greater impact than cats. However, in an environment already damaged by agriculture, cats can push populations already at risk to extinction. This program follows the race to save one particular small member of the kangaroo family, the mala, and considers what we can do to stop further damage to Australia’s unique wildlife. It also examines the remarkable survival skills that have enabled cats to thrive in some of the harshest regions in the world. The producers seek to treat indigenous cultures and beliefs with respect and have consulted widely in the production of this program. To many Aboriginal communities it is disrespectful and offensive to depict persons who have died. Communities who may be offended are warned that the following program may contain such scenes. ten million wildcats credits Producers Gary Steer Tina Dalton-Hagege
Gary Steer Alice Ford
Julian Russell Cinematography Lindsay Cupper Mitchell Kelly Julian Ellis Matt Cadwallader
Alice Ford Julian Russell
Richard Dennison Original Music Ricky Edwards Production Supervisor Kay Schubach Production Accountant Steve Bamford Researcher Alice Ford Script Editor Paul Brown Sound Recording Damon Smith Scott Sinclair Max Hensser Additional Cinematography Roger Buckingham Keith Brust Leighton De Barros Camera Assistants Jonathan Heighes Gilbert Urias
Suzy Gaal Jacqueline Brophy
Fiona Pearce Additional Footage Lou Petho in association with the Australian Film Commission Film Australia Library Wild Visuals Sky Visuals CSIRO Australia Nine Network Australia - Archives
Kevin Hinchey Post Production Facility Digital Pictures Laboratory Neglab
Digital City Studios
Mitjili Napangangka Gibson Sarah Napangangka Daniels Cindy Nakamarra Gibson Timothy Jagamarra Dickson Ken Lamb
Peter Paisley Terry Willis Bruce Whitnell
John Kinkead Special Thanks Rachel Fennessy Martin Hoyle and Saskia Towers Dietmar Tucha and Elizabeth George Holiday Inn
Department of Conservation and Land Management, Western Australia Central Land Council, Channel 9 – Perth, Daken Pty Ltd – Cole Jones and David Jameson, Duyfken Foundation, Earth Sanctuaries of Australia Inc., Andrea Gaynor, Geoff Golovsky, Goulburn Rural Lands Protection Board, Kodak – Tim Waygood, Katherine Moseby, Murray Moore Steel – Dale Coutts, National Maritime Museum Sydney, National Parks and Wildlife Service – South Australia, N.S.W. Animal Welfare League, Provet and Precise Cat Food, Andrew and Livia Smith, Peter Spencer
Sally Regan Production Liaison Harry Ree Executive Producer’s Assistant Sally Creagh A Film Australia Production in association with Wild Visuals for Discovery Channel Executive Producer Maureen Lemire Produced with the assistance of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation ABC Executive Producer Dione Gilmour Executive Producer Stefan Moore A Film Australia National Interest Program © Film Australia and Wild Visuals Pty Ltd MM ten million wildcats production notes Ten Million Wildcats began its life in the early 1990s when it first came to the public’s attention that millions of domestic cats were living wild in the Australian desert. Wild Visuals director Gary Steer was intrigued by the new picture that was emerging of the commonplace cat. This household pet had a mysterious alter ego living in the outback. Nobody knew how or when they got there and what they did to survive. Despite society’s familiarity with the cat, its feral counterpart was virtually unknown to Australians and relatively unstudied by science. Tensions soon emerged in the community between those who valued cats as pets and those who considered them dangerous pests that threatened the future of native species. Even before scientists had a chance to conduct preliminary surveys, cats were condemned by many as wildlife enemy number one. In this heightened atmosphere, Gary decided there was a need for a natural history documentary that would uncover the secret lives of feral cats and find out how much of a threat they really were. But it didn’t take long before he, and co-director Alice Ford, came up against the same problems that the biologists were facing — a shy, smart study subject that is hardly ever seen in the wild. In order to find feral cats, Gary joined the experts, who were themselves trying to hunt down these flashes in the night. He went out into a remote inland desert with biologist Rachel Paltridge who was working with Aboriginal women skilled in tracking down cats from paw prints in the sand. He joined a party of shooters in South Australia who hunt cats and tested the audio lure that scientists from West Australia’s Department of Conservation developed to entice cats into cages. In this way, the film became a story about scientists as well as cats. But to capture the film’s impressive natural history sequences, Gary and Alice had to rely on their own scientific reasoning. On the basis that cats would be drawn to a food source, they sent out Lindsay Cupper, one of Australia’s most intrepid wildlife cameramen, to a remote desert waterhole that was the only water source for birds for hundreds of kilometres. Again they were foiled when rain unexpectedly fell in the area for the first time in years. With waterholes springing up everywhere, the birds and cats dispersed, but not before Lindsay captured rare footage of cats celebrating the deluge with hours of intense mating. As the production team pursued the elusive cat, their fascination for this animal grew into respect. Beneath the cute facade is one of the world’s most successful predators, with an amazing capability for surviving in scorching deserts without water. With great persistence and determination, Wild Visuals secured rarely seen footage of cats in the wild and pieced together the emerging research to make Ten Million Wildcats, a documentary that tells the real story of feral cats and their place in the Australian environment. ten million wildcatskey crew
After graduating from Queensland University with a degree in wilderness reserves and wildlife, Tina Dalton-Hagege joined the Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service. She went on to write, produce and present a children’s wildlife magazine program and has continued to work in various capacities on natural history programs. These include the series Deadly Australians, which she produced and presented, and the one-hour documentary Eye on the Reef, which she directed. She also appeared as a reporter on the top-rating travel program, Getaway, from 1992 to 1995 and has written several wildlife books. A director of WildHeart Productions, Tina formed Wild Visuals with Gary Steer over six years ago. They have a joint output of more than 30 productions.
Gary Steer and his company Sky Visuals have a long-standing reputation for producing and directing wildlife and adventure films. Since leaving the NSW Parks and Wildlife Service, he has produced and directed more than 15 films for National Geographic USA, Discovery Channel USA, BBC England, ABC Australia, NHK Japan and many other international broadcasters. These include Brumby—Horse Run Wild, Wild Dog Dingo, The Wild Bush Budgie and the series Australia’s Remarkable Animals. Alice Ford, Director, writer, researcher After completing a Bachelor of Arts with first class honours, Alice Ford worked as a researcher and writer for the popular television programs Burke’s Backyard and Time Out for Serious Fun before joining Wild Visuals. There, her main activities are writing and researching but she has recently turned her hand to direction of sequences for Animal Olympians and is co-director of Ten Million Wildcats. She has also worked for other independent documentary makers, including Larry Gray and Mary O’Malley, and Jenny Cornish Productions. Lindsay Cupper, Cinematographer Lindsay Cupper has spent all his life in rural and outback Australia, farming in northwest Victoria and photographing and filming wildlife all over the continent. He has gained an invaluable knowledge of inland Australia and its wildlife, particularly its avifauna. A world authority on birds of prey, Lindsay spent seven years developing Hawks in Focus, considered the most comprehensive publication on Australia’s birds of prey. He is renowned worldwide for his spectacular bird cinematography and continues to contribute to some of the world’s most successful and well-regarded natural history films. Mitchell Kelly, Cinematographer Mitchell Kelly studied zoology and botany at the University of Western Australia, followed by a degree in film and television from Curtin University. Although passionate about all living creatures, Mitchell's speciality is mammal behaviour, particularly the difficult, rare or elusive. Recent coups include the first sustained footage of the Tibetan wolf, where he habituated the alpha male to his presence to the extent that the wild wolf slept just 12 metres from his side and allowed the filming of the pups at the den — only the second wild wolf den footage filmed anywhere in the world. He has also recently filmed groundbreaking footage of the nocturnal Tasmanian devil and the most extensive wild snow leopard footage ever. Mitchell’s next project sees him once again battling wits with elusive big cats in the wilds of Asia. Keith Brust, Cinematographer Keith Brust is an award-winning natural history cinematographer living in Tucson, Arizona. When Keith was fresh out of university, with a biology degree and two summer internships under his belt, he began a long association with the esteemed natural history unit, Oxford Scientific Films. Many films later, he began freelancing in 1997 and found himself in high demand (in the first half of 2000 alone, he has worked on eight films). Keith has developed and modified several pieces of camera equipment to support his speciality in macro, high speed and time-lapse cinematic style, and is an internationally sought-after cinematographer who has won two Emmy awards. Matt Cadwallader, Cinematographer After a rewarding apprenticeship under the renowned cinematographer, Rory McGuiness, travelling the globe and filming the local wildlife, Matt has successfully embarked on his own adventures. He has completed two research and filming expeditions to the Antarctic, assisting in the development and maintenance of a scientific website, and in the process filming Weddell seals amidst stunning Antarctic scenery for Wild Visuals. Since his return, he has been filming very shy platypus in eastern Australia for the natural history unit of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Julian Ellis, Cinematographer A British national with a masters degree from the University of Aberdeen, Julian Ellis has spent a great deal of time wandering the globe. He has worked consistently in the documentary industry over the years and has contributed to projects both in Australia and the United Kingdom. He now calls Sydney home, where he continues his work as a natural history cinematographer. Julian Russell, Editor Julian Russell is a well-known entity on the documentary circuit and has edited numerous Australian films including the memorable Mini Skirted Dynamo. Julian has long been associated with Wild Visuals, first coming aboard to edit The Art of Tracking. The series Animal Weapons and In the Shadow of the Shark followed, with Ten Million Wildcats his most recent — and perhaps most challenging — project. Richard Dennison, Narrator Richard Dennison has been producing, directing and narrating documentaries for more than 25 years, many of them classic adventures. In recent times his documentary on Mt Everest, The Fatal Game, won eight major international awards. Dennis was also producer and international narrator for the award-winning survival film, Miracle at Sea—The Rescue of Tony Bullimore. the experts The following scientists have contributed to the program: John Read Biologist Rachel Paltridge Biologist, Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory Liz Denny PhD candidate, School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney Paul Wagner PhD candidate, School of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University Don Langford Biologist, Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory David Algar Biologist, CALM Science Division, Woodvale Dr Tim Flannery Director, South Australian Museum Tim Flannery is a doctor of zoology. In 1985 he was appointed to the mammal section of the Australian Museum and later became the museum’s principal research scientist. He has described 32 new species and subspecies of modern mammals, and 57 new genera and species of extinct mammals. In 1990, he was awarded the Royal Society of NSW Edgeworth David medal for the advancement of science by a young researcher. In 1996, he was awarded the POL Eureka Prize for Environmental Research. Dr Flannery has published numerous papers and books, including the bestselling The Future Eaters (made into a six-part documentary series by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation). He was Chair of Australian Studies at Harvard University in 1999, and is currently the Director of the South Australian Museum. Scientific advisers Dr Chris Dickman School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney Dr Dickman is an ecologist with a particular interest in factors that shape patterns of diversity in vertebrate faunas. His main expertise is with marsupials, carnivores and rodents. He is Reader in Ecology and Director of the Institute of Wildlife Research at the University of Sydney. He also chairs the NSW State Government Scientific Committee on Threatened Biota, and is President of the Australian Mammal Society and the Royal Zoological Society of NSW. In 1996, Dr Dickman prepared Overview of the Impacts of Feral Cats on Australian Native Fauna for the Australian Nature Conservation Agency. Tim Low Environmental Consultant/Author Tim Low has qualifications in both science and journalism. He works as an environmental consultant, nature writer and photographer. He has written five books including Bush Tucker, Bush Medicine, Wild Herbs of Australia and the highly acclaimed Feral Future. From 1985, he has been the author of Nature Australia magazine’s longest running column. He serves on several government committees and has been a speaker at two international conferences on “alien invasions”. Note Scientific queries should be directed through the following research contact: Alice Ford Wild Visuals tel: (+61) 02 9331 0877 fax: (+61) 02 9357 4126 email: alice@wildvisuals.com.au ten million wildcats
(1999) Director: Tina Dalton-Hagege Producers: Gary Steer, Tina Dalton-Hagege In the Shadow of the Shark (1999) Director: Tina Dalton-Hagege Producers: Jennifer Cornish, David Noakes Atlanta’s Child (1998) Director: Tony Davis Producers: Gary Steer, Tina Dalton-Hagege Animal Weapons (1998) Director: Tina Dalton-Hagege Producers: Gary Steer, Tina Dalton-Hagege Special prize for best picture, Festival International du Film Animalier 2000
(1996) Director: Gary Steer Producers: Gary Steer, Tina Dalton-Hagege First place, Gold Camera Award, US International Film and Video 1997; First prize, environment category, Festival International du Film Animalier 1997; Finalist award and merit award (compelling story), International Wildlife Film Festival 1998; Finalist, Marion Zunz Newcomer award, Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival 1997
(1996) Director: Tina Dalton-Hagege Producers: Gary Steer, Tina Dalton-Hagege Nominee, Best Cinematography, Non-Feature Film, AFI Awards 1997; Finalist award and merit award (wildlife/cultural inter-relationships), International Wildlife Film Festival 1998; Certificate for creative excellence, US International Film and Video 1997; Le Prix “Artemis Film”, Festival du Film de la Faune Sauvage 1997; Finalist, Jimmy Stewart Best Conservation Film award, Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival 1997
(1993) Directors/Producers: Gary Steer, Tina Dalton-Hagege First place, Gold Camera Award, US International Film and Video 1994; merit awards (action cinematography, technical achievement and use of music), International Wildlife Film Festival 1994 Directory: programs programs -> Partner Site Information – check all that apply programs -> Summaries of Relevant Studies Reviewed by the Department That Meet the Standard for Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness programs -> Project Scoring Template Pre-Construction Phase New Core/Branch Campus Projects programs -> University of Hawai‘i Maui College dental assisting program review october 21, 2013 programs -> Invitation for Bid Calact/mbta for Standard Floor and Low Floor Rural Duty Vehicles ifb no. 12-03 November 14, 2012 programs -> Schedule of Events for 2014-2015 Camp Trotter vts & Golf June 20-22, 2014 programs -> Interpreting Weather Satellite Data Introduction programs -> Canadian Forces (CF) programs -> China News in Brief August, 2011 programs -> Kerry B. Dumbaugh Download 55.94 Kb. Share with your friends:
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