NHNZ - the Risks and Perils of Wildlife Filmmaking

For immediate release March 2 2006

NHNZ Reveals the Risks and Perils of Wildlife Filmmaking

Wildlife filmmaking may look like a dream job, but wild animals can be unpredictable and even the most careful professionals sometimes find themselves in life-threatening situations. With behind-the-scenes footage and first-hand accounts, Up Close and Dangerous tells the stories of filmmakers who take us closer to nature than we dare to go ourselves.

Up Close and Dangerous, a co-production between the Dunedin production company NHNZ and US cable network Animal Planet, tells the ‘war’ stories from the front line of wildlife documentaries. The show features never-before-seen footage of what happens when wild animals turn on a film crew.

NHNZ’s Director of Production Neil Harraway says the series will show the true physical danger many crews face in the field.

“Despite the experience and talent these filmmakers possess, there are times when things don’t go according to plan. Up Close and Dangerous will show what happens when everything goes wrong, when all that’s between the person and death or serious injury is instinct and adrenalin.”

The show’s research team is currently uncovering the most thrilling and dangerous encounters from the world’s leading wildlife filmmakers.

“Basically the series is about the unpredictability of filming with wildlife and the strange, dangerous and bizarre situations that can arise in an instant. The stories we’re hearing are fantastic, some of the footage is truly hair-raising. And if any filmmakers out there have gone through similar experiences, and have the footage to show it, we’d love to hear from them.”

NHNZ is one of the world’s leading producers of factual programming embracing the genres of nature, health, science, adventure and people. With over 70 programmes currently in production, its crews work in locations around the world to produce a diversity of films for international broadcasters including Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, TLC, Discovery Health, National Geographic Channel, France 5, NHK in Japan and NDR in Germany. Based in Dunedin, New Zealand, the company is wholly owned by Fox Television Studios.

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