Sophie Darlington_DP_2020 (1)

Wildlife filmmakers share career insights with students

 

Sharing spectacular stories from the natural world gives us a greater understanding about planet Earth.

Award-winning filmmakers and photographers who help to shape these global stories are visiting the University of Cumbria virtually to share career insights with students.

Joining the University of Cumbria’s Institute of the Arts for its upcoming wildlife filmmaking and photography industry day online on Thursday 27 May are:

  • Sophie Darlington, whose list of impressive credits include 2021's 'Perfect Planet (BBC), 'Seven Worlds' (BBC), 'Our Planet' (Netflix), 'Dynasties' (BBC) & 'Earth Live' (National Geographic).
  • Raquel Toniolo, who is recognised for her work filming tribes around the world in some of the world’s most hostile and remote locations.
  • Conservation filmmaker Nina Constable, whose work appears on TV networks and in festivals around the world.
  • Founder of rewilding charity ‘SCOTLAND: The Big Picture’, Peter Cairns who is an experienced environmental communicator, nature tourism operator and a Senior Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers.

Sophie said: “Wildlife filmmaking is a hugely rewarding career choice, and one I’ve been lucky enough to be part of for over 30 years. I’ve seen immense changes in our industry and my hope is, by taking part in this event at University of Cumbria, to give a personal view on some of those. We will also discuss how we keep relevant, and most importantly, what we can do to encourage more diverse voices into this industry.”

Raquel: "I wished I could have met more industry peers when I was in uni, to open my mind about the realities of sector and what the career path progression could looked like. Today, sharing my own journey and experiences of working on presenter-led wildlife and environmental programmes, with a new generation of filmmakers, is my little way of offering that perspective. Their boundless enthusiasm, ambition and energy are a tonic."

Students Zoe Hofman and Rachel Owen are excited about the opportunity of learning from industry figures and helping to organise the event by being hosts of the panel discussion with the expert speakers.

Rachel said: “It’s great to have the chance to get answers to questions from people who are making their living in the sector that I've been studying for the last few years. Personally, I'm thrilled at how many women will be appearing at the event and to hear about their experiences in what can be a very male-dominated industry.

“Many students will find this event really useful moving forward as we enter the industry in a post-Covid world - especially as we’ve not been able to undertake work experience opportunities that we might have liked to do last summer in order to boost our CVs.”

BA (Hons) Wildlife Media lecturer and one of the key organisers of the event, Bettina Talbot, who is based at the university’s dedicated arts campus in Carlisle, said: “We are delighted that our guest speakers will spark dynamic debate whilst illustrating their skills and creative careers, providing invaluable insight and inspiration to our current and future learners.

“The online nature of the day provides fresh opportunities for us to welcome guests and speakers from far and wide, one of whom is breaking from her own on-location filming commitments to take part.”

To find out more about Wildlife Media, photography, conservation and related courses at the University of Cumbria, call 0808 178 7373 or visit www.cumbria.ac.uk.

 

PICTURES

Sophie Darlington, filmmaker, who is visiting (virtually) the University of Cumbria Institute of the Arts on Thursday 27 May

 

Raquel Toniolo, who is visiting (virtually) the University of Cumbria Institute of the Arts on Thursday 27 May

 

Conservation filmmaker Nina Constable, among the speakers at the 2021 Wildlife Filmmaking and Photography industry day for students at University of Cumbria

Peter Cairns, founder of rewilding charity SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, is among the speakers at the 2021 Wildlife Filmmaking and Photography industry day for students at University of Cumbria

Rachel Owen, third-year BA (Hons) Wildlife Media student, Institute of the Arts, University of Cumbria

  1. To discuss interview opportunities, contact university communications officer Kelly Pattison – kelly.pattison@cumbria.ac.uk or 07977 223258.
  2. Speaker biographies:

Sophie Darlington - https://sophiedarlington.com/about-sophie/

Raquel Toniolo - http://www.tatupictures.com/about/raquel/  - a Series Producer/Director whose extensive work in Specialist Factual (wildlife/travel/ adventure/ expeditions) has taken her all over the world. She has produced programmes with household names, such as David Beckham Freddy Flintoff and Kate Humble. Raquel works in development and production and has been a Series Producer/ Director at her own Welsh indie Tatu Pictures since it was formed in 2014.

Nina Constable – https://www.ninaconstable.co.uk/about - is an award-winning conservation filmmaker. Her films have screened in festivals globally and her work has featured in a number of broadcasts including BBC Springwatch, BBC Countryfile, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, CNN, The Guardian Online & WWF UK and her photography has featured in BBC Wildlife Magazine, WWF Action Magazine, BBC News Online, ITV News online and in a number of other publications.  Current assignments include film projects for WWF-UK, Cornwall Wildlife Trusts, Severn Rivers Trust, the ETN network and Cornwall Landscape Partnership.

Peter Cairns - https://www.scotlandbigpicture.com/team - has spent over two decades as a conservation photographer, environmental communicator and nature tourism operator. He is the founder of rewilding charity, SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, having previously directed major conservation media initiatives such as Tooth & Claw, Wild Wonders of Europe and 2020VISION. Peter is a serving board member of Trees for Life, and is a Senior Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers.