What a great feel-good story .... good for you Ben, shows that hard work and discipline will usually pay off. All the best in all your future endeavors.
Thank you for sharing your story, Ben. It's inspiring for someone like me who is also trying to make that career switch. I am currently uploading a series on Sumatra to my TH-cam channel aftr spending 6 weeks there and I have other projects to work on after this. Once I feel I have a sufficient portfolio, I intend to share my best work with people in the industry. Do you have any advice on who to share my best work with? I could try Wildscreen, as you did, but any other recommendations would be much appreciated. Best wishes, Josh
@@BenTutton probably the same topics for both! Wildlife filmmaking techniques; how to make a cinematic sequence as a solo shooter, composition, how to get proper exposure, exposure monitoring, how to properly manual focus as most ppl from a photography world use only AF, what settings / fstop / depth of field do you choose in different shooting scenarios, proper tripod techniques to avoid jittery forage especially with long lenses, how to get cinematic gimbal shots whether handheld or mounted to a safari car, drone shots composition / moves tailored to wildlife, audio, videos of yourself shooting demonstrating techniques, camera traps, Timelapses, post processing workflow tailored to wildlife editing, how to cut shots to make a cinematic sequence, gear talk, dos and do nots, permits and filming team logistics and planning, interviews with ppl in the industry, ethics, comments and critiques of wildlife shots and whatever stuff you wish you knew when you first started and learned the hard way!!
Combine this with an actual wildlife filmmaking workshop somewhere that has epic wildlife, then I’m in 100% !! Why is there sooo many photography workshops but no filmmaking ones ? Of course photography has a bigger market but still there are many filmmakers-wanna be out there that can’t afford to study in Bristol and want to start somewhere with the fundamentals. You can also offer 1:1 mentorship which is very useful too!
Just discovered your channel, Ben. These stories of your life and work are just wonderful, really inspiring and remind me of a direction I love to have taken years ago if I’d had the chance back in the UK. Instead, I’ll live it vicariously through you. I ended up going into design and illustration, then eventually teaching and research after my PhD am now program director of a graphic design degree in Australia. I love what I do now, but so much of what you’re doing and how you seem to feel about your craft resonates with me that I know I could have travelled that path too in another life. I really wish you the best, Ben, your humble manner and quiet passion for your work speaks volumes about why you’re where you are today. Utterly deserved my friend. 🌍🙏👍
Thanks so much for your message. It's a truly rewarding career, and one I'm very lucky to have been able to do for such a long time. It sounds like you have been on an equally fulfilling path in your life!
I appreciate your videos, no one else in the industry seem to be doing these! I am just finishing my first year in the industry and this makes me excited to see where I am in 10 years! 😁 I hope to see more videos!
So glad I found your channel. You really are living the dream, so happy for you. Super video and a really good insight on a path to get to this dream job. Looking forward to more content because I can listen to this stuff all day!
Hi, thank you so much for sharing your experience! I am from Portugal and want to get into this field as well, do you think it’s possible without a master degree in filmmaking?
Hi Rafael, Thanks for watching! It's definitely possible, but not easy! Theres loads of people without an MA degree working in the industry. It's all about finding a way in, which comes with building contacts, and experience in the field.
Hi Ben, Thanks so much for making this video. I've just come across it now. I was wondering what you would advise in terms of getting placement/shadowing experience? Who to contact and how to contact them? Would you ever be in a position to have someone shadow?
Hi Tom, To be honest it's really tricky. Most of my work is abroad, so you can't really have someone along to "shadow" - I think insurance is a big problem too for people not working for the production. Your best bet is to try and work as an assistant (or runner) on a shoot. First put together a short showreel first (3 mins max). That is a reason to reach out to someone and shows you're serious. Then reach out to people in the industry. You can find lists of names in the credits at the end of your favourite shows. Tell them you liked the film they made! Most camera people don't take on their own assistants, so it's usually producers and SPs that are in charge of crewing their shoots. But it never hurts to reach out to wildlife cinematographers too. You never know what they might be working on! Springwatch is also a great place to work as they have lots of junior roles and you get to know lots of people very quickly. Good luck!
@@BenTutton Hi Ben, Thank you so much for such an in depth reply. There are so few people talking about this online, it is so heartening to hear you talk about your route in. I have a second question for ya... I spent most of the summer sat in a ditch and pooping in a bag whilst filming kingfishers. haha. I am currently in the process of editing my story together into a 15 minute.. ish, film about their struggle to raise a family in one of the hottest summers UK on record. Once it's ready and ready to go... how do I go about entering film festivals like you did with your macaques, and which film festival should I consider?
Hey Tom, I’m not sure really. It’s a while since I did anything with festivals. There are quite a few now, so I’d just do a quick search and pick a few that you’d like to be a part of and enter! 🤷♂️ Sorry I can’t really be more helpful than that!
Hi Ben I'm Neo from South Africa. I am a cinematographer & I enjoy your videos very much. I came across your channel as I was looking up the Canon 50-1000. I own the lens & Sony FX9 so I'm really interested in starting wildlife films. I'm going to try to contact you directly Ben. Please be on the lookout for an email. I'd really appreciate your help figuring out how to work with BBC & distributors like that.
What a great feel-good story .... good for you Ben, shows that hard work and discipline will usually pay off. All the best in all your future endeavors.
Thank you for sharing your story, Ben. It's inspiring for someone like me who is also trying to make that career switch. I am currently uploading a series on Sumatra to my TH-cam channel aftr spending 6 weeks there and I have other projects to work on after this. Once I feel I have a sufficient portfolio, I intend to share my best work with people in the industry. Do you have any advice on who to share my best work with? I could try Wildscreen, as you did, but any other recommendations would be much appreciated.
Best wishes,
Josh
I definitely think you should start a podcast Ben! Maybe a wildlife filmmaking techniques & tutorials course as well!!
Thanks for the comment! Keep an eye out, as there might be something coming along soon!
If there was a filmmaking course what information would you want? If I did a podcast what would you like to hear?
@@BenTutton probably the same topics for both! Wildlife filmmaking techniques; how to make a cinematic sequence as a solo shooter, composition, how to get proper exposure, exposure monitoring, how to properly manual focus as most ppl from a photography world use only AF, what settings / fstop / depth of field do you choose in different shooting scenarios, proper tripod techniques to avoid jittery forage especially with long lenses, how to get cinematic gimbal shots whether handheld or mounted to a safari car, drone shots composition / moves tailored to wildlife, audio, videos of yourself shooting demonstrating techniques, camera traps, Timelapses, post processing workflow tailored to wildlife editing, how to cut shots to make a cinematic sequence, gear talk, dos and do nots, permits and filming team logistics and planning, interviews with ppl in the industry, ethics, comments and critiques of wildlife shots and whatever stuff you wish you knew when you first started and learned the hard way!!
Combine this with an actual wildlife filmmaking workshop somewhere that has epic wildlife, then I’m in 100% !! Why is there sooo many photography workshops but no filmmaking ones ? Of course photography has a bigger market but still there are many filmmakers-wanna be out there that can’t afford to study in Bristol and want to start somewhere with the fundamentals. You can also offer 1:1 mentorship which is very useful too!
Just discovered your channel, Ben. These stories of your life and work are just wonderful, really inspiring and remind me of a direction I love to have taken years ago if I’d had the chance back in the UK. Instead, I’ll live it vicariously through you.
I ended up going into design and illustration, then eventually teaching and research after my PhD am now program director of a graphic design degree in Australia. I love what I do now, but so much of what you’re doing and how you seem to feel about your craft resonates with me that I know I could have travelled that path too in another life.
I really wish you the best, Ben, your humble manner and quiet passion for your work speaks volumes about why you’re where you are today. Utterly deserved my friend. 🌍🙏👍
Thanks so much for your message. It's a truly rewarding career, and one I'm very lucky to have been able to do for such a long time. It sounds like you have been on an equally fulfilling path in your life!
Very interesting! Thanks for sharing :)
Good to know about your amazing journey so far. Hope you visit India to film big cats sometime soon. Would love to see you in action on field.
I hope I manage to make it back out to India soon!
I appreciate your videos, no one else in the industry seem to be doing these! I am just finishing my first year in the industry and this makes me excited to see where I am in 10 years! 😁 I hope to see more videos!
Cheers Hewy! It's not a bad job is it?! I look forward to seeing what you do over the next 10 years too!
Having David Attenborough say yes to your work is like getting approval from a CEO or a president of a company.
It's certainly a career highlight for sure!
Solid Core Values, valuable to anyone wishing this as a Career. Great video, keep well & stay safe 🇬🇧
Cheers David!
amazing to hear of your experience. thanks for sharing it Ben! Anytime you are in Dubai, would love to catch up!
Thanks Akhil, I'll come and say hi if I'm in Dubai.
So glad I found your channel. You really are living the dream, so happy for you. Super video and a really good insight on a path to get to this dream job. Looking forward to more content because I can listen to this stuff all day!
I’m glad you found the video useful Benjamin 👍 back in Quarantine soon so hopefully another coming soon…
This is gold and inspiring 😭 thank youu
Thank you Amrit! Glad you found it inspiring.
Hi, thank you so much for sharing your experience! I am from Portugal and want to get into this field as well, do you think it’s possible without a master degree in filmmaking?
Hi Rafael, Thanks for watching! It's definitely possible, but not easy! Theres loads of people without an MA degree working in the industry. It's all about finding a way in, which comes with building contacts, and experience in the field.
Hi Ben, Thanks so much for making this video. I've just come across it now.
I was wondering what you would advise in terms of getting placement/shadowing experience? Who to contact and how to contact them? Would you ever be in a position to have someone shadow?
Hi Tom, To be honest it's really tricky. Most of my work is abroad, so you can't really have someone along to "shadow" - I think insurance is a big problem too for people not working for the production.
Your best bet is to try and work as an assistant (or runner) on a shoot.
First put together a short showreel first (3 mins max). That is a reason to reach out to someone and shows you're serious. Then reach out to people in the industry. You can find lists of names in the credits at the end of your favourite shows. Tell them you liked the film they made!
Most camera people don't take on their own assistants, so it's usually producers and SPs that are in charge of crewing their shoots. But it never hurts to reach out to wildlife cinematographers too. You never know what they might be working on!
Springwatch is also a great place to work as they have lots of junior roles and you get to know lots of people very quickly.
Good luck!
@@BenTutton Hi Ben, Thank you so much for such an in depth reply. There are so few people talking about this online, it is so heartening to hear you talk about your route in.
I have a second question for ya...
I spent most of the summer sat in a ditch and pooping in a bag whilst filming kingfishers. haha. I am currently in the process of editing my story together into a 15 minute.. ish, film about their struggle to raise a family in one of the hottest summers UK on record. Once it's ready and ready to go... how do I go about entering film festivals like you did with your macaques, and which film festival should I consider?
Hey Tom, I’m not sure really. It’s a while since I did anything with festivals.
There are quite a few now, so I’d just do a quick search and pick a few that you’d like to be a part of and enter! 🤷♂️ Sorry I can’t really be more helpful than that!
I can't stop thinking of how much you sound like Sacha Baron Cohen lol
😂
Hi Ben I'm Neo from South Africa. I am a cinematographer & I enjoy your videos very much. I came across your channel as I was looking up the Canon 50-1000. I own the lens & Sony FX9 so I'm really interested in starting wildlife films.
I'm going to try to contact you directly Ben. Please be on the lookout for an email. I'd really appreciate your help figuring out how to work with BBC & distributors like that.
It's a great setup you've got there Neo. Happy to help out where possible.