What inspired you to travel abroad?
I love wildlife documentaries and particularly David Attenborough programs. My dream is to become a documentary filmmaker and work for the BBC. I found the Africa Media program online, and it was the the best, as I wanted to film cool wildlife like lions and elephants, rather than foxes and badgers. That the program was based in South Africa, worked on free range wildlife reserves, and the past films from their students showed me this was a real professional program where I could learn more about becoming a wildlife filmmaker.
Elephant approaching for closeups
Why did you choose Africa Media?
It was based in Africa and I could film African wildlife, The past films looked really great, and thus I knew it was a professional operation The kit that they said we were going to use (cameras, drones, RC cars, audio kit) all looked really professional and what I needed to train on.
What was your favorite part about South Africa?
Schotia Game Reserve; the rangers and instructors really went out of their way to allow the students to collect incredible footage of the wildlife and have incredible encounters.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
Everything was incredible, but it was overall the feeling that I was working and making a genuine wildlife documentary, and experiencing all the things that you would experience as a filmmaker.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
We had two instructors and five students on the program the month I was there. When we were on the reserve we also had an experienced game ranger who was with us all the time. All of them were really committed to ensuring that I had the support I needed.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
Maybe learn more about cameras and filming online before arriving; this would have saved some effort at the beginning of the program getting used to using the programs, cameras, and audio kit. If you are good with the cameras (quickly getting focus, exposure, etc.), then you can ensure you capture footage. I missed some stuff as I was fumbling with controls.
Filming a time lapse of sunsets
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
On the reserve, we lived in the middle surrounded by lions at night. The bush camp had no electricity or internet, so we had fires and talked. In the morning we drove to the saloon to collect our cameras and filming kit (that had charged over night), then we headed off to breakfasts. After breakfasts we headed out into the reserve to film. The instructors would talk to us all about what content we needed and we made a plan on how to collect it. After this we went to the saloon for lunch and to download footage, and check the internet.
Afternoons were again spent filming around the reserve. Much of this was from the bakkie (land rover), but if working on B-roll or animals that were not dangerous we would get down and use tripods, etc. We also used the drones and a remote-controlled car with Go Pros set up on it. In the evening we went back to the saloon to download more footage and then headed off to dinner. Dinner was in a big lapa and had a huge open fire and was awesome. Then back to bushcamp for a fire and sleep.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
Filming the wildlife was the best. I also enjoyed weekend trips to other reserves, shark cage diving, and the farmers’ market. The training and advise form course instructors was great.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
In Mossel Bay, it was a large house with three of us in the dorm. In Schotia Reserve, we were in small cabins in the bush camp. Three in my cabin and no electricity.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
You are treated like a professional and taught that you must be accountable for your footage, cleaning your camera, using a tripod, etc. If you don't, Annie and Ryan will call you on it. Also, the last week of editing is really hard and you go crazy in your head trying to finish your film.
Would you recommend Africa Media to others? Why?
Yes, definitely. You feel you walk away with a really good skill and the confidence to try to get work in the documentary filmmaking industry. It is not like you are on a wildlife holiday, but you are working and dedicated to a mission of producing your film.
Getting ready to film white rhinos
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
It is the nature; where I live is in the city. Seeing the reserves and the wildlife was a dream come true.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
I now want to live and work somewhere close to nature. I don't want to ever work in an office.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
I think in my case, it’s the combination of the excitement of traveling and seeing Africa, with learning awesome skills that I can use for a career. I also think the skills of wildlife filming can play a big role in education and conservation.
