Gala Exhibition & Video Screening for BirdLife International Gala at National Gallery Singapore
by Tim Plowden, 18 December 2018
Wildlife Conservation Video Assignment
I was recently given a month to deliver a video for BirdLife International about their work to save the critically endangered Helmeted Hornbill. It is a truly magnificent bird that I’ve had the privilege of seeing in the ancient rainforests of Southern Thailand. Tragically this unique hornbill is being hunted to extinction in Indonesia and traded illegally to supply demand in China, where its solid casque is intricately carved and sold as a luxury ornament.
I was commissioned to write a script and storyboard, film, as well as hire creative talent for post-production. I proposed filming close-up footage of the visually arresting bird to capture the attention of the audience who more than likely would never have heard of the species, let alone seen one.
As time and resources were limited I suggested filming a bird in captivity, as it would take weeks if not months of field work to get close-ups of a wild Helmeted Hornbill who spend most of their time in the heady heights of the rainforest canopy.
So I traveled to Penang Bird Park to film the only Helmeted Hornbill in captivity. The 5 year old male was rescued as a chick by the logging company that felled the tree holding its nest. Not only is poaching a very real threat to the future of the hornbill, but extensive deforestation in the region is making the problem worse. The rescued hornbill is now kept in a wire fence enclosure and up until getting to the Bird Park, I didn’t know if I would be able to get the natural shots the client was after.
I am sincerely grateful for the help of Penang Bird Park who allowed me behind the scenes access to capture exclusive footage. It was only after inspecting me thoroughly from above the narrow passage the keepers use, did the bird become accustomed to me. Within half an hour he relaxed and started posing for the camera. I was profoundly touched by the experience of observing this clearly intelligent and charismatic bird up close. Despite its primordial appearance giving it the look of a living fossil, its long eyelashes covered deep amber eyes that were warm and soulful. It was hard not to feel an emotional connection, particularly when you are aware of the extinction crisis facing the species.
National Gallery Singapore Gala Screening
The first of the videos for BirdLife was screened at their fundraising gala in the prestigious setting of the city state’s largest museum, National Gallery Singapore.
In the build up to the event the pressure was on to produce a video that would encourage potential donors to give generously to BirdLife. Our approach was to highlight the critical work being done to save one of the region’s most iconic birds. This meant being fully collaborative with the BirdLife team to allow them to get their message across in the most effective way possible.
I relied on two trusted creative professionals I’d worked with before. Narrator, Ian Russell, delivered an outstanding reading of the script. Both the emotional nuances of his voice over and the professional recording were two of the highlights of the gala screening for me. The other highlights were the motion graphics created by Olena Trushina’s team at VideoNova in Ukraine. I thoroughly enjoyed working with both and I am looking forward to collaborating with them in the future.
Fundraising Exhibition of Southeast Asian Wildlife Photography
BirdLife asked me if I would like to contribute some images to a photography exhibition being curated by Leica for the gala. The unifying theme I chose for my images was the fantastical array of wildlife that inhabits the forests of Southeast Asia.
I tried to include images that would evoke curiosity, whether that is showing fascinating behaviour or a candid portrait. Leica printed and organised the prints beautifully. It was a delight to see my little corner attract a steady throng of admirers.
I would like to extend my gratitude to guest of honour, Desmond Lee, Minister for Social and Family Development, for buying one of my prints. Priced at SGD 750, I donated 100% of the proceeds from the photo sale to BirdLife International.
My 2 year old daughter was excited to see the exhibition and thanks to BirdLife for giving her a preview. She has grown up with hornbills as her backyard birds. It was a special moment to see her jumping for joy while surrounded by her Daddy’s work.
It was a dream come true to contribute images for the exhibition at National Gallery Singapore. It was a pleasure to work with BirdLife for the video production. Watch out for the social media version coming soon. It has been an honour to help raise awareness about the work being done by a wide range of organisations to save the Helmeted Hornbill from extinction.
