S.AZ ExPo members aid film crew

[DesertRose]

On December 7-8-9, a group of intrepid Expedition Portal members volunteered their time, skills, and rigs to aid in the filming of pronghorn around the Prescott area.

For a while some of us have talked about becoming a more organized group to use our overland skills to aid conservation, charities, and scientific efforts. So when a conservation associate at the Cincinnati Zoo called me in late November and asked if I knew where they could film pronghorn for a conservation film they were working on, and for some advice on how to get around southern Arizona, I jumped at the chance and put the word out to some of the southern Arizona members.

I was so pleased with the response! FlyinWil (Wil), Goodtimes (Brian), BajaTaco (Chris), and ExpeditionsWest (Scott) all volunteered. BajaTaco, ever the intrepid planner, suggested the 2-meter equipped vehicles act as scouts for finding the best pronghorn to film. The film crew of 3 (1 camerman, 2 producers) were chauferred in style by Scott in his super Trooper. And my vehicle (no 2-meter) was used as a "chase" vehicle.

Within 3 hours of the crew landing at Sky Harbor in Phoenix, we had them filming pronghorn! They could not have been happier.

We enjoyed a great meal at the Palace Bar that evening, then piled out at 5 am the next day to be on site to film the sunrise - Scott and Brian get extra points for being the ones to have to stand outside for 40 minutes in sub-freezing temperatures while the rest of us "scouted" for Starbucks . . .
Saturday's filming was intense but fun - and we got some great shots, including some terrific full-running shots.

We worked until sunset, then Stephanie organized a great BBQ at the Brady House and everyone went to bed happy and exhausted. Film crew flew out the next day.

They are supremely pleased with what we were able to do for them - they said they could not have done it without us.

One of the great outcomes of this type of service work is that it was a "non-traditional" coming together of folks from different walks of life and ideologies - and a chance for those of us in the overlanding community to show our interest in and support for conservation, that we're not all just self-interested 4x4-heads tearing up landscapes willy-nilly.

Many thanks to everyone who participated - look for more projects soon! Overlanding in the service of science, conservation, and charity - what fun!

Here are some photos from the project:

From the back: Roseann Hanson, Kathleen Maynard (producer), Scott Brady, Cathryn Hilker (producer), Chris Marzonie. Photo by Wil Kuhns

Pat (camerman), Cathryn, Kathleen, Wil, Roseann, Scott, Brian, Chris (kneeling)
photo by Scott Brady

photo by Scott Brady

photo by Chris Marzonie

 

[articulate]

:bigbossHL:
That's fantastic. Willy-nilly support and all.

Do you have any idea about the film project? Such as when/where it will be distributed or aired? Is it strictly for something at the Cincinnati Zoo?

 

[DesertRose]

It's a short film, the first for a new budding film company called Ancient Voices. The Zoo will distribute it, but the aim is to start it out in the film festivals (Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival, etc) - and hope it builds interest in larger efforts.

The small company are dedicated to trying a different type of approach to wildlife films, eschewing the Steve Irwin approach to wildlife filming (a hands-on human-centric view) and filming from the animal's perspective.

This little film will be unusual: the story of the cheetah and the pronghorn.
Huh? you say. Cheetahs are in Africa.

Well, they actually evolved here in the Western US and pronghorn were their main prey. After the continents split, the cheetahs went off to Asia Minor, southern Europe, Africa. They went extinct here. But pronhorn did not. They have no natural predators as adults - they are "ghosts of evolution."

This neat film will be an ancient voices story about how cheetah came to be and how pronghorn came to be - it will be done we hope by April.

There will be more films we hope - a great effort.

While not officially with the Zoo, the folks involved all work with the zoo. Cincinnati Zoo is one of the world's best conservation and education zoos, with projects the world over for habitat and species protection.

I'll keep you all posted.

 

[OverlandZJ]

That's outstanding :exclaim: Great job by the AZ EXPO crew.

Anytime you need a group to film squirrels...PM me. I'v got a thousand or so on my property. :xxrotflma

 

[The BN Guy]

If they ever need anyone in Texas let me know. I'd love to help out. Maybe they could do something in Big Bend!

 

[gjackson]

That is very cool! Well done guys.

cheers

 

[DaktariEd]

Great job! :victory:
Very cool info on the Cheetah too...thanks!
:sombrero:
Ed

 

[kcowyo]

One of the great outcomes of this type of service work is that it was a "non-traditional" coming together of folks from different walks of life and ideologies - and a chance for those of us in the overlanding community to show our interest in and support for conservation, that we're not all just self-interested 4x4-heads tearing up landscapes willy-nilly.

Overlanding in the service of science, conservation, and charity - what fun!

Hmmmm..... Very interesting.

It sounds weird to say/type this, but I'm proud of everyone here that was involved with this. Good job folks and thanks Roseann for keeping the rest of us in the loop!

:clapsmile

 

[Desertdude]

how cool is that! Desertrose, thanks for the follow up! ROFSheriffHL:

 

[cshontz]

That is so cool. I call the Amish. :safari-rig:

 

[jeffryscott]

Very cool work everybody. I'd be happy to help if something like this comes up again ...

Jeff

 

[bigreen505]

That is really cool! Thanks to all involved who stepped up to help, and a big :clapsmile to Roseann.

 

[Ursidae69]

:clapsmile :clapsmile

 

[devinsixtyseven]

Excellent! Nice job, all involved.

If any of you happen to be in the area, the Cincy Zoo really is a great place. Check it out around Christmas too, you won't forget it.

The aquarium just over the river in Newport is also one of the best facilities of its kind in America.

-Sean

 

[edgear]

Very cool work everybody. I'd be happy to help if something like this comes up again ...

:iagree: I would love to help out with something like this!

This little film will be unusual: the story of the cheetah and the pronghorn.
Huh? you say. Cheetahs are in Africa.

Well, they actually evolved here in the Western US and pronghorn were their main prey. After the continents split, the cheetahs went off to Asia Minor, southern Europe, Africa. They went extinct here. But pronhorn did not. They have no natural predators as adults - they are "ghosts of evolution."

I remember hearing somewhere that they've found really old remains of cheetahs in w/ fur intact in a cave here in the US (CO? WY? I can't remember). But for thousands of years, the antelope here have had no predators -- except us, of course.

I will definitely be interested in seeing this documentary. Will it be on National Geographic Channel, Discovery Channel, or Animal Planet? Please let us know if you find out!