Showcase - Graduate Profiles
Stephen Baker
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| Steve Baker |
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Class of 2001
Background
: BSc Zoology
Current Position:
Director, Prime TV's
United Travel Getaway.
I was part of the inaugural class of 2001 and have to say had one of the best years of my life, certainly the best academic year of my life! Maybe it was something to do with being a mature student! I made fantastic friends in fellow students and teaching staff, came away with new skills in camera work, and learnt the art of story telling all in 1 year!
I returned to Auckland looking for more camera opportunities and greater experience and I pretty much walked straight into the role of camera/director for a new reality show, 'Police 10-7'. Two years, umpteen Friday nights and countless criminals later I moved onto more reality shows such as 'Border Patrol', 'Coastwatch', 'Renters', 'NZ Idol II', 'Summer Camp U.S.A' and 'S.C.U' (Serious Crash Unit) to name a few! All shooting as well as directing.
The role of a cameraman who can direct him or herself is becoming very popular amongst productions on limited budgets. It's a role I have thoroughly enjoyed and have felt confident and comfortable doing with the skills I know I picked up whilst studying in the Postgraduate Diploma in Natural History Filmmaking and Communication.
All this experience paid off when in June of 2004 I landed my dream job of Field Director/Camera for United Travel 'Getaway' on Prime TV. I get to travel the world, stay in swanky hotels, eat gorgeous food and see amazing sights... All whilst being paid!
Claudia Babirat
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| Claudia Babirat |
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Class of 2004
Claudia Babirat completed the NHFC postgraduate diploma in 2004, and went on to do her Masters in Natural History Filmmaking in 2006/2007. As well as producing two documentaries (Calici: A Rural Conspiracy [2007], WildSouth International Film Festival, DOCNZ Film Festival, TVNZ broadcast pending; Porker Stalker [2004] 'Best Newcomer' Wild-South International Film Festival, SKY Documentary Channel) and writing a book (The Business of Factual Filmmaking [2007] Longacre Press) as part of Otago University's natural history filmmaking courses, she works as a freelance filmmaker under her production company, Claudia Babirat Productions.
She has operated as a DOP, editor, production assistant, director and producer in the production of television commercials, promotional videos, web clips, segments for children's television (TVNZ), an animated film, drama (Channel 9), and music videos for NZ bands. She has also developed a good relationship with NHNZ, where she has been involved in the production of documentaries for National Geographic and the Discovery Channel.
How has enrolling in the Masters of Natural History and Science Communication at Otago University affected my life? Because of the course, I became a filmmaker. And yes, I would even go as far as saying that I'm well on my way to becoming a successful filmmaker. The course taught me how to make an independent film from start to finish, and with ease I can fill almost any role required (a skill which I've found is very sought-after in the industry). The course also gave me the chance to produce a doco that shows people I have talent, and it provided me with many useful contacts to others in the industry. As a result, I'm now making films as a career.
But the course is so much more than just learning how to make great films: you soon learn that you're not just 'practicing' at becoming a filmmaker, you're already out there 'doing it' - living adventures, seeing the world, and sharing your experiences with others. So, when I think about what the course means to me, I think about chugging up a rugged mountain path on a quad bike that I've just learned how to operate, to then film the glacier-carved valley below. About crawling on my belly, camera in hand, to get closer to a shy, native animal. About campfires at the beach with the other NHFC students, who are from all corners of the globe, extremely talented (just look around this website to see how many awards they've won!), and many of whom are still my closest friends. About being treated like an equal by our teachers who we soon elevate to the status of friend and mentor. And about that immense feeling of pride, nervousness and utter relief when the crowd in a packed theatre laughs in all the right places as your film plays on the big screen. Without hesitation I can say that Otago University's natural history filmmaking course is one of the best things I've done in my life.
Dan Kamien
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| Dan Kamien |
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Class of 2002
Prior to being accepted into the PGDip NHFC in 2002, I was fortunate enough to have lived and worked as a biologist in some remarkable places such as Macquarie Island, Papua New Guinea and north-western Australia. The joy of communicating these experiences through photography piqued my interest in telling stories of others and stories of the natural world, particularly through documentary. All roads lead to Otago University, especially when in search of documentary filmmaking skills. For me, the course was a shiny, new arrow to my quiver.
Soon after completing the filmmaking course, I gained valuable experience assisting in productions in both Tasmania and Papua New Guinea. Since then, however, I have drifted back to biological science and I am currently working at a Western Australian based environmental consultancy. My work involves conducting environmental impact assessments and zoological surveys throughout Western Australia. Don't worry; I'm still enjoying those remarkable places.
Hannah Smith Walker
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| Hannah Smith Walker |
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Class of 2002
Background: BA/BS Photography and Biology
Current Position: Production/Post Coordinator at Sea Studios in Monterey, California.
Hannah hales from land-locked Oklahoma, but sought the ocean as soon as she could. She received her SCUBA certification at the age of fourteen and completed a Woods Hole "Semester at Sea" while still in high school. During this time, she discovered a knack for creating documentaries, and made two science films for the Tulsa Public School System. As an undergraduate she earned degrees in both science and photography.
In 2002, Hannah left for New Zealand to earn a Postgraduate Diploma in Natural History Filmmaking from the University of Otago. There she interned with NHNZ and shot PR stills for a film on sea turtles and tiger sharks, married a Kiwi, and co-created a 30-minute documentary with Kyle Beggs on sea lions that earned a finalist position in the 2004 International Wildlife Film Festival. Later, Hannah and her husband, Mark moved to Montana, so she could pursue a Master's degree in Science and Natural History Filmmaking from Montana State University. In 2006, Hannah took a position at the Sea Studios Foundation, and is currently working on the award-winning series "Strange Days on Planet Earth".
Nicola Vallance
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| Nicola Vallance |
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Class of 2001
Current position: National Media Manager, DOC
Nic Vallance studied the Post-Graduate Diploma in Natural History Filmmaking and Communication in its inaugural year in 2001. After that time Nic worked for Dunedin's local television station, jumped out of an airplane as a presenter for one of NHNZ's films and finally found her feet as a writer/media advisor for the Department of Conservation (DOC) in the Dunedin office.
She worked there for two and a half years, and found the background in natural history writing extremely valuable for the many feature articles she wrote on the region's wildlife for the local papers. She eventually ended up at DOC's head office where she now works as the National Media Manager for DOC.
She has a particular interest in communicating conservation and science to the general public through writing and television. Since the beginning of 2006, she has ;appeared weekly on TVNZ's "Good Morning" show, where she chats about New Zealand's wonderful walks and wildlife. More recently, Nic has been working on an exciting project with TVNZ: a series of four-minute shows called "Meet the Locals" for their new digital channel, called TVNZ 6, which launches in September 2007.
"Meet the Locals" is a look all around New Zealand at our weird and wonderful wildlife and the local communities doing their bit to give our native flora and fauna a chance to thrive. Nic is researching, co-writing and presenting and having an absolute ball as the team travel around NZ and get up close and personal with the locals, whether they be people, plants or animals.
Nic thoroughly enjoyed her time studying Natural History Filmmaking and Communication at the University of Otago because it covered such a broad range of skills, including museum displays, filmmaking, editing, as well as writing shooting scripts and short stories. She reckons its helped her heaps in her work history so far and would recommend the course to anyone interested in natural history and who wants to find a way to communicate their passion to others in a creative and interesting way."
Please visit Nicola's TVNZ Profile.