VAUGHAN on 2008-07-27
Ah my great goodness! A spot where I can FINALY air my grief on a certain AUSTEN fella from namibia, doing a show (aired on our nat.geo)called the DEADLY SEVEN... Anyone not fimiliar with african reptiles, PLEASE...Don't let such attention freaks put you off! Never mind the fact that he gets bitten TWICE, (something I wouldn't be proud of, considering BOTH bites were through mishandling of the snakes) but through the vine swinging, cobra taunting manner I battled to notice any sort of experiance and knowledge more than what the average South African amateur knows about our snakes... some examples include stating the rinkals (H.hemachatus) as being the most deadliest african spitter, when in actual fact even the mozambique spitting cobra (naja mozambica) is nearly twice as aggressive, and has just as mean toxon, nevermind the black necked spitting or even the red spitting cobra.... A super docile "wild" mamba, a pleasantly quiet and calm boomslang, both sp. that are famous for being super charged when first caught (plus one just cannot PICK a boomslang out of a tree)... I realy did get the feeling that this guy is making a show using nothing more than the seven venomous snakes straight out his collection, all possibly used to tank AND human conditions.... maybe its just me reading to deeply into these programs but realy... anyone got a film crew? I got way more than 7 african hots, and its not THAT hard to swing from a vine "chasing" after a well fed gaboon!! the level of "documentry" films is on a downward spiral= according to me...
northsouth on 2008-02-06
CASTING WILDLIFE EXPERT TO HOST NEW TV SERIES
Hello!
NorthSouth Productions is seeking an experienced WILDLIFE EXPERT to host a new documentary-style TV series about deadly animals for a national cable network. Want an outdoorsy adventurer, with education and field experience with dangerous animals. Male, 30-50. Charismatic, attractive, smart, communicative, who's not afraid to get his hands dirty...or be up close and personal with deadly animals in the wild. The host is the expert so must be able to communicate his expertise in an engaging way.
If you are up to the challenge or know anyone else who might be, please email your photo and bio to amy@northsouth.tv by Monday, February 11th, 2008 to be considered. No phone calls please. We will be in touch.
Thank you,
Tay McEvers
NorthSouth Productions
FSB on 2008-01-25
I thought their documentary "The Deadly Vipers" was fantastic. To my surprise, it opened with, and continued to feature throughout, a beautiful yellow-phase timber rattlesnake, out of all the world's possible vipers. The opening could have been filmed on our farm here in Virginia.
However, though the content of the program was excellent, I really wish they could knock it off with all the over-done, melodramatic horror-movie music every time you see a snake. It's funny, because the narrator is actually saying all of these positive things about the snakes, but the soundtrack keeps trying to monstrify them, in the typical tradition of snakes on film.
I also find it odd that while snakes are often shown striking at prey, they are never shown actually biting or eating anything. Is the sight of a snake performing its natural function just too horrible for viewer sensibilities? They never have a problem showing other predators, say lions, birds or even crocodiles killing their prey... (especially if the prey is a snake!!).
I think that the production values of even very good documentaries still have an annoying tendency to depict snakes as ominous and threatening monsters, thus reinforcing rather than helping dispel peoples' fears.
By the way, I found an EXCELLENT documentary in the .99 cent DVD's (believe it or not) at Wal-de-Mort. It's called "Deadly Down Under" and has some excellent footage of Australian elapids (shown envenomating and devouring prey!) as well as some other venomous creatures from Australia.
armata on 2008-01-20
Yes, I think things will go full circle, the BBC programme 'Life in Cold Blood' will be worth watching.
I think some of us try to work on a formula that would work for the masses with regard style and format of nature documentaries.
Still thinking........................
AquaHerp on 2008-01-13
I would love to see the trend go back towards documentary style programming. Things have a way of coming full circle eventually.
DH
KingCobraFan on 2008-01-13
armata, I used to watch O'Shea's shows religiously. Utterly ridiculous they're no longer aired. Not enough vine-swinging or fake gasping, I suppose.
armata on 2008-01-13
I was a natural history film-maker for many years - sadly such 'blue chip' movies (non-presenter) are now a rarity. The fashion is for a programme to be presenter led, and more recently the trend is for the presenter to be under 30yrs of age.
So much for experience. But, was talking to Mark O'Shea the other day, and we both agree things have got to change.
(plus of course Mark is not under 30), bless him, but he has the experience and knowledge.
COBRAEYES666 on 2008-01-11
WHERE CAN I WATCH THEM THOUGH ONLINE,THEY'RE FUN TO VIEWING,
boomslangandrew on 2008-01-10
i have relied on national geographic snake documentaries to get all my snake knowlage besides books and the internet national geographic have learnt me alot about snakes
SCatheris on 2008-01-07
I agree with KingCobraFan I love watchin those too.
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