Sensational footage OR environmental sensitivity

[leahb]

Hey!
Just a quick question here. I work for a company called Earth-Touch (Earth-Touch.com) where all the content producers are committed to making entertaining and educational wildlife films in ways that are environmentally and ethically sound.

The HD footage is not sensationalized, the subjects are not antagonized…the mission is simple, to celebrate truth and the beauty of nature, and bring these images to the public.

Capturing this level of quality footage, while maintaining this ethical code, takes an enormous amount of time, patience and humility. But sadly, what do people actually want to see?

It seems that they want to see great white sharks bearing all their teeth, attacking seals, or fiercely gnawing at a divers cage. Many wildlife producers film these sharks after they have been baited for hours...and yes admittedly it does produce some sensational footage.

Bearing all this in mind, let me return to the title of this message, what is better: amazing, sensational footage or respecting the truth and the beauty of nature...as it happens, in the patient time in which it unfolds?

LeahB

[Corey]

Educational footage should be the sole purpose. Its the greed that gets in the way. the shark attack for example brings money. thus they show it for majority of people do it for the money. the key is we need to realigned our ethic and morals and that profit should only be second or last to truth or education. Everybody profits indirectly from a better educated society. its a mater of putting the good of everybody over the good of less than 1%.

go for the educational value its morally and ethically right. Just don't expect to profit directly or right away from it.

[Karl]

Originally Posted by leahb

Hey!
Just a quick question here. I work for a company called Earth-Touch (Earth-Touch.com) where all the content producers are committed to making entertaining and educational wildlife films in ways that are environmentally and ethically sound.

The HD footage is not sensationalized, the subjects are not antagonized…the mission is simple, to celebrate truth and the beauty of nature, and bring these images to the public.

Capturing this level of quality footage, while maintaining this ethical code, takes an enormous amount of time, patience and humility. But sadly, what do people actually want to see?

It seems that they want to see great white sharks bearing all their teeth, attacking seals, or fiercely gnawing at a divers cage. Many wildlife producers film these sharks after they have been baited for hours...and yes admittedly it does produce some sensational footage.

Bearing all this in mind, let me return to the title of this message, what is better: amazing, sensational footage or respecting the truth and the beauty of nature...as it happens, in the patient time in which it unfolds?

LeahB

It is difficult to say whether "sensational footage" or "environmental sensitivity" is better. These things would depend on the subjective preferences of the viewer.

However, in my opinion the type of footage presented on your website is preferable from the perspective of environmental / ecological ethics- in that it is minimal impact and likely to appeal to a wider audience (without the need for viewer warnings, age restrictions, etc.), therefore it will not appeal to the same type or number viewers as the "shark attacks" but to a more diverse and probably more "sustainable" market . Another positive thing is that they are generally allowing the natural environment to promote itself, without the "moralizing" commentary that usually accompanies the footage.

Of course, I have not watched all the video clips on the site, but from what I have seen:

PS: the meerkats seem to be very popular: Meerkats huddle in the cold
One of my personal favorites is the mudskippers in the mangroves: Fish out of water

[natureguy]

Yeah leahb... Good job.

I too suggest you to stick to ethics. Profit is what everyone is trying to make. While entertainment gives quick return, there are people who like to watch your kind of stuff too.

Just right connections are needed. Try to make them and there you go on the profitable highway.

Remember one thing: KEEP IT UP.