Trevor Almeida's Film, Secrets of the Kimberley, Winner of the 2018
Best Ecosystem Film
Trevor Almeida is the son of
Alfreida (Class of 55) and Bona Almeida (ex Nairobi), Melbourne, Australia
Abstract: Scientists and
artists attempt to explore the isolated Kimberley marine region through some
innovative photographic techniques and randomly discover a new natural world.
The Kimberley is one of the most ecologically diverse areas of the world. Its
marine ecosystems are amongst the world’s most pristine. At 424500 square
kilometres, the Kimberley is bigger than Italy or Germany and it has over 3000
uninhabited islands. This documentary takes you on an expedition into this
remote region with a team made up of an artist and scientists. What they find
redefines their values and how they view the natural world. It showcases one of
the last great wilderness areas through incredible wildlife-great and small.
Trevor has been producing
films, video and interactive media for several 20 years. He is committed to
films on the Environment and has produced over 15 films covering subjects from
Climate to Biodiscovery. His recent documentary commissions include “The
Secrets Of the Kimberley, Western Australia’s Ocean Environment, and CO2 and
our Coral Reefs. In 2010 his independent film My Home the Block was selected
for the F4 program at the Australian International Documentary Conference and
has been broadcast national. His latest work on the Kimberley has had
theatrical screenings through festivals such as the Environmental Film Festival
Melbourne and has been invited to festivals internationally. In the past he
worked as an editor for 100meter films in Japan on the award winning feature
film Firefly Dreams.
He currently runs Geonewmedia, a production company focusing on sharing
science and environment communication through the power of online video. In his
spare time he runs small events for the Melbourne Sustainability Professionals
and TEDxStKilda.
FAQ of
Trevor Almeida during the making of Secrets Of The Kimberley.
How did the Secrets of the
Kimberley come about and how was it financed?
What motivated you to make this film.
What did you discover from the experience of
shooting the film
What were the challenges in making such a film
How did you manage safety
Reviews-The Secrets of the Kimberley
Production stills.
THE
SECRETS OF THE KIMBERLEY
Making the invisible Visible
Synopsis 1
Scientists and artists attempt to
explore the isolated Kimberley marine region through some innovative
photographic techniques and randomly discover a new natural world.
The Kimberley is one of the most ecologically diverse areas of the world.
Its marine ecosystems are amongst the world's most pristine. At 424500 square
kilometres the Kimberley is bigger than Italy or Germany and it has over 3000
uninhabited islands.
This documentary takes you on an expedition into this remote region with
a team made up of an artist and scientists. What they find redefines their
values and how they view the natural world. It showcases one of the last great
wilderness areas through incredible wildlife-great and small.
Synopsis
2
On board the “Olivia J” under the command of a veteran fisherman a group
of scientists and a photographer embark on a journey into one of Australia's
least explored marine frontiers-The Kimberley. What they find redefines their
values and how they view the natural world. It showcases one of the last great
wilderness areas through incredible wildlife-great and small.
This is a look at a wild space from an angle rarely seen. The Kimberley
is a place lost in time. No towns, no roads, no people. At times it has a
chilling sense of loneliness and silence. A world without humans. In a strange
paradox, if you look, it is teaming with life. All you need to do is get there
and wait. From the mighty blow of a giant humpback whale to the crackles of
armies of micro crabs feeding, this is a showcase of life great and small.This
film highlights the rare species in this region through some amazing
photography and describes the marine science being undertaken to improve our
understanding of this incredible part of Western Australia.
Tags
Kimberley, Western Australia, Wildlife, Marine Science, Photography,
Anthropomorphic, expeditions adventure, corals discovery channel, NGC, National
Geographic, Geo, Nature, Wildlife photography, Humpback Whales, Whales calf,
whale birthing waters, coral reefs, discovery, hyperspectral surveys,
geonewmedia. Palace, Environmental Film Festival Melbourne, EFFM, Trevor
Almeida.
Biography
Trevor Almeida-Producer
Trevor has been producing films, video and interactive media for over 18
years. His past documentary commissions include Western Australia’s Marine
Environment, Carbon Dioxide and Our Coral Reefs. In 2010 his independent film
My Home the Block was selected for the F4 program at the AIDC and has screened
on the cable network through NITV. He
worked as an editor for 100meter films
in Japan on their award winning feature film Firefly Dreams. He currently runs
Geonewmedia, a production company focusing on science, innovation and
technology digital media.
FAQ of
Trevor Almeida during the making of Secrets Of The Kimberley.
How did the Secrets of the
Kimberley come about and how was it financed?
This is not
the kind of film we at Geonewmedia usually make.
We usually make environmental films, training films, business profiles
promoting science, environment and innovation. We usually work with scientists,
Indigenous communities and sustainability industries to promote their vision or
products.
The Secrets of The Kimberley however was basically an independent
production unsupported by any government funds or industry yet we realise it is
a privilege to visit this country and make this film. The expedition and film
was funded by research, a private investor and Geonewmedia. Our challenge was
to reveal the values of The Kimberley Marine Region - in Art , Science and
Indigenous Knowledge.
What motivated you to make this film.
I was born in Kenya and as a child loved watching wild animals in their
natural environment. But when I got to the Kimberley I was totally moved with
how remote and vast this region is. As we flew over we literally saw the road end.
Scientists believe the Kimberley is one of the most ecologically diverse
areas of the world and its marine ecosystems are amongst the world’s most
pristine. Surveys of a mere 3 islands have recorded 280 species of coral.
We have only just begun to understand its true value. I just wanted to
bring this amazing region to people who cannot afford to reach it .
What did you discover from the experience of
shooting the film
It still
gives me shivers!
Shooting this film in the Kimberley made me realise that a lot of
Australians will never experience the unique and outstanding wildlife they have
in their own back yard.
Unfortunately the Kimberley is " out of reach " for most of us.
This means out of sight, out of mind and that it a real shame. Getting to the
Kimberley is only available to a privileged few.
It can cost us $10000 just to get on a special vessel to take you there.
There are no roads, the nearest air strip is on a private mine site. You need a special vessel and an
experienced captain to navigate there through the unsurveyed waters and giant
tides. This is indigenous country and remains one of the planets most
uninhabited regions.
I was lucky to spend some time there while on the Olivia J. What we found
was a unique wild world of creatures great and small.
What were the challenges in making such a film
Actually you need to be always
ready when making an expedition documentary.
The biggest challenge was the giant tides. Because there vary so
dramatically twice a day up to 12 meters it made getting in and out of reefs
precarious and dangerous. As a result the schedule of the scientists would
change all the time and we would need to re plan our sequences on the fly.
Several time we would set up our time lapse cameras or shots and we would need
to escape on short notice because of ruff weather or the tide was approaching
too fast. A lot of the areas are unsurveyed so we had no maps to help us.
Generally the camera crew had to be up before light and end after dusk so there
was no time for sleep. We did most of our preparation in the afternoon when the
sun was too hot for photography.
How did you manage safety
Thank goodness we had no heroes. Safety came first because if you had an
accident it would be a nightmare. Helicopter would be the only viable rescue
and that would take time. The rocks faces are jagged and sharp, so it would be
easy to slip and slice your self. That said we did have some injuries. The
second camera twisted his leg but thankfully nothing serious.
Reviews-The Secrets of the Kimberley
“ Amazing
extremely well done.. very emotive” S Jackson- Innate Ecology. “Really
powerful. I was moved by it! ” S Young.
“The
confluence of art and science looking at an issue as important as the
Kimberley….a brilliant piece of work” - R Wyatt-Think Impact.
“I loved the
photography. The interplay of science and photography…Skillfully told story.” C
Tafford -Alpha Green.
“People have to see it . The
Kimberley is awesome!” A Foran -Hagar Australia.
Production stills.
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