ALEX HARRISON
DAVID BOOTH
KATIA BOULTON
PHILL DIXON
“I came to Wild Island Film school with a background in filming and photographing wildlife for a number of years and technical knowledge of cameras and kit. What I was looking for was a course that would improve my narrative and boy did I choose the right course. I realised within the first few hours of meeting S-J that I was a clip taker who made them into films, while I left this course someone who created wildlife stories and made them into films. It was a revelation and the film I made on this course was a million times better than the one I would have made.
S-J is unflappable, inspirational, encouraging and insightful, willing to offer advice and share her knowledge built up from years working in industry. She won’t dismiss an idea but she will get you to think about not only how it will be accomplished on the technical level, but also how the audience would react and how it furthers your story, not just the fact it makes a lovely shot on paper.
There is also an emphasis on fieldcraft, not disturbing the wildlife and on honesty and authenticity with the viewer, all of which fit perfectly with anyone wanting to get the best out of wildlife filmmaking and ethically produce something.
I think the best summary of the course would be seeing how excited S-J is to see you succeed and grow as the days roll on and footage and ideas flowed. She genuinely wants to see people do well and puts her heart and soul into making sure you learn and enjoy learning.
I cannot thank S-J enough for the effort and help she provided over the days and can thoroughly recommend this course to anyone.”
kate williams
“The three days I spent on Mull with Wild Island Film School were a lot of fun and really transformative for me. In a short space of time I learnt so much about wildlife film making, but even more valuable was what I learnt about myself.
S-J was always very supportive, offering ideas and asking important questions when I needed them most.
S-J has a gift for anticipating needs and overcoming challenges, making her a great mentor, guide and host. I highly recommend anyone taking this course – especially if you are looking to pursue a career in wildlife film and TV, like I am!”
AMY HILL
“I had such a profound experience meeting S-J and doing this course on the Isle of Mull. It has given me a new found confidence to be the artist that I am, and has inspired me to create with authenticity and simplicity. I felt so seen and heard throughout the course and I cannot recommend it enough. It has opened my eyes to the possibilities of what I can do if I put my mind to something, so I thank you S-J and the Wild Island Film course for existing.”
Megan Stone
“Honestly, thank you so much for everything that day when I went out with you! I can honestly say it’s totally changed my perspective and made me appreciate the beauty in slowing things down, and wildlife filmmaking does just that. I absolutely loved it!”
ROBERT DENNET-THORPE
“All I can say to you is thank you……. thank you a thousand times over. Spending time with you, making this film has been such an education for me.
The physical ‘work’, to go to locations carrying masses of equipment, to indulge in my passion, well, I don’t class that as work. The best part of my time with you however, was the mental aspect of the course. The questioning, the quizzing, about how, where, why, when, if, but…. Getting the brain in use, to have the answers before the questions were asked, to be able to start to think like a filmmaker, a storyteller. That was the hardest but most fulfilling part of my time with you.
All coupled with the fact of such great locations, great food, great wildlife, great surroundings. And lets not forget, great company!!
I have loved every minute of it. I shall never forget the time I spent in Mull on the course.”
ROD MACDONALD
“Building my knowledge and skill over the last 3 years, I mainly concentrated on photography. As I became more comfortable with my camera, I seemed to reach the point of exploring the filming side more, and loved it but felt I needed some help. Youtube only takes you so far! When deciding on my next steps, I came across the film school on Mull on an internet search. I couldn’t believe that I had found what seemed to be exactly what I was looking for. A one to one, wildlife filmmaking course that offered exactly what I was looking for with the advantage of being on Mull which could potentially offer some amazing wildlife in spectacular, dramatic surroundings. Perfect.. so I booked!
As I was really interested in the art of the filmmaking aspects over a specific subject animal for this purpose, my first concepts were connecting with Eagles and Otters as it seemed there was a good chance of filming them on Mull.
As S-J and I started communicating, first by email and then laterally face to face at the start of the course, my story line developed but after talking about my life and experiences and my connections with the Buzzard, a very different story began to emerge. The story of my my connection with the buzzard and the importance of my connection with nature.
I was very reluctant at first, as a film involving me was very much out of my comfort zone, but the more we discussed it, the more it became clear that, in my case, that was the real story that needed telling.
S-J has an incredibly intuitive, empathetic gift to enable and encourage you to develop a story that has structure and meaning that allows an audience to engage with the film, which, I think, is the essence of the art of filmmaking. There was never any pressure, just encouragement to explore the direction a story could take.
Once the final story was set, It couldn’t have worked out any better. The weather was fantastic and we managed to find some great locations for Buzzards, even a nest area and we were in disbelief when I managed to capture photographs of a pair of buzzards mating on a ledge while we were scouting for locations. Sadly, I wasn’t ready in time to film them. Over the 3 days I had some amazing encounters with buzzards. At one point I had 6 overhead and struggled to keep up. I also filmed Golden eagles and amazingly, a raven trying to pluck a feather from a white tailed Eagle’s tail. But it was the Buzzards that meant the most to me.
Creating the story was only part of what the course has to offer, there are so many components to the process of wildlife filmmaking that I hadn’t fully considered. The importance of sound, and capturing ambient sounds. The skills of fieldcraft and scouting for locations. Making a shooting schedule to being able to actually capture the footage you want. Developing my patience in waiting for subjects to appear! How to go about filming when it does, and how not to, so as not to disturb the animals. S-J’s ability to share this knowledge so well are a testament to her skill and experience.
On top of all of that, but no means least, the cottage accommodation was full of character and charm and along with S-J’s great cooking (after a long day for her too) and ability to put you at ease, it felt like home. I was sad to leave.
The amount I learnt in 3 days now seems impossible to have squeezed into such a short timeframe, not to mention what I learned about myself in addition that. The whole experience for me has been nothing short of transformational. I have so much gratitude to my old friend the Buzzard, and to my new friend S-J for enabling that journey, thank you.
The course has given me a whole new perspective on how to capture and share my connection with nature. I can’t wait to see where it will lead me. I couldn’t have wished for more.”