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GREAT BEAR RAINFOREST (1999)FORMAT: Digital (DV) Location: British Columbia, Canada This made-for-television documentary examines one of the last surviving temperate rainforests on the planet, and the ongoing destruction by the logging industry. There is a special focus on an extremely rare species known as the Spirit Bear, which is more rare than the Chinese Panda. I have traveled pretty widely during the course of my filmmaking career, including many remote and exotic places. The Great Bear Rainforest is most definitely one of the very special places on the planet. Just absorbing the atmosphere of this place is a spiritual experience in itself. The whole crew was quickly intoxicated with the special magic of this paradise. The bonds to each other, and the place itself, seemed much stronger than usual. The bountiful wildlife was truly "wild" in a sense we rarely experience these days. Much of the wildlife has not been forced to adapt to the overwhelming presence of human activity. Or not yet. On the more technical front, dirty and spotty lenses was an ongoing problem for us on this shoot. Because the image "target" is so small with mini-DV camcorders (often one third of an inch), the depth of field is extraordinarily wide. This means the surface of filters used in front of the lens is virtually in focus, especially for wide-angle shooting. Shooting on or near water in salt-air conditions, means filters are often dirty again almost immediately after cleaning them. This phenomenon is something to be aware of for any sort of mini-DV production. It is a fundamental characteristic of the format. Constant cleaning and care seems to be the only solution.
Peter Gray
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