"Bringing diverse experiences and points of view to problems raises the odds of success. Without diverse views we pay an opportunity cost, a cost in conservation not tried, in constraints not understood, in experiments not invented."
E.O. Wilson
The Rwandan Wildlife Filmmakers have embarked on a one-hour documentary about the historic ranger exchange between the US National Park Service and African Parks. They spent a week in August , 2024, in Nyungwe with trail supervisor, Alcene Musigwa, before he departed for the Great Smoky Mountains NP in the US.
Tea fields outside of Nyungwe National Park.
David McGowan, Ravenswood Media, and Greg Bakunzi, Red Rocks Initiative, have teamed up to provide wildlife filmmaking skills to the next generation of Rwandan conservationists.
8 highly motivated and sharp Rwandans showed up to learn basic filmmaking skills. They were able to produce their first film, One Health Rwanda, by the end of the class. They are the future of conservation.
Our goal is to provide a basic filmmaking course for rangers, trackers, and guides. They are the ones who are closest to wildlife and understand the challenges for its future. Their voices need to be heard to produce effective solutions for wildlife worldwide.
conversations on the future of learning
Silver Lining for Learning (SLL) is an ongoing conversation on the future of learning with educators, education leaders, innovators, and learners from across the globe. Hosted by Chris Dede, Curt Bonk, Punya Mishra & Yong Zhao.
The Kigali Film Festival runs September 13-15, 2024. McGowan was invited to act as a submissions judge. He saw six incredible documentaries on a variety of topics; the giant land snails of São Tomé, the struggles the of post-genocide generation of Rwanda, the grim legacy of the "disappeared" in South Africa, the risks of tourism based economy in Senegal, the importance of language in cultural identity, and the challenges of overcoming a disability in Siera Leone. McGowan participated in a live stream with the festival contributors:
McGowan returned to Red Rocks for the month of September, 2023. Excellent group of new students. We explored the topic of traditional healers and medicinal plants. This year, the film is entirely narrated in Kinyarwanda with English subtitles.
Planet Birdsong is a British NGO that provides bird sound recording devices and reaches Rwandan citizen scientists how to contribute to the global database of bird calls. We were fortunate to collaborate with them on a film.
Consider donating your previous camera, lenses, tripod, etc to the Rwanda wildlife filmmaking class. Rather than taking up space in your closet, let your used equipment be of use capturing the incredible biodiversity of East Africa!
Contact mcgowan@ravenswoodmedia.com
From Appalachia to Indonesia, traditional healers play an essential role in the physical, mental, and spiritual health of a community. Verediyana is a traditional healer in Rwanda. She collects herbs in the forest to treat local people who suffer maladies beyond the reach of Western medicine. The Rwanda Wildlife Filmmaking team chose to produce a film about Verediyana because they believe plants are wildlife, too.
The Rwanda Wildlife Filmmakers team produced a film on how community based tourism assists women in the villages adjacent to national parks. Red Rocks Initiative is based outside of the Volcanoes National Park and provides local women with a tourist based market for their handicrafts. Roger Irakoze adds to his stellar portfolio by directing and editing the film. He was assisted by fellow Rwanda Wildlife Filmmakers; Serge Musasa, Fred Mutayoba, and Protais Mutabazi.
Clay is an essential commodity in Rwandan communities. Rwandan Wildlife Filmmaking alum, Roger Irakoze, has crafted a beautiful portrait of potter, Damaris Mukasirive. She explains the importance of clay to her community in the village of Nkotsi and how she came to be a potter.
Activist Leonard IYAMUREMYE asks participants about their views on climate change action at COP-28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Leonard learned filmmaking at the Rwanda Wildlife Filmmaking course at Red Rocks Initiative in Musanze, Rwanda.bird call recording. The data gathered will contribute to the science of ornithology and conservation in Rwanda.
Rwanda Wildlife Filmmakers (www.rwandawildlifefilmmaking.com) have partnered with Planet Birdsong (www.planetbirdsong.org) to produce a film about training Rwandan birders on bird call recording. The data gathered will contribute to the science of ornithology and conservation in Rwanda.
The campaign is still alive and the students are working on their next film. Go to IndieGoGo and donate.
The Rwanda Wildlife Filmmaking class has led to the first paying gig for one of the students. Roger Irakoze produced a short industrial film for Camosag Quarry. It's not a wildlife film but this demonstrates that the filmmaking skills learned at Red Rocks can be used to generate income for the wildlife filmmaker. The class is an asset for Rwandan conservation and the economy.
They used their new skills to produce a film that not only highlights Rwanda's stunning wildlife but also addresses the critical issue of planetary health.
Rwandan birder, Joseph Lioneau, describes the incredible birding opportunities in Rwanda.
Let us know if the filmmaking course can fulfill your institution's goals.
NR 14 Nyakinama road, Rwanda
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Rwandan Wildlife Filmmaking Course
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