Film-Making


The regulations for filming in a zoo have become much more stringent in the last couple of years, and several permits are involved. These involve permissions and oversight from the Animal Welfare Board, Wildlife Warden and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. The onus of this is on the Producer of the film, and all relevant permissions should be in hand before the Croc Bank can allow a film project to be considered. Foreign filming teams require additional permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs.


FILMS AND VIDEOS BY

ROM WHITAKER & OTHERS AT MCBT

4 Deadliest Snakes of India

16 minutes, 2017
Presenter

A high definition educational video in regional languages on the Big Four venomous snakes of India. Sponsored by Infosys Foundation, Vins and Bharat Serums.


Snakebite

12 minutes, 2017
Presenter

A high definition educational video in regional languages on snakebite first aid for rural people in India. Sponsored by Infosys Foundation, Vins and Bharat Serums.


Snake Rescue—The Right Way

8 minutes, 2018
Presenter

A high definition educational video in regional languages on safe and humane snake rescue. Sponsored by USV Pharmaceuticals.


How to Live with Snakes

9 minutes, 2019
Co-presenter

Co-presenter with Wilbur Sargunaraj.


Irulas, Hunter-Gatherers in the Space Age

English | 18 minutes, 1985
Co-Producer and Director

DU-matic video programme for Oxfam Trust India

Periyar

23 minutes, 1986
Co-Producer and Director

16 mm documentary for Sanctuary Films

Banking on Crocodiles

20 minutes, 1986
Co-Producer and Director

U-matic video programme on crocodile research and conservation

Snakebite!

English and Hindi | 27 minutes, 1986
Co-Producer and Director

16 mm docudrama


Awards: Best Professional Film – 9th Annual International Wildlife Films Festival, Missoula, Montana, USA (1986) Gold Medal – British Medical Association (1987) Golden Eagle – USSR (1987)

A Cooperative for Snake Catchers

English | 20 minutes, 1988
Co-Producer and Director

16 mm documentary on the Irula tribals in Tamil Nadu, India. For CAPART, Government of India


Awards: Best Scientific Film – 35th National Film Festival, India (1988)

Seeds of Hope

Tamil, English, Hindi and Telugu | 23 minutes, 1989
Co-Producer and Director

16 mm documentary on why and how to grow a forest nursery. For Swedish International Development Authority


Award: Best Agricultural Film – 36th National Film Festival, India (1989)

Silent Valley-An Indian Rainforest

English, Malayalam and Tamil | 53 minutes, 1991
Co-Producer

16 mm documentary on one of India’s last rain forests, saved from a hydel project. For Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD)

Rat Wars

English | 26 minutes, 1993
Co-Producer

16 mm documentary on rats – worshiped, killed and eaten in India. For National Geographic Explorer

Treasured Islands

English, Hindi | 1994
Producer

An educational U-matic video film on island ecology. For the Centre for Island Ecology, Andamans.

Keralensis

3 minutes, 1995
Co-Producer and Additional Cameraman

An educational ‘spot’ on rainforest and wildlife


Awards: Best Spot– 1st International Film Festival, Trivandrum, (1995)

King Cobra

English | 53 minutes, 1996
Co-Producer

Super 16 mm documentary on the natural history of the King Cobra, for National Geographic.


Awards: Nominated for Best Cinematography, Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival, 1997 Best Photography Award, Progetto Natura 8th Stambecco d'Oro Nature Film Festival, Turin, 1997 Emmy Award for Outstanding News and Documentary Program Achievement, 1998 Nominated for Best Animal Behaviour, Wildscreen Film Festival, 1998

Spunky Monkey

43 minutes, 1997
Co-Producer

Super 16 mm documentary on Bonnet Macaques that live in a town in south India for National Geographic Explorer

Croc Man

18 minutes, 1998
Presenter

A DVC film on the Madras Crocodile Bank produced by National Geographic Explorer

Croc Crusader

25 minutes, 1999
Presenter

A Digi-Beta film on the Madras Crocodile Bank. Icon Films for BBC.

Thunder Dragon

53 minutes, 1999
Co-Producer and Underwater Cameraman

Super 16 mm documentary on the natural history of the Water Monitor Lizard in Sri Lanka. For National Geographic Explorer

Snake Hunter

53 minutes, 2001
Presenter & Consultant

Super 16 mm documentary on the snakes of North America for National Geographic Explorer


Awards: Golden Panda for Best Presenter-led program, Wildscreen, 2002 Nominated – Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival, 2003

Snake Hunter - Costa Rica

53 minutes, 2001
Presenter & Consultant

Super 16 mm documentary on the snakes of Costa Rica for National Geographic Explorer.

Muggers of Spice Island

53 minutes, 2001
Co-Producer, Presenter and U/W Cameraman

Super 16 mm documentary on the natural history of Mugger crocodiles in Sri Lanka. For National Geographic Explorer.

Croc Chronicles – Sri Lanka

26 minutes, 2002
Co-Presenter & Consultant

The burrowing behaviour of Mugger crocodiles in Sri Lanka with Brady Barr. For National Geographic Channel.

Snake Wranglers – Venom Harvest

26 minutes, 2002
Presenter & Consultant

A video documentary on the Irula Snake Catchers’ Cooperative Society. For National Geographic Channel.

Croc Chronicles – Papua New Guinea

26 minutes, 2003
Co-Presenter & Consultant

A show on the New Guinea Freshwater Crocodile with Brady Barr. For National Geographic Channel.

The King Cobra and I

48 minutes, 2005
Presenter & Consultant

A high definition video documentary on Rom Whitaker’s work with the king cobra in the Western Ghats of southern India. Icon Films for BBC Natural World.

Supersize Crocodiles

52 minutes, 2006
Presenter & Consultant

A high definition video documentary on Rom Whitaker’s worldwide quest for giant crocodiles. Icon Films for WNET and Nat Geo Channels.

Romulus Whitaker and the Dragon Chronicles

52 minutes, 2008
Presenter and Consultant

A high definition video documentary on the myths and realities of dragons. Icon Films for WNET and National Geographic Channels.

Crocodile Blues

52 minutes, 2008
Presenter and Consultant

A high definition video documentary on the mixed fortunes of the Gharial. Icon Films for BBC Natural World/Animal Planet.

Secret Life of the King Cobra

52 minutes, 2008
Presenter and Consultant

A high definition video documentary on the telemetric study of the king cobra in a South Indian rainforest. National Geographic Television.

Killer Crocs

45 minutes, 2009
Presenter and Consultant

Monster Quest TV Series, USA. Whitewolf Entertainment. High definition video documentary on the giant crocodiles of Bhitarkanika, Orissa, India.

One Million Snakebites

48 minutes, 2010
Presenter and Consultant

A high definition video documentary on the problem and mitigation of snakebite in India. Icon Films for BBC Natural World/Animal Planet.


Award: ‘Best Point of View’. 34th IWFF, 2011

Leopards: 21st Century Cats

48 minutes, 2013
Presenter and Consultant

A high definition video documentary on the leopard, surviving in human landscapes in India. Icon Films for BBC Natural World/Animal Planet.


Award: Best Editing – Wildscreen Film Festival, 2014

Operation Maneaters – Crocodiles

48 minutes, 2014
Presenter and Consultant

A high definition video documentary on the crocodile problem in Namibia and a possible solution. Windfall Films for BBC Channel Four.

FEATURE FILM


The Boy and the Crocodile

Tamil, Hindi, English | 105 minutes, 1989
Presenter

16mm/35mm wildlife feature film set in a village and forest pond in south India, for Children’s Film Society of India.


Awards: Silver Elephant – 6 th International Children’s Film Festival, New Delhi (1989) UNICEF Best Feature Film – International Centre for Films for Children and Young People (1989) Certificates of Screening and Recognition, Childrens Film Festivals: Teheran, 1990; Beijing, 1990; Moscow, 1991; Stockholm, Christmas Eve telecast, 1991