Man vs Wild

[Snowman]

Les Hiddins.

Malcolm Douglass, RIP, for similar reasons as Les, a typical true blue Aussie with a huge love and respect  for the Aussie bush and a manner which endeared other Aussies for decades.

While watching Les or Malcolm as a kid I was always intrigued by what they were showing and teaching me about the bush and when ever the subject of using an animal for food arose it was done in a manner that still left me with a sense of respect for the animal used.

In contrast Man vs Wild belongs in the same genre as the JackAss movies designed to shock and disgust and leave you scratching your head at such stupid antics. Yeah some of his ideas might help you out of a tough situation but they are just as likely to get you killed

Totally agree with ya mate

[eracer]

Bluetongue, definately showing your age there. Alby Mangles and his assortment of bikini clad assistants that he picked up along the way? Wierdo.

Russel Coight - good call.

Harry Butler definately captivated me as a kid.

With all due respect to the dead, did Steve Irwin achieve enought for education and conservation to excuse his sensationalism and crazy antics??

[eracer]

An excerpt from an interview that Harry Butler did recently where he claims he never 'staged' any of his captures.....

Robyn Williams: Do you miss that process of making the television programs and, if you like, being on television as well?


Harry Butler: Not really, the people I worked with were great; individuals were wonderful but no, I think I much prefer the way I am.


Robyn Williams: But when you watch David Attenborough and when you see people reaching under stones and saying what's here - do you get an occasional twinge?


Harry Butler: I sometimes think, hell I could do that better, yes, but that's just ego or vanity or something. But like last night, I watched that marvellous program Life on Earth and it was spectacular, but again I had to say to myself I would not have allowed that to happen in In the Wild: the human footprints around the untouched bear hole when the bear came out of the ground, out of the snow and ice. It's supposed to be for the first time and there are human footprints around, which kind of put you off. And then there were human footprints when the cubs came out and things like that. So you think, it's a set up shot and we didn't do set up shots, not like that anyway. Not that you could tell.


Robyn Williams: Well in fact, the last time I talked to you was actually on television. I asked you whether any of those creatures were planted and you said no, you don't have to do that because if you read the landscape you can tell that they're there, and what you did was go to a fresh part of the countryside and film it, expecting something to be there because you had the experience.


Harry Butler: Including making one program which there was nothing there except cane toads and I had to literally say no, there's nothing here, and the reason why there's nothing here because the cane toad's are here.

[eracer]

Ha. Previous thread quotes Harry saying he never staged his captures. The first download i watched showed him walking through the bush in the middle of the day and he comes across a pygmy possum....fully exposed, in the middle of the day. mmmmmmmm last I checked they were pretty nocturnal.

[steve1]

He didn't quite say never.

As for the possum it did look a bit staged though there is always a possibility of chancing upon animals at odd times and in odd places.

Steve Irwin has had and continues to have a huge impact on conservation and education in regards to environmental issues in Australia and although a bit crazy and prone to sensationalism I never found him confronting in a moral sense

[Bluetongue]

Alby Mangles and his assortment of bikini clad assistants that he picked up along the way? Wierdo.

I think you may have missed the point about me including Alby Mangles.  He showed methods of obtaining food and water that didn’t involve unnecessary killing or bizarre practices. That's all.

I’m sure we all know he staged most of his film stunts – no-one is that unlucky and gets out it every time.  And the bikini clad company was more for the audience.  But before you write him off entirely, he may have made and frittered away a fortune but he also found time to get involved in humanitarian aid work in Micronesia and Thailand.

[Bluetongue]

Ha. Previous thread quotes Harry saying he never staged his captures. The first download i watched showed him walking through the bush in the middle of the day and he comes across a pygmy possum....fully exposed, in the middle of the day. mmmmmmmm last I checked they were pretty nocturnal.

I don’t recall the Pygmy Possum segment but I can tell you that apart from nesting in tree hollows, they are also known to shelter during the day in a leaf-lined nest in the leaves of Grass Trees, domed bird’s nests not too high from the ground and even on the ground amongst leaves or under a stump. 

Irrespective, given the complexities of filming, I reckon the vast majority of animals are located first before the cameras start rolling, no matter who’s show it is/was. At the end of day I really don't think that is what matters. 

[AndrewHenderson]

for those that weren't happy he killed an olive, rest assured it was all staged http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/television/bear-grilled-over-toughness/story-e6frfmyi-1226128413983

you can sleep easy now

Andrew

[eracer]

Hey, bear is coming to perth and his production team were chasing a huge olive python for him to use in his live show. Apparently the snake was only needed for about 5minutes and had to be (quote) 'big'. I am pretty sure that the olive pythos was to be returned to its keeper after it stage appearance, rather than dispatched and eaten

[Bluetongue]

It better be or Bear will be in some real danger for a change - from Gary. And I know which option I'd prefer.

[winny]

The large olive Klaas has would be a good one for him. It bit Klass at a WAHS meeting. Imagine seeing a snake get it's own back on Bear.