Review of Canadian Wildlife Productions
Dave Brody
LiveScience.com
The quality that differentiates Canadian Wildlife Productions' films from nearly all others in the genre is extreme authenticity. You will see exactly what you might witness, had you a huge travel budget, nearly infinite vacation time, and a run of extraordinary luck. Filmmaker Leon Lorenz literally lives with his wild animal subjects, on their terms and in their habitats for months - sometimes years - at a time.
It has become common practice on nature documentaries filmed for television to, at some point (generally buried in the fine print of the closing credits), disclaim the fact that action seen in the show (and depicted as "real") was actually shot under artificial circumstances; be it in aquaria, zoos, laboratories, sound-stages or the producer's suburban backyard. Such clever clauses also hide the truth that “wild” animal behavior in the program is sometimes coached, enticed, baited, or placed in wholly different context from the way it truly happened by the film editor's art.
You will never see this on a Canadian Wildlife Film production. What you will experience are slices of natural systems behaving on their own; completely outside the scope of human involvement and sometimes utterly in spite of human intervention. Wildlife films can get no more real than these.
Journey Home of the Chinook Salmon
Review by Mike Mitchell of BC Outdoors Sport Fishing
Wildlife filmmaker Leon Lorenz dedicated eight spawning seasons to capture some of the rarest scenes ever filmed on the Fraser River spawning grounds of the Chinook. The captivating DVD gets up close and personal with springs, featuring underwater spawning action and encounters with predators like bald eagles, grizzlies and black bears.
See first-hand how Fisheries and Oceans Canada and DFO staff monitor the salmon population through test fishing, law enforcement, counting, tagging and hatchery operations. Staff will guide you through their operations, giving a real insider's perspective on salmon conservation.
This DVD shows in extraordinary detail everything you could possibly want to know and more about the Chinook and its journey home.
Wildlife films of Canadian Wildlife Productions
Review by Shirley Bond, MLA
Minister of Education
Deputy Premier
I am writing to express my respect for the work of Leon Lorenz and his company Canadian Wildlife Productions. His films offer a unique glimpse into the awe-inspiring and majestic wilderness that surrounds us but is often taken for granted. He has created numerous films showcasing the rugged terrain and wide-ranging variety of species that inhabit the Canadian Rockies. These films foster feelings of appreciation and respect. His latest work, "Journey Home of the Chinook Salmon" is particularly impressive. It has been renowned as the first of its kind to document the experience of the Chinook salmon as it travels to its breeding areas in the Fraser River and has also received a "ten out of ten" from the Pacific Salmon Foundation.
It is important to ensure Canadian content appears on television for a number of reasons. Ensuring that broadingcasting remains relevant to Canadians can have many positive effects. It can help to bolster Canadian character in the international industry and help to instill a feeling of national identity. Furthermore, Leon Lorenz's work imparts a notion of responsibility and admiration for nature; a message that is becoming ever more imperative. Increasing awareness and educating the public are important steps to creating a general attitude of environmental sustainability.
Sheep and Grizzly Country
Review by Lennis Janzen
Crooked Horn Outfitters
Leon, thank you for working with me on the video footage, you have unbelievable stuff and I feel we will be able to utilize your services for many years to come.
Feathered Friends
Review by Andrea McNeely
Wild Birds Unlimited
We have reviewed Feathered Friends and have approved it for Wild Birds Unlimited stores to carry.
Bighorn Showdowns and Sheep and Grizzly Country
Review by Suzan Moulton
National Bighorn Sheep Center
At the National Bighorn Sheep Center our mission is to educate the public about the wild sheep. To most of our visitors we offer a short film about Bighorns. To the more knowledeable guests we show "Bighorn Showdowns" or "Sheep and Grizzly Country". They greatly enjoy the in-depth views and fantastic footage. When I cue up the DVD, I let them know that because of the length, they can leave at anytime. A vast majority stay through the credits.
Journey Home of the Chinook Salmon
Steve D. Chorney
Award-winning outdoor writer / photographer
Edmonton, Alberta Canada
Just wanted to touch base and let you know that I received the DVD you sent, yesterday. Having said that, I watched the entire film and must commend you on a job well done...bravo!!! If you are a salmon fisherman, you must watch this DVD. If you are a wildlife enthusiast, you must watch this DVD. In fact, everyone should watch this DVD. If you aren't moved to contribute to wildlife conservation after watching this DVD, than I have to question whether or not you have a conscience. I have never watched a film before that has inspired me to want to give back as much as your documentary. Again, many kudos on a job well done!!!
Bighorn Showdowns
Review by Neil Thagard
Wild Sheep Foundation
This is the most educational and entertaining film on the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep
Douglas Hutton Quote
King Motion Picture Corporation
1702 Bell Tower
10104 103 Ave NW
Edmonton Alberta Canada T5J 0H8
"Leon Lorenz is one of Canada's most gifted and respected wildlife filmmakers.Over the years he has provided King Motion Picture and This Living World Nature Trust with exceptional imagery of the great outdoors - shot in some of the most remote locations and rugged landscapes in British Columbia and Alberta. His passion and fearless pursuit of grizzly bear, bighorn sheep and other large animal footage is an example of a very dedicated and seasoned master. Leon has witnessed and enjoyed more of Canada's natural world beauty than most outdoors people will see in a lifetime. From the smallest to largest creature that runs, flies or swims, he has captured their presence on camera for the world to see, hear and enjoy. He has a dangerous but rewarding job and helps each of us better appreciate the value of all life on Earth.
Leon Lorenz is A TRUE PROFESSIONAL. Travel safe my friend!" Douglas Hutton
Journey Home of the Chinook Salmon
Review by Candace Smith
Booklist USA
Every year, Chinook salmon swim from the Pacific Ocean to the Fraser River in British Columbia to spawn. In this beautifully shot program, wildlife filmmaker Leon Lorenz captures the sequence of fish laying eggs, hatching, and swimming through river rapids, waterfalls, and other obstacles to make their way back to spawn, completing the cycle of life. The camera steadfastly records the salmon falling to predators, including sport fishermen, bears, eagles, and other natural enemies. Scenes also show naturalists capturing, weighing, tagging, and testing the fish for pollutants.Interwining with the footage ( including underwater shots ) are clips of Canadian wildlife rangers describing salmon anatomy and the spawning process. For both regional and other wildlife devotees.
Journey Home of the Chinook Salmon
Review by Chad Brealey
Pacific Salmon Foundation
Journey Home features some of the most unique and exciting footage of the Fraser River Chinook. Congratulations to Leon for his dedication to salmon and cinematography.
Bighorn Showdowns
Review by Dr. Edgar T. Jones
Nature Photographer / Wildlife Artist
I have managed to pick up a copy of USA program on bighorn sheep filmed in the States by Eastman who is a well known producer in the USA. I thought your Bighorn Showdowns was just as good and in some respects better, as yours was filmed in much more spectacular sheep country. Leon keep up the good work.
Feathered Friends
Review by Diane Porter
birdwatching.com
I spent a delightful rainy afternoon watcting this DVD, with remote in hand so that I could go back for a second look at many amazing scenes. I kept asking myself how videographer Leon Lorenz could possibly have gotten such intimate views of birds in their natural settings, performing their innate behavior.
A pair of American Dippers feeds their wide-mouthed young in a nest concealed in the rocky bank of a rapid river.
A ruffed Grouse steps confidently up on a log, stretches himself taller than I would have thought possible, fans his tail, and beats his wings to create an accellerating roar. A coyote sneaks up from behind the bird. The grouse takes flight just moments before the coyote would have had it in its jaws.
A mother Harlequin Duck escorts her newly-hatched chicks down a torrent that bounces and tosses the infant ducks in the waves.
A pair of Eastern Kingbirds gets into a dissagreement over the size of dragonflies to feed their nestlings. This is not anthropomorphizing. You can really see that one parent is trying to feed a dragonfly that is much too big for the 4-day-old chicks, while the other parent protests vocally and tries to take away the dragonfly.
There's a nice section interviewing Edgar T. Jones, who has banded over 100,000 birds in Alberta to help advance our knowledge of birds and their movements. With great gentleness and expertise he removes a Saw-whet Owl from the net and gives us a look at this tiny owl that few people ever see. He shows how the Black-capped Chickadee bites at him, while the Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler is more docile.
Another section features falconer Mark Williams and his peregrine-gyrfalcon cross. Watching him prepare for flight, I felt as if I were watching a medieval nobleman in his royal sport. After the falconer releases it, the bird climbs high into the sky and dives with astonishing speed and agility on a flock of ducks, its prey.
Many mammals are seen in passing, just as if we were exploring the Canadian Rocky Mountains in person: moose, grizzly bear, coyote, beaver, deer, marmot, wolverine, wild sheep, and others. The scenery is gorgeous, The sounds of the birds and water are the natural voices of the wilderness. It's a glorious, stunning piece of work, the gold sifted from one videographer's lifetime of experience out of doors.
Journey Home of the Chinook Salmon
Peter Foster
Director General
Television Policy and Applications
CRTC
Let me congratulate on the fine work you have done. I have watched your film entitled "Journey Home of the Chinook Salmon", and found it to be extremely well done and very informative. It is also very topical, given the recent news reports about the collapse of the salmon stocks in the Fraser River.
