The art of storytelling with James Honeyborne
James Honeyborne, Emmy Award winner for "Blue Planet II" and "Our Great National Parks", visits UiB to share with students and researchers the secrets of storytelling in nature documentaries.
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On Wednesday the 2nd of November at 12:30, Emmy Award Winner James Honeyborne from Freeborne Media and Wild Space Productions will meet with UiB’s students and researchers to discuss the art of storytelling in nature documentaries and why academic research is important in shaping the narrative of his work.
An award-winning wildlife filmmaker and ocean advocate, James is best known for leading the creative team that made Blue Planet II.
His mission: to create new and impactful viewing experiences for everyone who seeks to enjoy and connect with the natural world.
Whilst based at the world-renowned BBC Natural History Unit, his work included Sir David Attenborough's hit series 'Africa', EMMY nominated ‘Wild New Zealand’ and BAFTA-winning ‘Big Blue Live’. His final BBC blockbuster, the multi-award-winning ‘Blue Planet II’, broke all records as the most-watched wildlife documentary series for over 20 years. His associated social-led campaign #ourblueplanet fuelled the so-called ‘Blue Planet Effect’, drawing global attention to ocean health and most notably, the problems of plastic pollution.
James is a biologist by degree and a storyteller by heart. His work has been recognised by the United Nations, the European Union and HM The Queen, who presented the Blue Planet team with the Chatham House Prize for the ‘sustained impact’ in galvanizing public engagement. James is also an Advisory Board member of the United Nations’ Decade of Restoration.
After 25 years public service broadcasting, in 2018, James set-up his own production company ‘Freeborne Media’, making Films and TV series in creative partnership with Netflix. His first series ‘Our Great National Parks’ premiered earlier this year and is voiced by Barack Obama, who won a prime-time EMMY for Outstanding Narrator.
James’ not-for-profit arm, Freeborne Impact, also makes a small number of bespoke social-led campaigns, aiming to create lasting impact around issues of wildlife, nature and the environment (for example, #WildForAll with WCS and #SeaOurFuture with Attitude Magazine).
As a dad and a year-round sea swimmer, he is motivated mostly by a desire to leave a healthy planet for future generations.
Program:
- Natalya Gallo, PostDoc UiB, BIO
- James Honeyborne, "The art of story telling in nature documentaries"
- Pitches from UiB researchers
- Natalya Gallo interviews Honeyborne
- Announcement from Rector Margareth Hagen
- Questions from the audience
The doors at Tårnsalen open at 12:00, all students are invited. Given the limited availability of space at Tårnsalen, it is adviced to come in advance in order to guarantee you a seat.
The access to Tårnsalen is through the main entrance of the University Museum at Museeplassen 3.
