SKY 3D COMMISSIONS 1X 60’ NATURAL HISTORY FEATURE FILM FROM OXFORD SCIENTIFIC FILMS

Sky 3D today announce the commission of PANDAS 3D (W/T), a ground-breaking natural history film which will capture the highly endangered giant pandas living in the Wolong National Nature Reserve in the People’s Republic of China for the first time in 3D.

Produced for Sky 3D by Oxford Scientific Films, PANDAS 3D (W/T) is a co-production with the Chinese Wildlife Conservation Association and the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda.

With unrivalled access to the Wolong National Nature Reserve, PANDAS 3D (W/T) joins the giant pandas at a critical time in the species’ history. Following decades of captive breeding, the target number of 300 giant pandas has now been reached and the experts at the Reserve face the challenge of restoring viable breeding populations of the species to the wild.

While previous attempts to reinstate giant pandas into the wild have failed, Zhang Hemin, Director of the Research Centre for the Wild Panda, believes ‘wild training’ may be the solution. Selected mother pandas will be allowed to give birth and raise their cubs naturally in remote mountain enclosure and human contact will be extremely limited; so much so that the scientists working on the restoration project must don panda suits in disguise.

Alongside the natural breeding programme the captive breeding programme continues a pace. At Bifengxia we see newborn twins being alternately bottled fed in incubators and placed back in the embrace of their mother (panda mothers can’t cope with two at a time). We see young pandas play on swings and slides at the panda crèche and others taken on a day trip to thrill and inform local school children. And who said pandas aren’t good at breeding? Well, when they’re encouraged to get in the mood with panda sexercise and panda porn videos there’s no stopping them!

PANDAS 3D will be directed by Nicolas Brown (Human Planet) and produced by Caroline Hawkins (Meerkats 3D). Access was secured by Chinese producer Shuyun Sun (A Year in Tibet). Commissioned by John Cassy, Director of 3D, Sky, the one-off documentary will be executive produced by Jeremy Bradshaw and Clare Birks for Oxford Scientific Films and Chris Wilson at Sky.

Caroline Hawkins, Creative Director of Oxford Scientific Films, commented: “It is a privilege to have this opportunity. The Giant Panda is one of the most adored species on the planet but it is also one of the most misunderstood; with some suggesting that it is not worth saving from extinction. This film gives us the opportunity to show the advances the Chinese have made in understanding panda reproduction and the great progress they are making towards restoring populations in the wild. The fact that we are able to get unrestricted access to pandas in China and in 3D makes this film an exciting first.”

Clare Birks, Executive Producer for Oxford Scientific Films, commented: “We are delighted to have Sky’s backing for a second 3D natural history film. It’s very exciting to be working in China for the first time and our Chinese partners couldn’t have been more supportive.”

John Cassy, Director of 3D, Sky commented: “Giant Pandas have an enduring appeal – we have seen time and time again how fascinated people are about their lives and habits. Now, for the first time in 3D, we will see Pandas in their natural habit, as yet another example of our intention to broadcast exciting and innovative 3D shows for our customers.”

Since launching Sky 3D in October 2010 Sky has broken new ground across a range of genres, including natural history, live music, the arts, spots and movies. Highlights include David Attenborough’s BAFTA® Award winning Flying Monsters 3D as well as Kingdom of Plants 3D With David Attenborough, The Bachelor King 3D, Galapagos 3D as well as live 3D broadcasts of a number of musical and dance performances including the Got To Dance Live Final and Kylie Minogue Live From The O2, the 3D TV world premieres of Avatar, Alice in Wonderland and the Toy Story Trilogy as well as more than 150 live sports broadcast spanning a range of domestic and international sports.

For further information please contact

Megan MacLeod - Publicist, Sky Movies HD, Sky Atlantic HD
T:
E: megan.macleod@bskyb.com

Notes to editor

About Oxford Scientific Films:

Oxford Scientific Films is a BAFTA and Emmy-award-winning producer of contemporary factual, natural history, science and history. We are known for outstanding and innovative programmes that rate. We have a passion for storytelling and we are proud of the company’s heritage as a technological pioneer.

 

Our producers have been responsible for a wide range of quality programming including Richard Hammond’s Miracles of Nature (BBC1), Fatal Attractions (Animal Planet), Rory McGrath’s Pub Dig (History and Channel 5), Meerkats 3D (National Geographic and Sky 3D), Atom (BBC), Richard E Grant's History of the Safari (BBC), the global hit series Meerkat Manor (Animal Planet), Impaled! (Discovery Channel US and Five), and Saving Africa's Witch Children (Channel 4).

 

Based in London, with an office in Cardiff, Oxford Scientific Films supplies high-end factual programming to broadcasters around the world. Oxford Scientific Films is part of the Boom Pictures group.

About Sky:

Sky entertains and excites more than 10.4 million homes through the most comprehensive multichannel, multi-platform television service in the UK and Ireland.  Sky continues to break new ground with its own portfolio of channels: Sky 1 combines its commitment to UK production with the best of the US; Sky Living pushes ahead with fresh and innovative entertainment formats; Sky Arts is the UK's only dedicated arts channel brand; Sky Atlantic is the home to HBO and other iconic drama and comedy, Sky Sports is still raising the bar in sports broadcasting; Sky News remains a pioneer in television news; and Sky Movies is leading the way in High Definition and on-demand.

Sky also works with dozens of other broadcasters on the satellite platform, as well as online and on mobile through the ground-breaking Sky Go service.  Sky has also led the UK into the age of high definition television, launched Europe's first 3DTV channel, Sky 3D, and offers customer even more flexibility and choice through Sky Anytime+, its internet-delivered video on demand service.  Since launching Sky Broadband and Sky Talk in 2006, the company has also been the UK's fastest-growing home communications provider.

Sky believes in making a wider contribution to the communities in which it operates, not least by increasing participation in, and access to, the arts, supporting grassroots sports, and taking positive action on the environment.

About National Geographic Cinema Ventures:

NGCV, a division of National Geographic Television & Film, is responsible for production and distribution of giant-screen, 3D and specialty films. Over the last decade, NGCV has produced or released a number of successful films, including Oscar-nominated documentaries “Restrepo” and “The Story of the Weeping Camel”; giant-screen award-winning films “Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure,” “U2 3D,” “Mysteries of Egypt” and “Forces of Nature”; and feature-length films “The Last Lions” and “Life in a Day.” Lisa Truitt is president of NGCV; and Mark Katz is president of NGCV distribution. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com/movies.