Founder of Studio FX Roshan Fernando is no stranger to the local entertainment industry, having worked with prominent filmmakers and gathering experience, he ventures into the field in his latest production in capturing the leopards at Horton Plains. The documentary is a special feature for Warner Brothers.
He talks about Netflix, leopards and filmmaking to the Sunday Observer.
Q: Tell us about the production encounter with the leopards?
I am the first to film cloud forest leopards in Horton Plains for an international broadcaster (Warner Brothers). It is a challenging task as only a very few leopards are scattered across a vast territory while we have very limited access to capture the signature behaviours of the leopard.
You need to have lots of patience when filming something of this nature. The first sighting was only after filming for four days, 14 hours every day under difficult weather conditions which can be very challenging as we had to safeguard very expensive and exclusive film equipment.
Just because one has the expensive gear and filming expertise, that does not mean an outcome such as this comes easy. You need a team of animal behaviour experts and naturalists. Patience is a virtue!
We reached the moment of truth after waiting for so long. Seventy plus hours of hard work was memorable as we were able to spot two leopard cubs finding their way out of the cloud forest.
The first shot was the moment of glory and the first sighting was 70 meters away from the camera and slowly they approached closer and ended up as close as 20 meters to the camera.
Working with long lenses needs a lot of patience as the tiniest body movement or even breathing can affect the frame. I was worried thinking I might disturb their natural behaviour, however, the leopards seemed professional actors hence the effort was all worth it as the shot was extremely unique. I say it is a rare opportunity to spot and film leopards up close while the sun sets.
This film is a great team effort and it would not be possible without the contribution of director Ruth Campbell and the Warner Brother team, Chitral Jayatilake with his team of experts and the National Film Corporation.
Q: It has been a very adventurous year for you, what’s your association with Netflix?
It’s a collaboration. I have with an Australian production company and I was the cinematographer for “72 most dangerous animals Asia - Season 2” on Netflix.
It’s a story about Sri Lankan common Kraits also known as the deadliest snakes in Sri Lanka. My task was to film the animal behaviour case studies of snake bites. While shooting detailed macro shots of the common Krait, I was just a few inches away from the wild snake and that is enough adventure for most. My life counted on the snake handler
Q: Will you be travelling for more Warner Brothers productions?
We will be filming more interesting documentaries about Sri Lanka. As I was engaged more with international celebrities and productions throughout my career, Warner Brothers created a path enabling a brand new genre in my cinematography life by introducing me to wildlife and nature film productions by allowing me to train with the best and I am certified by “RED Digital Cinema”.
Q: With the current situation, many youth are leaving the country, your comment
As an artist, you should always surround yourself with enablers. If your requirement as an artist cannot be satisfied, you need to find a way to achieve your goals.
Q: How will you promote Sri Lanka through filmmaking?
Only in Sri Lanka, I was able to spot the greatest mammals in the world within hours of travelling. The blue whale and the elephant are an absolute privilege to anyone doing wildlife documentaries. Many more scenic locations that are ideal for film making are used within a few hours. Not to forget the hospitable Sri Lankans welcoming you with a lot of warmth which cannot be witnessed anywhere else in the world.
This can be a critical success factor for any production or a filmmaker as we Sri Lankans are known for our hospitality and ground support. Experienced ground support teams can add a lot of value to ensure a successful production as international producers can make use of their knowledge which can in return save both time and money.
Q: Your advice to aspiring filmmakers?
Even though you work with a lot of machines, computers and other audio-visual equipment, always make sure that your end product is true work of art. Remember technical tools are there to create your art hence do not let the artist in you fear new technology and upgrades. Do not be afraid to allow your artistic talents to create something unique.