Wildlife-film.com - the international news and information resource for wildlife film makers worldwide with news and directories of producers, festivals, location managers, stock footage, training and freelance personnel.
homenewsCompaniesfreelancersfilmsshopcontact
         
 

Features / Case Studies / Press Releases
Stories from around the wildlife film-making world!

Brock Initiative


See previous features
home 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Wildlife Winners and Losers - Brock Initiative

Statement from Richard´s family: 

¨Cherry Aitken (nee Brock) and family are sad to announce the death of her brother Richard Brock on 30 December 2024.

A Bristolian by birth, Richard was born in 1938 and inspired his family and the world, from his work in the BBC and latterly the Brock Initiative, which he founded in 2006.

His commitment to wildlife and conservatism was unwavering, as was the love of his rural community in Chew Magna where he spent most of his life.

Reading all the tributes and wonderful stories about him makes us so proud.

Close family and friends are invited to the cremation on 31 January. If you require more information, please email: livingplanetproductions@gmail.com

A Tribute to Richard Brock, 1938-2024
By Jason Peters
January 2025

It is with great sadness that I share the news that Richard Brock died in the early hours of the 30th of December 2024, in hospital in Bristol, aged 86. I have been told he was peaceful.

Richard Brock
Richard Brock amongst his clippings from Planet Crunch

I first met Richard in person at the 2006 Wildscreen Festival, where I joined him for a workshop entitled ¨How to make a difference on a shoe-string¨ (or some similar title) where he was keen to encourage a new generation of what he affectionally called ¨bright green sparks¨ to make conservation films — Not necessarily films for TV, but, rather, for wherever they could make the biggest difference. I’d recently completed a wildlife film course in southern Africa, some years after I’d embarked on a career in conservation, at a time when I was feeling like I was banging my head against a brick wall trying to make a difference in the field, and was very enthusiastic in my belief that it was telling stories through film that could really make a difference: Changing hearts and minds! 


Richard Brock - Earth in Vision

Years earlier I’d had work experience at the BBC Natural History Unit (NHU) and had been really inspired by Richard's story: A veteran producer who’d worked with David Attenborough making groundbreaking films about the natural world for many years before becoming frustrated that the corporation wasn’t telling the whole truth when it came to that money-making subject matter. He believed it was time to tell the whole truth about the state of the planet and he thought it was our (including the BBC’s) responsibility to do so: he thought it was urgent. He was way ahead of his time in this way of thinking. I’d worked on The Blue Planet (1!) in a very small way and was as frustrated as Richard that the episode that looked at man's influence on the oceans, called Deep Trouble, was not shown during primetime Saturday night on BBC 1 like the others, but was hidden away late on a Tuesday night on BBC 2. And the US (Discovery) didn’t even buy the episode. 

 It was great to meet him, after some correspondence, and I remember being wholly onboard with his plan to make a difference by any means possible “on a shoestring,” and being so inspired to make films about the real state of the planet, telling stories that would inspire change. We became friends and kept in touch, and then several years later, in 2010—after time living in Africa, and on the advice of many more wildlife film-makers who I’d met at wildlife film festivals around the world— I moved to Bristol, hoping to make it as a natural history TV researcher. 

 It was Richard, and Richard alone, who gave me any kind of chance there. Most of my contacts, people who had insisted I move to Bristol and then get in touch, ghosted me. I did some more work experience (at Icon Films for e.g., where I was titled their oldest ever work experience guy!) but Richard actually offered to pay me! 

That early work helped me immensely, and it started a 15-year-long working relationship. I did everything from random research work, admin, website and media management, and setting up socials and other platforms, to help him get news of his work out there. Early jobs involved staying over for a week at his cottage in Chew Magna, sifting though piles and piles of papers and newspaper clippings trying to get them into some kind of coherent order. I’m not sure I really helped because soon after the piles were back to being mixed up and greatly enlarged! Richard was forever fascinated by what was happening to the natural world and what solutions there might be to help, so everything he kept, howsoever poorly filed, were his resources, his references; potentially a film idea. The first website consisted of photocopied newspaper clippings (which he’d send to me in the post), displayed like a scrapbook with his thoughts and ideas—a glimpse inside the mind of a man who wanted to share his unique understanding of what needed to be done to save the natural world, and us. 

 Of course, he rarely saw the website himself because of his refusal to become even a little bit tech-savvy. I spent a few years trying to convince him to get an iPad before giving up. I used to have to post him anything I needed him to read, before marvellous Moira Sage at Chew Magna Post Office came to the rescue! 

 I’d gone on to work for Piers Warren (who was the only other person who gave me a real chance!) at Wildeye—the wildlife film school—where Richard would join us sometimes as a star tutor on the conservation film courses in Norfolk, and Wildlife-film.com, which Richard was always an avid supporter of. I always kept working for Richard: through the release of his epic Wildlife Winners & Losers film series with Gareth Trezise (his editor) and the publication of Planet Crunch (both the book and the films) with Penny Delmon, Moira and our small team. 


PLANET CRUNCH – The Life (or Death?) of Planet Earth

Download the eBook version of Planet Crunch!

I always enjoyed hearing his take on other films, trends in wildlife film-making, the changes occurring in the industry, at wildlife film festivals—especially Wildscreen, which he boycotted in 2014—and much else. 


Wildscreen 2018 into 2019 - From Green Zero to Golden Panda

We also collaborated on the ¨Films That Make A Difference¨ database, which aimed to be an online library of conservation films. We wanted to help prove that film-making can make a real and tangible difference to important conservation issues around the world. A favourite Richard quote of mine is ”Showing the truth on some minority channel is not the answer. Showing it where it counts is." 

 I will miss him immensely, and will be forever grateful to him for his mentorship, inspiration, wise words, kindness—and above all, his friendship. He really was a hero to me, as I know he was to many other people. 

Some of their thoughts are below.

Richard Brock in the edit with Gareth Trezise
Richard in the edit with Gareth Trezise

¨I was first introduced to Richard by one of his bright green sparks as they were affectionately known. He was looking for someone to do some macro filming of shrimps for his first egret film, The Egret Has Landed, narrated by the late great Tony Soper and I had the equipment to do the job, sort of...It was a lovely sunny day in Devon and once we were all done filming he said he would take us to meet Tony Soper. I was beginning to think we were lost. We were driving on the inside perimeter of a field but eventually at the end was this house overlooking the Kingsbridge Estuary. I couldn't believe I was actually going to meet one of my wildlife heroes and there I was, sat in his garden drinking a glass of squash listening to Richard and Tony having a catchup. I was made up and I think Richard knew I would be...


The Egret Has Landed

We kept in touch and it wasn't long before our next adventure. Richard knew about my love of butterflies. I had been fascinated with them since a child. A World About Us documentary got me hooked. Richard wanted to make a film about British butterflies. I had already filmed most of them and had good contacts at Butterfly Conservation. Richard came up with the storyboard and he said "I've also a good contact at Butterfly Conservation, the president, David Attenborough". Well that trumped me somewhat! The year was 2004 which coincided with Wildscreen and Sir David Attenborough would be there. David had agreed with Richard to spare a bit of his time and if we could get to the Natural History Unit during a break he would do a piece to camera for our Butterfly Conservation film. Richard asked if I would like to film it. I was lost for words. Me a nobody, filming Attenborough doing a piece to camera about butterflies. Richard quite easily could have just done that himself. Another example of his generosity and kindness. The most surreal moment actually was afterwards. Richard giving both David and myself a lift to the watershed where Wildscreen was taking place in his rather clapped out Ford Focus. Stop go traffic and many people doing a double take, is that really Sir David Attenborough waving and smiling...yes it was. Richard continued to make his films and I got gripped with filming wildlife in Kenya. Then one day I was having a quiet pub lunch in Chew Magna with my wife and tap, tap on the window "I thought it was you, how do you fancy a bit of editing this time?" Eleven years later, well over a hundred films, and we're still editing to the end. Richard was a lovely, kind, remarkable and passionate human being. It was a privilege to have worked so closely with him, a real friend. I will miss him dearly.¨ – Gareth Trezise

Richard on location with Ross Birnie
Richard on location with Ross Birnie

¨I first met Richard 12 years ago in Bristol, from that moment I went on to work with him on loads of his films. It was a working relationship that very quickly turned into a great friendship. I've got many great memories of being away with him all across the UK. It was one of a very small number of jobs you get where it feels more like going away with a friend for a few days.


The Making of Best Beaches for British Nature
Watch the main film here!

After moving back to Essex , I didn't see as much of him as before. But whenever I made the trip back down, he would be first on the list to catch up with. He had an amazing career, travelling around the world. But his passion for wildlife and conservation was his burning motivator. Speaking up for animals that didn't have a voice. His films were charming and powerful. One that stands out was a blue shark that had drifted into a port in Majorca. After receiving bad press from the media referring to jaws and monsters, Richard was on the next plane out to make a film about it. At the age of 84. Nothing would stop him making his films, he was always either in the process of making one, editing one with Gareth or planning his next one. His passion and dedication was infectious. I'm really glad I got to spend so much time with him over the years and will miss him.¨ – Ross Birnie

Richard Brock at a Wildeye weekend with Piers Warren and Jason Peters
Richard with Piers Warren and Jason Peters at a Wildeye Conservation Film Course

¨Very sad to hear we have lost Richard Brock who was always a huge inspiration to me and hero of conservation film-making. I first met him in the 1990s at a time when some of us were frustrated at the lack of conservation content on TV. But rather than just being another moaner he picked up a camera and just got on with it by himself. With nothing more than a camcorder in a lunchbox he travelled the world making hundreds of self-funded hard-hitting conservation films, never failing to tackle big corporations or issues whilst making films on a huge array of subjects. Later he would occasionally join us on our Wildeye courses as a special guest, and I remember him shaking his head with a smile as I tried to teach the value of tripods to achieve steady shots - happily telling students that he had made hundreds of films without ever touching a tripod! Making and promoting his films right until the very end, the world is a poorer place without him.¨ – Piers Warren

Richard Brock - 80th birthday party
Moira, Penny, Richard, Alice and Gareth at Richard´s (22nd Dec) 80th birthday celebration!

¨I didn't know Richard in his previous role at the BBC, only as a very kind thoughtful gentleman who was very passionate about many subjects and wanted people to know about the things he felt should be known. He was funny and always appreciative of the work/typing I did for him. We had a really good working arrangement over the past eight years and rubbed along very well together. I miss him massively, expecting him to come into the post office every day, as was usual. Actually I miss him way more than my ex-husband!!¨ –  Moira Sage

Richard Brock - Planet Crunch party
Luke, Penny, Richard, Ellen, Moira, Karen and Jason at the Planet Crunch launch party!

¨I first worked with Richard at the BBC in Bristol in the early '90s, and became his colleague, friend and graphic designer. I continued to work with him when he left the BBC and set up his own company. What I loved about Richard was his tireless energy and passion for wildlife and the natural world. He never stood still and was always exciting to work with, even if he was sometimes difficult to keep up with!

He was old-school, with old-school humour – he could be funny, rude and risqué – titling a recent film 'Poodunnit' and adding farts to the soundtrack. He delivered handwritten copy in a world developing digital transactions, with Moira and I deciphering his unique thoughts delivered in pencilled script. He was the only client I had who insisted on paying by cheque.

One area where Richard had his finger on the pulse was current affairs. Reading four daily newspapers he was often ahead of the mainstream as he sifted out ideas for his next projects.

I will always have fond memories of lunch meetings where he supplied a cheese and wine-based feast.

He was a kind, up-beat, creative, deeply individual, independent and passionate man. I will miss him so much.¨ –  Penny Delmon

Richard Brock – Chew Valley People - Richard Brock, Film-maker and Conservationist from Chew Magna.
Chew Valley People - Richard Brock, Film-maker and Conservationist from Chew Magna.

¨I am lucky enough to have known Richard for over 40 years. When I started at BBC Bristol in 1983 he was just completing work on The Living Planet. But I remember him even then as a friendly and rather suave figure. In 1985 when I moved to Chew Magna we became neighbours and over the years I got to know him much better. Having said that Richard was quite a private man, quietly going about his business, often seen in the village even on cold days wearing shorts and either flip flops or crocks. A very distinctive look! He was a real charmer, whether catching up with Moria in the post office or chatting with the staff in the Co-Op he had always time for a joke and a cheery wave as he picked up the papers to keep up with the latest news. He was a great supporter of the local branch of Avon Wildlife Trust and often showed his films at their monthly meetings. They were kindred spirits. He enjoyed sharing his passions, which were always about the natural world and our impact on it. In 2021, just before he published his book Planet Crunch I interviewed him for my YouTube channel and he was delighted to share his own story about how his love of wildlife developed, and his concerns and hopes for the future. Looking at it again now many of his comments ring even more true today, for example he was totally against the billionaire’s space race. As he said there is so much to fix down here, that’s where the energy and resources are needed.


Chew Valley People - Richard Brock, Film-maker and Conservationist from Chew Magna.

In a 35 year BBC career that included Life on Earth and The Living Planet Richard went on to make many other films including some for The World About Us, The Natural World and Wildlife on One. It was on a Wildlife on One that our professional paths crossed in 1987. Richard went to Poyang lake in China to film Chinese cranes, but that year no cranes arrived. Unperturbed he decided to film local village life and show how the villagers celebrated these special birds. However the film camera they were using did not record sound and as the assistant editor one of my jobs was to put the soundtrack together. I had a silent 30 minute film full of Chinese people chatting away and not a frame of sound! So I organised 6 Chinese students from Bristol University to come into the BBC and give the villagers a voice. Richard was of course amusing, positive and supportive throughout. I often wonder what the locals would have thought if they ever saw it!

I now wish I had spent more time with Richard, I could easily have popped into his cottage by the river Chew more often but at least I have the memories of the times we did share and I know he would be glad that all his films are still available, and with that wonderful voice of his to keep his message going, it is a message that the world needs today more than ever.¨ – Peter Brownlee

‘Life on Earth’, frogs featured in Episode 6, ‘Invasion of the Land’ – Mike Linley
‘Life on Earth’, frogs featured in Episode 6, ‘Invasion of the Land’ – Mike Linley

¨In early 1978 I was a PhD student in the Zoology Department of Bristol University, researching thermoregulation in lower vertebrates. What had brought me there was a life-long passion for reptiles and amphibians, and my research involved a lot of fieldwork, surrounded by my favourite creatures. Out of the blue I received a phone call ,“Hello, my name is Richard Brock from the BBC up the road, and we are making a series called ‘Life on Earth’, presented by David Attenborough. Episode 6, ‘Invasion of the Land’ covers how amphibians evolved a more terrestrial life. We hear you know a lot about reptiles and amphibians and wondered if you help us.” He had barely finished the sentence when I said “Yes!”

Two days later he, and Neil Cleminson, came to my home to discuss sequences and see my collection of weird and wonderful frogs. As well as filming some of my captive species, especially those that exhibited some sort of parental care, Richard asked, if they were to obtain the specimens, would I build naturally planted terraria with a view persuading the frogs to breed in front of the cameras. Over the next twelve months, with the help of some very skilled camera crews, we ticked off the ‘wants’ list, Darwin’s Frogs, Marsupial Frogs, Viviparous Toads and many others.


Sir David Attenborough - The story behind Life on Earth - BBC

Being involved, even in a small way, in the planning, filming, editing and dubbing of the films triggered my own desire to pursue Wildlife Filmmaking as a career. Richard willingly provided both the advice and encouragement I needed and, shortly after Life on Earth was broadcast, I joined ITV’s ‘Survival’ team in London.

We remained good friends over the subsequent 45 years, often meeting up at various film festivals and on Wildeye’s Conservation Filmmaking Courses that we both tutored.

Richard also had a passion for frogs, and I was happy to help him once again with the ‘Fantastic Frogs’ episode of his important, mammoth series ‘Wildlife Winners and Losers’.


Fantastic Frogs

We have lost a true pioneer of wildlife filmmaking. As both Producer of the first Wildlife mega series - Life on Earth, or prolific maker of hard-hitting, conservation documentaries, Richard certainly made a big impact. If it wasn’t for him my own career would never have taken the direction it did, and I shall remain eternally grateful to him for that. I shall miss him very much.¨ – Mike Linley

Richard Brock on location for Pretty Polly and the Ancient Mariner
Richard on location for Pretty Polly and the Ancient Mariner

¨I am so sad to hear about Richard. He was such a blessing to me when he contacted me to do the film pretty Polly and the Ancient Mariner, part of the BBC series SURVIVORS. The film was so beautiful. I have a VHS copy of the film which I will cherish for the rest of my life. Please give my love to all those closest to him.¨ – Chris Luginbuhl. Founder of the David E. Luginbuhl Research Institute For Endangered Species

Richard Brock on location with binoculars
Richard on location with binoculars 

¨Richard Brock was one of a kind. He refused to be intimidated by high-level, powerful people. He saw through the shallowness of much natural history programming and excoriated over-paid muckety-mucks in places like the BBC, whom, he claimed, ignored the environmental issues that plague us. He admonished them to do better and to raise their moral standards. He told the truth, as he saw it, boldly and audaciously. A distinguished iconoclast with a discerning (and disconcerting) ability to detect hypocrites and superficial documentaries, Richard Brock led a life that mattered and that had meaning. He will be sorely missed.¨ – Chris Palmer, author, Achieving a Good Death, www.ChrisPalmerOnline.com

Richard Brock on location for The Living Planet
Richard Brock, David Attenborough, Keith Rodgerson and Martin Saunders having a gourmet meal in a tent in the Canadian Arctic in 1981 whilst looking for Narwhals for The Living Planet series.

¨I am very sorry to hear that Richard has passed away. I was lucky enough to work with him during his BBC days.

We made Wolf Saga and Man-Eater: To Be or Not To Be, together and I wrote and partly filmed the original Wildlife Winners and Losers two-part special, featuring an update of the work of Eugen Schuhmacher.

For me, Richard was a complete delight to work with. He was very bright, very funny and very appreciative of me as a colleague. This sort of good-natured encouragement from a major player like him was very supportive. We had enormous fun working together. He was, without doubt, the most companionable producer I’ve ever worked with. He taught me how to be a better listener, as I watched him elicit information from other people. He, who had achieved so much, always kept a low, respectful and totally engaged profile as he talked with the various contacts we made. I learned by his example that really successful people are relaxed and comfortable in their skin and that they put other folk at their ease.

My autobiography was published last year (Natural Causes: The wild life of a wildlife filmmaker, Chiselbury) and it contains a couple of chapters about the films we made together, how much fun we had and how effortlessly efficient he was. I have to say that working with Richard marked a high point in my life. ¨ – Stephen Mills

Richard Brock, Jason Peters & Piers Warren at Wildscreen 2018
Richard Brock, Jason Peters & Piers Warren at the 2018 Wildscreen Festival in Bristol

¨I first met Richard when I first got into wildlife TV over twenty years ago. He was always so friendly, kind and helpful to newcomers, providing career advice and inspiration to me and many others. I had previously been working for Television Trust for the Environment and the Environmental Film Festival so we had a shared interest in green issues. Over the years I would often meet up with him and he became a mentor to me. He was a legend, a pioneering wildlife filmmaker and a champion for conservation issues for the whole of his life. I admire his passion and tenacity for trying to instigate change in the industry and educate the public. He was ahead of his time. Richard Brock RIP. Thank you for your huge contribution to wildlife filmmaking and the preservation of our living planet.¨ – Ingrid Kvale

Richard Brock, Jason Peters & Piers Warren at Wildscreen 2018
Richard Brock, Jason Peters & Piers Warren at the 2018 Wildscreen Festival in Bristol

¨Richard was a BBC producer that I admired immensely. It was an honour to meet him as a our small wildlife team from SVT visited the NHU in Bristol in January 1981, in between Life on Earth and The Living Planet.

Several years later, in 1999, as the whole blue chip genre was in deep decline, we met again at the wildlife film festival in Sundsvall, Sweden. Then I was working with the SVT news show Aktuellt, producing a story about wildlife film making and all the tricks involved. One of the producers I interviewed was Richard, and our conversation also touched on the sad develepment of the business. I will always remember his drastic conclusion: ”And today, I don´t know how many crocodile wrestling shows there are. I can just honestly say that I hope the crocodile wins.” ¨ – Henrik Ekman, SVT

Richard Brock DOP
Richard Brock with his trusty camera ... DOP!

¨I was very sorry to hear the sad news about Richard. I haven't seen him for many years but have happy memories of working with him in the 1990s on his conservation films. I was the online editor at Applecart - in the good old days when I think he was shooting on Hi 8 and mastering onto Digi Beta.

He was a delight to work with, a brilliant storyteller both in his films and recounting his personal experiences, someone who had time to share his huge knowledge - and someone who stood up for what he believed in.

He will be missed but I hope his passion lives on through the people he has encouraged and influenced.¨ – Sharon Stiles

Richard on location with Ross Birnie
Richard on location with Ross Birnie

¨Richard and I always had time for each other and our ideas - one spin off was for the LIVING DANGEROUSLY series GRIZZLY! THE BEAR FACTS, mostly filmed in Alaska, where I was already filming for a NATURAL WORLD about these charismatic creatures.¨ – Roger Jones

Richard Brock through the years ...
Richard Brock through the years ...

¨Richard was a true Gent in every sense of the word. Always so cheery, positive and encouraging - I feel very lucky to have worked with him. Back in the ’90’s he gave me my first paid job in television. I was a Runner on his Winners and Losers conservation series. Despite my lowly position, he was always very generous with his time and gave me many invaluable opportunities. And just a few months ago I had pleasure of working with him again, on a film celebrating the landmark Life on Earth series.

A natural raconteur, he entertained us with stories from his early Producer days back in the day. He’s had an amazing career and, as many have reflected, he was the true pioneer of conservation film-making.

RIP Richard, you are an inspiration to us all and will be hugely missed.¨ – Anuschka Schofield

Richard Brock and Jason Peters promoting his new ´Wildlife Winners & Losers´ film series at a Wildeye conservation film course in Norfolk.
Richard Brock and Jason Peters promoting his new ´Wildlife Winners & Losers´ film series at a Wildeye conservation film course in Norfolk, July 2016.

Some Social Media love for Richard:

Facebook:

¨It is sad to hear of Richard Brock passing. As former Head of the Natural History Unit, Richard’s generation looked over us. As a producer under the leadership of the incredible Chris Parsons Richard brought us Life on Earth in 1979, and alongside Sir David Attenborough probably the most travelled man I have ever known. Richard never stopped being a content producer, and never ceased keeping in touch with plenty of advice! He would always sit in the front row of any lecture I gave. Rest in peace Richard. You have a fabulous legacy and the natural world is in better shape thanks to all your catalogue of work. You were a class act.¨– Julian Hector

¨Richard was a wonderful and creative man. A true legend in our industry. Very very sad to hear this. I always enjoyed speaking with him. Such a gentleman and a passionate advocate for the natural world.¨– Paul Williams

¨That is very sad to hear, Richard was a champion of the environment, ahead of his time.¨– Mark Wild

¨So sad to hear this, Richard was such a champion of the natural world.¨ – Brolly Brollyman

¨This is very sad news indeed. Richard Brock dedicated his life to supporting nature in multiple ways - be that through his films with the aim to engage audiences with nature, or by supporting others also working in natural history filmmaking or conservation. I moved to Bristol in the mid nineties determined to break into wildlife filmmaking. I met Richard who offered sage advice and, seeing that I needed somewhere to live, suggested I rent his beautiful Clifton flat overlooking the Clifton Gorge at a massively reduced rate. I was joined by two other young, skint filmmakers who remain to be my closest friends today. He was a conduit for good. Rest in peace Richard.¨ – Mitch Turnbull

¨So sad to hear this. Richard was way ahead of the herd in recognising that the wildlife film industry needed to become more conservation-friendly, and that wildlife filmmakers needed to reduce their own adverse environmental impacts.¨ – Pam Beddard

¨Incredibly sad to learn this. Richard was such an inspiration for so many. Sending love and condolences¨ – Lawrence Curtis

¨His passion for environmental filming was fantastic. A real trail blazer.¨ – Tim Martin

¨Thank you for this warm tribute to a great man, Jason. Sad news of his passing, but Richard left a wonderful legacy, both in his films and in the young filmmakers he mentored.¨ – Ian Redmond

¨A man I've looked up to with great respect for more than 30 years! Known for his high standards as a conservation filmmaker (and the incredibly loud poison dart frog sweater he wore at every film festival.) RIP Richard.¨ – Thomas Veltre

¨Richard Brock, a wonderful person. So sorry to hear of his passing…¨ – Colin Stafford-Johnson

¨Beyond sad to hear the passing of the amazing man that was Richard Brock a wildlife legend, a fiery passionate man for the underdogs and I adored him! Always made my way to him at festivals and charity events for a good chin wag. Richard created some of the best wildlife programs for the BBC in its prime and was an advocate for change both in the industry and in the ways the natural world is treated. From his green sparks as he called them of young filmmakers round the world, to his no fear attitude. An absolute legend and an absolute loss.¨ – Emma O Leary

¨Sorry to hear that - but a life well lived. He really was at the forefront of trying to ensure that wildlife films told the true story about the state of the planet. He was never afraid of speaking out....a brave pioneer. The end of an era.¨ – Harriet Nimmo

Richard Brock on location filming fulmars with Mark Grantham
Richard Brock on location filming fulmars with Mark Grantham


LinkedIn:

¨He was brave and not afraid to challenge the natural history establishment. He was a keen user of our earthMusic catalogue - we still make this available without charge to environment activists and other non-profits.¨ – Jenny Jones

¨The world needs many more like him.¨ – Simon Littlejohn

¨Richard Brock has been an inspiration. His lonely battle to bring out films on the current state of environment and ground level realities of wildlife conservation, has touched a chord with me and many others, I am certain. Hope all of us will try and carry forward his legacy to the best of our abilities. Lack of funding and even appreciation for such initiatives will not deter us.¨ – Susan Sharma

¨A true eco-warrior who encouraged many young filmmakers to ‘speak out’ -an inspiring passion and legacy ..Thank you so much Richard Brock. RIP¨ – Mark Jacobs

Richard Brock with his copy of ¨The Making of The Living Planet¨ book
Richard Brock with his copy of ¨The Making of The Living Planet¨ book


Instagram:

¨I am so very sad to hear that Richard has died. He was one of the best directors/producers I ever wrote music for. He gave me complete freedom to write what I wanted. I shall forever remember his scruffy little brown address book with all his notes/numbers in & how he and I laughed about it. I wish I had not missed his call before Christmas. I can’t believe he is no longer with us. I just assumed he would go on for ever.¨– Elizabeth Parker

¨This is sad news, Richard used to come into the Chew Magna village co-op everyday, I last saw him just before Christmas. He had a sharp wit and we had many ongoing jokes. I used to love hearing all his stories. We will miss him, he was one of our favourite customers.¨– Vicky Cole

Richard Brock – Wildscreen Tribute
Richard Brock at a Wildscreen Festival in his iconic frog jumper!

Wildscreen Tribute:

¨Richard Brock - In Memoriam 1938 - 30 December 2024  – It is with great sadness we share that renowned wildlife television producer and conservationist, Richard Brock, has passed away.

Having always had a passion for wildlife, Richard studied zoology and botany at Cambridge University and, keen to communicate his ideas, joined the BBC Natural History Unit (NHU) upon his graduation.

Working as a general assistant, Richard was taken under Jeffery Boswall's wing in the radio department. When Jeffery moved into television in 1964 he gave Richard his first film to produce, a compilation piece entitled Masters of Movement which aired on Peter Scott's famous Look strand.

Richard's big break came when David Attenborough, then Head of BBC2, invited him to produce his next series set in Southeast Asia. Eastward with Attenborough was released in 1973 and was the start of a successful working partnership between the two.

The pair collaborated again on the groundbreaking series Life On Earth (1979), with Richard taking responsibility for the sixth episode and amphibian segment, Invasion of the Land.

Richard was appointed executive producer for the second of David's epic Life trilogy - surveying the world from an ecological point of view; The Living Planet was broadcast in 1984.

A highly successful producer, Richard made numerous contributions to the BBC NHU's output, working on many individual features as well as a multitude of programmes for the Wildlife On One and The World About Us strands.

Richard left the BBC after 35 years, concerned about the lack of willingness within the wildlife film industry to address the state of the environment. He went on to set up his own production company, Living Planet Productions, which made over 100 films on a wide range of environmental topics. A highly determined conservationist, Richard also set up The Brock Initiative, to educate decision makers and local communities about surrounding conservation issues by using archive footage.

A constant presence within the Wildscreen community over the past 5 decades, Richard and his frog jumper, which he wore to every Wildscreen Festival, will be very much missed by us all.

Our thoughts are with Richard's colleagues, friends and family at this time.¨ – Wildscreen


Wildlife Winners & Losers - Promos

Richard said: ¨My Wildlife Winners and Losers series shows that films can be made – with basic footage filmed on any device – to help get the word out about conservation. “There is still time to save the planet. My Wildlife Winners and Losers series is my contribution. Now it’s your turn. Watch these free films. Choose from these 80+ films of different lengths to inspire you to take action. They’re free to watch and share with as many people as possible. Use the Series to give you ammunition to help save the planet.” Watch these here on our website or visit our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@brockinitiative


Wildlife Winners & Losers - How to turn Losers into Winners

Follow: instagram.com/brock_initiative, x.com/BrockInitiative & facebook.com/BrockInitiative

HTML Comment Box is loading comments...


 

POODUNNIT? – A Wildlife Detective Story

 


About Wildlife-film.com

Since the late 1990s Wildlife-film.com has been the leading source of information for the wildlife filmmaking industry worldwide. For over twenty years the site has been Google's number one ranking site for 'wildlife film' and related searches. Our site is viewed in over 195 countries. Our newsletter, Wildlife Film News, is read every month by thousands of people involved in wildlife filmmaking - from broadcasters and producers, to cameramen - we encourage readers to submit their news. We also serve as an online resource for industry professionals and services. Find producers, editors, presenters and more in our Freelancer section, and find out about festivals, training and conservation in Organisations. We encourage amateur and professional freelancers to join our network and welcome all wildlife-film related organisations to join our team.

Wildeye

Environmental Investigation Agency

 


Wildlife Film News is available every month straight to your Inbox!  Subscribe here:

*
indicates required

Email Format


search engine by freefind advanced