| Could chimps be the next Tarantino or Spielberg? | | | | person who picks up a video camera becomes a |
| Well, maybe they won't be able to compete with | | | | good filmmaker or even wants to be one. But |
| the greatest film directors, but we can soon be | | | | someone with a strong interest in filming can do |
| looking at movies made by chimps. | | | | so, and some people are much more avid learners |
| How is this possible? It may be hard to believe, | | | | than others. |
| but according to a BBC report, the BBC | | | | So why couldn't that be true for chimps - or |
| broadcast the world's first film shot entirely by | | | | other primates or even other animals for that |
| chimpanzees on January 27, 2009 as part of a | | | | matter. After all, researchers have put video |
| natural history documentary. Called "Chimpcam," | | | | cameras on all sorts of animals to get their world |
| the movie was created using chimp-proof | | | | view, including dolphins, whales, seals, walruses, |
| cameras designed by primatologists doing a | | | | dogs, and cats. So perhaps with a little more |
| scientific study on how chimp see the world and | | | | training and showing the animals the results of |
| one another. | | | | their filming, they might come to realize they are |
| The project started when Betsy Herrelko, a | | | | actually making a film which they can see. Then, |
| primatologist studying for a PhD in primate | | | | much like apes have learned to use sign language |
| behavior at the University of Stirling in the UK, | | | | to communicate with humans and in some cases, |
| introduced 11 chimpanzees at the Edinburgh Zoo | | | | each other, chimps and other apes might be |
| to video technology. The enclosure they lived in | | | | taught to make films as well. |
| was ideal for such a study, since it consists of | | | | Then, consider the possibilities. We could have a |
| three large interconnected outdoor areas, and | | | | reality series about chimps in the wild or in zoos, |
| several smaller rooms. | | | | shot by the chimps themselves - and they could |
| Herrelko began the project by teaching the | | | | take the camera where no human could ever go. |
| chimps to use a touchscreen to choose which | | | | We might set the chimps loose on a film set to |
| videos they wanted to watch - and thus she | | | | provide a new perspective, as they shoot the |
| could learn which types of images the chimps | | | | actors or whatever is interesting to them on the |
| preferred watching. For example, would they | | | | set from a different angle. And how about |
| rather look at in one of the outer areas or would | | | | recruiting chimps and other apes to assist on |
| they rather watch the zoo staffers in the food | | | | documentaries, letting them take the cameras out |
| preparation area prepare their food? | | | | in the field to record life in the wild? And then, as |
| Then, Herrelko showed the chimps how to use a | | | | these ape filmmakers gain world renown, we |
| "Chimpcam", consisting of a video camera in a | | | | could even have them covering the film premiers |
| strong box the chimps couldn't destroy. At first, | | | | and news stories. |
| some chimps simply carried the camera around | | | | In fact, as apes become proficient, they might |
| with them, but after awhile, the chimps became | | | | find jobs in the industry behind the camera as |
| interested in seeing what was on the screen as | | | | videographers and cinematographers, since after |
| they moved the camera about, which recorded | | | | all, they could probably be hired at a much lower |
| what they saw. And that film is what was shown | | | | rate than other filmmakers - and just think of the |
| as "Chimpcam," which I viewed myself - about | | | | great publicity for the first companies to have |
| five minutes of long, medium, and close-up shots | | | | apes on their crews. People would love to see |
| of chimps moving around the enclosure. | | | | their films, as the next great breakthrough. Apes |
| Though the researchers concluded that the | | | | wouldn't just be on camera or portrayed in films |
| chimps did not actively try to film any particular | | | | like PLANET OF THE APES. No, they would be |
| subject or understand that they were making a | | | | behind the camera, too, and perhaps a good title |
| film as they moved about with the Chimpcam, | | | | for their first feature film might be PLANET BY |
| perhaps some of the chimps might have done so | | | | THE APES. |
| with a little extra training. After all, not every | | | | |