Fundraising campaign launched for 'Blue Planet style' film on British fish
Anglers are being asked to chip in to help a one-hour film showcasing the secret lives of Britain’s fish – narrated by Jeremy Wade – go into production.
Acclaimed underwater cameraman and angler Jack Perks is behind Britain’s Hidden Fishes, but the not-for-profit venture needs £30,000 to come to fruition.
We spoke to Jack ahead of the launch of his crowdfunding drive.
Acclaimed underwater cameraman and angler Jack Perks is behind the project
What’s this all about?
Britain’s fish are often overlooked and under-appreciated, and it’s about time we put them in the spotlight. We have many amazing wildlife spectacles unfolding beneath the water and this film aims to showcase hidden and untold stories about British fish.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get a cinematic-looking film made on some of the most incredible creatures we have, everything from tiny sticklebacks right up to behemoth basking sharks.
How much will it cost?
I’m aiming for £30,000, which sounds like a lot, but when you think about the millions it takes to produce some wildlife programmes it’s a drop in the sea. It’s the lowest amount I know I can do it for and it’s all or nothing – if we don’t hit the target we won’t be able to make it.
Is this a solo project?
I’m overseeing it and will do some of the filming, but we’ve got a whole team who will be paid for their work.
I’ve got a drone pilot who’s interested in wildlife, a composer to create new music, and one of the cameramen from the BBC Wildlife series Dynasties, Lindsay McCrae, has an interest in Scottish salmon and has agreed to be involved. And we’ve got Jeremy Wade on board as narrator.
Britain’s fish are often overlooked and under-appreciated
That’s quite a coup. How did that come about?
I knew Jeremy and had fished with him, through our mutual friend Dr Mark Everard. Jeremy is very good at what he does and he lends the project some extra weight and credibility. He’s known for travelling all over the world, but he’s also a biologist who loves fishing closer to home.
Why not get a TV company to fund the project?
I’ve tried banging on various TV company doors to tell these stories but they don’t want to listen, so as the old adage goes, if you want something doing properly you have to do it yourself.
It it a struggle to sell fish to a wider audience?
TV companies have got better, but it’s always going to be a badger or some kind of bird that wins out. And you have to remember that fish are hard – they’re not easy to film! It’s not like you can look out of your back door and see them. But I want to prove to people that they’re not brown, slimy and boring – they are fascinating.
“If you want something doing properly you have to do it yourself”
Are you inspired by previous fishing productions, and will you emulate them?
A Passion for Angling is the best angling show ever and I’m definitely trying to get that feel, just without the anglers! It’ll be full of really good cinematography with misty sunrises and frosty mornings – a feast for the eyes is what I’m aiming for.
What fish will you be looking to film?
There will be a big variety of freshwater and sea fish, including brown trout, because you find them everywhere, and things like barbel spawning. I’d also love to film tuna off Cornwall, plus sharks and much smaller species.
How long will filming take?
If we reach our goal it’ll begin straight away because spring is when everything kicks off underwater. I’m aiming for two years’ filming, so I’ve got two chances at recording each behaviour and we’ll be filming all year round.
There will be a big variety of freshwater and sea fish
Might we see things we don’t expect?
There’s lots of stuff that has never been filmed properly before, like perch and roach spawning. No-one has ever filmed that, which is incredible. It’s like someone saying ‘I’ve never seen a robin’s nest’.
There are other things like perch and eels co-operating when hunting. Perch know that eels will go along the bottom looking for prey and will send smaller fish shooting up into the water, so they swim above the eels, knowing they can get an easy meal.
There are also mullet in Lewes, where thousands gather in a little carrier stream before spawning. It’s like a spa – they arrive covered in fungus and spend time in the stream cleaning themselves off before spawning. I’m also keen to hear from anglers if they spot anything unusual.
Where will the film be shown?
At the moment it’s planned that this will go online so everyone can see it, so it’ll be on YouTube. I would love to have a premiere, though, even if it’s just online.
If there’s interest then it could be sold to TV, but it is non-profit so I’d either have to give it away for nothing or charge and then donate the money to a charity, probably a fish charity.
Find out more and how YOU can help here.