“Return to the Tepuis”: Behind the Scenes With Filmmaker Joe Riis | Short Film Showcase

I feel incredibly lucky to be a wildlife

I feel incredibly lucky to be a wildlife photojournalist to try to tell stories

photojournalist to try to tell stories

photojournalist to try to tell stories about wildlife to the general public so

about wildlife to the general public so

about wildlife to the general public so that tapu ease people calm the islands

that tapu ease people calm the islands

that tapu ease people calm the islands in the sky big tabletop mountains with

in the sky big tabletop mountains with

in the sky big tabletop mountains with two thousand foot waterfalls coming off

two thousand foot waterfalls coming off

two thousand foot waterfalls coming off of the top of them I did not know a

of the top of them I did not know a

of the top of them I did not know a place like that existed super cool

place like that existed super cool

place like that existed super cool herpetologist named dr. bruce means and

herpetologist named dr. bruce means and

herpetologist named dr. bruce means and me and climber marksinna went with him

me and climber marksinna went with him

me and climber marksinna went with him last year and end up making a film about

last year and end up making a film about

last year and end up making a film about his work there he had heard that there

his work there he had heard that there

his work there he had heard that there was a frog in this sinkhole on top of a

was a frog in this sinkhole on top of a

was a frog in this sinkhole on top of a tapu e this would link the frogs on the

tapu e this would link the frogs on the

tapu e this would link the frogs on the lower elevation two pulleys to the

lower elevation two pulleys to the

lower elevation two pulleys to the summit elevation two buoys and it would

summit elevation two buoys and it would

summit elevation two buoys and it would answer a bunch of evolutionary questions

answer a bunch of evolutionary questions

answer a bunch of evolutionary questions so we went in and he spent four nights

so we went in and he spent four nights

so we went in and he spent four nights in the hole and found it he has a

in the hole and found it he has a

in the hole and found it he has a singular focus and it’s frogs and

singular focus and it’s frogs and

singular focus and it’s frogs and biodiversity it’s pretty awesome to

biodiversity it’s pretty awesome to

biodiversity it’s pretty awesome to spend time with researchers and then as

spend time with researchers and then as

spend time with researchers and then as a photographer I can just you know step

a photographer I can just you know step

a photographer I can just you know step into their life just for a little bit

into their life just for a little bit

into their life just for a little bit and you know just feel a little bit of

and you know just feel a little bit of

and you know just feel a little bit of that that awesome passion towards our

that that awesome passion towards our

that that awesome passion towards our world one of my favorite parts was just

world one of my favorite parts was just

world one of my favorite parts was just filming them climb the twigs these are

filming them climb the twigs these are

filming them climb the twigs these are tree climbing frogs and just looking at

tree climbing frogs and just looking at

tree climbing frogs and just looking at the back of my camera has these frogs

the back of my camera has these frogs

the back of my camera has these frogs climb up the twigs it’s like it’s pretty

climb up the twigs it’s like it’s pretty

climb up the twigs it’s like it’s pretty incredible to see it on the camera but

incredible to see it on the camera but

incredible to see it on the camera but then to look and see it right in front

then to look and see it right in front

then to look and see it right in front of me too for me I just mean just to be

of me too for me I just mean just to be

of me too for me I just mean just to be able to spend time with a wild creature

able to spend time with a wild creature

able to spend time with a wild creature is incredible and and I’m very lucky you

is incredible and and I’m very lucky you

is incredible and and I’m very lucky you know to be able to do that those type of

know to be able to do that those type of

know to be able to do that those type of projects and that type of work is really

projects and that type of work is really

projects and that type of work is really having an impact and as an adventure

having an impact and as an adventure

having an impact and as an adventure that’s my goal its to bring wildlife in

that’s my goal its to bring wildlife in

that’s my goal its to bring wildlife in front of people in front of the general

front of people in front of the general

front of people in front of the general public