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Goodbye Beethoven: Compose Yourself Lab is putting the rhythm of Africa in Nature documentaries

Goodbye Beethoven: Compose Yourself Lab is putting the rhythm of Africa in Nature documentaries

WHILE the ingredients to a great nature documentary may vary, some key elements include stunning cinematography, great storytelling - and a soundtrack that complements the visuals. For Pragna Parsotam-Kok, a South African storyteller and a National Geographic Explorer, that means the soundtrack must perfectly match the film's setting. "There are all these beautiful African wildlife and nature documentaries that we watch, but all the music that you hear is Beethoven and 15-piece orchestras playing in the background, and it doesn't resonate with the lion that's chasing the buck across the African plain," said Parsotam-Kok. NEWF cofounder and National Geographic Explorer…
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In conversation with National Geographic’s Vice President, Storytelling: On Africans telling African conservation stories

In conversation with National Geographic’s Vice President, Storytelling: On Africans telling African conservation stories

BIRD STORY AGENCY IN 2017, two South African National Geographic Explorers and filmmakers, Noel Kok and Pragna Parsotam-Kok created the Nature, Environment and Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF), which empowers Africa's next generation of storytellers to promote conservation through film. "We are building an army of young, inspired producers, directors, cinematographers, composers, and writers all across Africa, focusing on storytelling in environment and wildlife. The reason we are doing this to meet the opportunities that exist within the industry for our fellows to become part of the crews, so the stories of Africa are told from the perspective of Africans," said Noel…
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