Charismatic Beekeepers Needed for Documentary

[lee-anne wilson]

Good Afternoon,

My name is Lee-Anne Wilson and I am currently compiling research for a documentary about the disappearance of bees.

I am in need of beekeepers who are concerned about this issue and could help translate the threat to a larger audience. I am looking for passion to motivate the public and the government to get moving on a solution to the problem.

If you are interested please get in touch;

lee-annewilson@hotmail.co.uk

Sincerely,

Lee

[momo]

Hi Lee-anne

Cant speak for the rest of them here, nor do I have the knowledge you would require, but I would like to know a bit about you, your background in this field , are you well known and respected or authoratitive, which TV channel is it for or is it freelance, will you represent the beekeepers world properly or is it going to be shelved as just not popular enough in the general world.

Momo

[Shen]

More to the point what evidence do you have that the situation exists?

Even in the States, where it definitely does, there is huge debate as to the cause/s

This is a bit of a mine field to say the least and I too would want to know your position on the matter, your qualifications and to what audience are you intending addressing this item to?

Shen

[Heather]

Come on lads - give her a break. She is asking for advice, knowledge, and communication. The bee situation needs all the help and publicity it can get.

O.K. CCD isn't over here yet as a problem (as far as I know) - BUT it is out there, as was varroa - and that could have had the same knee jerk reaction from you 12 years ago.
A good intelligent, factual discussion is just what is needed to wake up Defra and this 'head up a rifle butt' government.
Joe Public is unaware of the looming threat - so how can it hurt to get the facts out there - and here is someone who cares enough to collate the facts - and she is asking the horses mouth - don't show her your :p

Heather

[momo]

Come on lads - give her a break. She is asking for advice, knowledge, and communication. The bee situation needs all the help and publicity it can get.

Heather

Maybe Heather, but would you be doing more harm than good if this person was not professional in every aspect, imagine if this was someone working for a chemical company trying to get you to say something and then twisting your words, or who ridicules you when the documentary was edited and aired.

Find out who your talking to before saying anything is a prudent thing to do.

[Heather]

Yes, Mo - but she was asking for informed beekeepers to be eloquent on her behalf, and she is aware of a problem in the bee world - sounds a good start for me - how many on this forum have tried to format a documentary on the subject??.
Let's be constructive - ;)

[Shen]

Not on that subject Heather but I have done stuff with the BBC and they have a slightly more professional approach than this hence my suspicions are highly raised.

Shen

[G4WIL]

Hi Heather/Shen,
I have been involved with BBC Radio 4, on a couple of occasions , in both instances, their approach was vague to say the least .The first contact I had was very much like this one . A friend of mine (fellow radio ham) received a phone call from them!. Just like the lady approached this forum, the beeb asked him if he was interested in helping with a program called "shed culture". for woman's hour! Now any radio ham will tell you that Shack' is the generic term for a ham's home station:D. The beeb lot had been using a scanner and latched on to the phrase "in my shack", mistook the meaning for shed !. On interviewing he and I and through us; others, the program intended to be "shed Culture"(sort of what does your man get up to in his shed?) metamorphasized into a four week mini series on ham radio entitled "Fishing in the ether"

So IMHO, give the lass a chance, publicity is what is needed if the welfare of honey bees is to become a priority with this or any other government!
Politicians are like pop stars, exposure to the media is their stock in trade! Make our case for retention of the bee health inspectorate, more funding for cls, the threat of exotic parasites etc. Shout it loud and by any means available!!.
If it aint popular or perceived as a vote winner, then they don't want to know:p.

John Wilkinson

[Captain Chaos]

I have also done various bits for Radio 4 and Five Live, however, the contact has always been with someone with a bbc.co.uk email address or from a known production company with email address to match.

I am always a little suspicious when dealing with an unknown media person operating off a hotmail.com email address.

[G4WIL]

Maybe paranoia is the new human form of ccd :;).
after all, what vast mystical statistics concerning what's happening to the bees, has to be guarded in case it gets in the wrong hands?.
My own branch of the bbka is holding a "winter losses survey" and quite detailed it is to :confused:. maybe I should give it a miss (could be an agro-chemical company gathering statistics to cherry pick for their own ends:o)

John Wilkinson

[Heather]

Hi all
I wont dismiss till all is lost -so investigated, below is her e-mail reply - and she may be a future bee-keeper -

I am a student, at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. We have been given the opportunity to make a documentary about anything we like and are interested in and I am interested in the disappearance of bees.

The doc is to be about 10 mins, but I'm going to try and get a longer commission as I believe the issue to be larger than 10 mins.

I was told that the best avenue to take is finding someone passionate about this as people are what make documentaries.

So there you are - not a threat to you, nor dangerous:eek: - just a lass who wants to learn about the problem in her world. And maybe its the youth we need to open eyes and ears in the UK - too late when the bees are diminishing too fast to sustain pollination sufficiently.So lets give the facts, - truth never hurt (unless its -does my bum look big in this!!)

Heather

[Captain Chaos]

John, I may be paranoid but that doesn't mean that they're not out to get me:D

[V8landy]

Did anything ever come of this? or did you lot scare her off???:D

[G4WIL]

Hi,
I've never heard of her since the mauling she received.
Nor have I seen much of the banter previously associated with these forums :-
"John, I may be paranoid but that doesn't mean that they're not out to get me:D".
What went wrong ?
AH! how I long for the time when the forum was a friendly vehicle for the futherence of beekeeping , a haven and font of advice for new beekeepers/ visitors !
Got knows what newbies think when logging on for the first time ?
Looks like my decision to quit as moderator and visit less often was a good move :D:D.

Not soon enough some may Say !:eek:
John

[V8landy]

You are right John, this forum has changed even In my short time (2 years), and particulary with the start of the "new" forum.

What must visitors think reading many of the recent posts!

People get back to beekeping rather than lecturing to us political and ethical statments.

[Chris]

Mr Disgruntled Former Moderator - This forum is 1000 times better than it used to be. Yes, it is no place for disgruntled quitters.

And V8, if you haven't noticed, this forum isn't just about practical beekeeping. And how about you try helping someone rather than just asking questions? That's the way the system of 'mutual help' works, and that's the way forums become better.

It is easy to moan. It is more difficult to contribute and make things better.

[G4WIL]

On Cue as expected :D:D

Amber alert was indeed necessary :cool:

[Chris]

I am not pretentious or self important enough for the 24 pt amber font.

[G4WIL]

I am not pretentious or self important enough for the 24 pt amber font.
And here's me thinking you are a star in your own mind,:rolleyes:

[V8landy]

[QUOTE=Chris;5293]And V8, if you haven't noticed, this forum isn't just about practical beekeeping. And how about you try helping someone rather than just asking questions?QUOTE]

I think if you re-read my statment I said

"People get back to beekeping..."

I made no referance to "practical beekeeping" You have once again jumped to conclusions that are not there or intended!

And if you check my past posts I have "helped"many people, both present forum and past!

[Heather]

This was emailed to me 25 May so still around- I did ask Borderbee if he was able to talk-no reply -now I can throw it open - come on - there is enough of you willing to talk here - so all north of the border -now is your chance lee-annewilson@hotmail.co.uk

Hi Heather,

Thanks for all of the information that you have passed to me, it's is very helpful.

Could I ask if you would be interested in going on camera to express the need for funding for research? Unfortunately I also have to ask where you stay because I have a tiny budget and have to try and stay close to Scotland.

I signed the petition and also sent it to my whole uni, so hopefully that will make a slight difference!

Thanks again for your help,

Lee

[G4WIL]

Well done Heather,
only a few more days before the petition closes.
The press has picked up on the plight of the bees and their reports have become less sensational and more sensible and more debate promoting :D.

John Wilkinson