Media Hosting & Fixing

The SAMPLA team have all been involved in marine research in Southern Africa for many years, offering high quality on-screen and off-screen consultation on marine predator behaviour, locations and research in the area

Dancing mantas (© Fiona Ayerst)

Dancing mantas

On-screen Scientific Talent

As qualified scientists, the SAMPLA team is fully qualified and experienced to assist as scientific experts on all productions involving South Africa’s marine predators. Due to our long history of working with the Southern African scientific community, we are also able to match producers with the most qualified and appropriate scientific experts available.

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Filming Permits

All commercial filming projects done in South Africa require the issuing of a film permit from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism. Once this permit has been granted any filming done in special locations such as tourism vessels, national parks, marine protected areas, research vessels, will require the issuing of a supplementary filming permit from the relevant department. SAMPLA offers consultation and administrative support for the application of permits and provides a strong advantage for film crews due to our long working relationship with the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.

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Location Scouting and Recce Runs

SAMPLA offers excellent advice on specific locations for shooting as the directors have many years of marine research experience around the Southern African coastline. This allows them to have insight to a host of remote and unique locations and opportunities.  SAMPLA also offers the service of carrying out recce runs for crews or producers in order to investigate the feasibility of particular shoots.  The directors also have strong links with fellow researchers in the area and are capable of referring producers to them as well as setting up interviews if required.

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Production crew

Due to SAMPLA’s long involvement with marine productions in South Africa, we have worked extensively with numerous local cameramen (above and below water), photographers, journalists, sound engineers. We can help facilitate with producers to form the highest quality production crew available for their project.

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Equipment hire

SAMPLA can facilitate the rental of high quality and reliable production equipment at competitive local rates. A complete catalogue and price list are available on request. As a scientific institute, we also can supply an extensive range of scientific equipment to hire or purchase. This includes highly specialized equipment such as acoustic tracking devices, shark bite-meters, underwater cages and more.

For further information and catalog/pricing request contact