Connections Lecture: ‘Carpe Diem’: A Wildlife Cinematographer’s Insight into Filmmaking

Free and open to the public

How might documentary film offer a path toward more effective conservation? How can storytelling change minds and create connections between creatures living in the oceans and the humans whose actions may define their fate?

Internationally renowned underwater natural history cinematographer and wildlife storyteller Mauricio Handler will explore these questions and more during “‘Carpe Diem’: A Wildlife Cinematographer’s Insight into Filmmaking.”

Handler will take audiences behind the scenes of productions in Chile, the Azores, Indonesia, Maine, and beyond, showcasing excerpts from his work as he explores the role of the cinematographer as a storyteller in conservation. Drawing from decades spent photographing and filming wildlife above and below the water, Handler will offer a firsthand look at how stories about the natural world move from an initial idea to the screen and, ultimately, connect with audiences. 

Along the way, Handler will discuss his professional journey and the skills, knowledge, and technical expertise required for wildlife filmmaking. He will also consider how the increasingly accessible storytelling tools available today can empower each of us to tell stories that foster understanding and inspire change. 

The lecture is part of UNE’s Connections Lecture series, hosted by the College of Arts and Sciences, which brings leading thinkers to campus to explore ideas through multidisciplinary perspectives and encourage engagement with scholarly and creative work beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries. 

Learn more about the event and speaker.