Name: Stephan Rytz

Where are you based?

Nyon, Switzerland

What is it that you do in the film industry? How would you describe your job/s?

I direct and produce video projects for corporations and television.

Who or what inspired you to work in film and why cover nature and conservation issues?

The name of my company is ORCA Production. I always loved nature and I've been a member of WWF since I was a child. When I was younger, I applied to work with the Cousteau Foundation and then decided that I would produce nature documentaries. My first film on nature and conservation was done for WWF. I then worked for different companies who were interested in stories on sustainable development. My last production was a film on the future of the Rhone River, presented at the Menigoute nature festival in France.

What is the favourite programme or series you’ve worked on?

“Quel Rhône pour demain (What Rhone for Tomorrow)?” which was my last documentary looking at the impacts of hydraulic dams on the environment and what we need to do today to minimize these impacts.

What has been your biggest challenge filming in the field?

Filming terns migrating in Switzerland during the summer season.

How has technology changed your job? Has it hindered or enhanced telling the conservation story?

Nowadays, the market offers small HD cameras that are providing an image quality close tho the 2/3" cameras. We are using a Sony XDCAM EX, which helps us get outstanding footage on locations where small equipment is crucial.

What is your favourite place in nature?

The ocean, especially on Vancouver Island in Canada, where nature is first and humans are second.

With all your field experience, what is your biggest concern when it comes to the environment?

I have had the opportunity to film and visit different glaciers in Switzerland that are dramatically melting. When we compare them with the pictures taken 100 years ago, it's scary. But this doesn't seem to bother lots of people who are still using water unconsciously. We created a series in 2006 talking about wasting energy at home and water was one of the major topics.

How do you think the media industry should be addressing environment and conservation issues?

By continuing to show to people how the environment is changing and is threatening thousands, maybe millions, of lives. But we should concentrate more on the threats to industrialized countries from things like climate change to make politicians and investors understand that global warming does not only impact developing countries.

What are you working on at the moment?

Lots of different projects on the environment and other things but my favourite right now is a film on a hydraulic dam that needs modification to minimize impacts on the environment (the creation of a canal for fish migration, a path for beavers, planting of trees etc…)

What would you like to remembered for?

As a militant for minimizing human impacts on our environment in Switzerland, which still has many pristine areas where nature provides a lot.

Links:

www.orcaproduction.ch/index_en.html