Red Sea Coral and the Crown of Thorns.
BBC Television, 'Horizon', 1973
Red Sea Coral and the Crown of Thorns was a BBC Horizon 50-minute documentary that told the story of the Cambridge Coral Starfish Research Group's marine studies in the Sudanese Red Sea. I was interviewed for the programme and carried out some underwater filming of pufferfish and triggerfish feeding on Acanthaster. One of my still photos was carried on the cover of the weekly scientific journal: Nature. This film also depicts our larval raising of the starfish in the laboratory at Eastern Telegraph building. While some unsubstantiated claims are made in the programme, overall the science stands up to scrutiny, considering the rudimentary facilities and the relative inexperience of the team members. But the real question that this film raises is "Did Peter Vine actually swallow a fly (or two) on prime time British television?" I leave you to check it out. Please send your answer with any comments via the comments page.
Nightlife.
Director: Robin Lehman, 1976
Nightlife began as a film about basking sharks off the west coast of Ireland, but the sharks never appeared, so we turned our attention to filming the wide range of invertebrate marine life that inhabits these waters. In the end we were forced to cut the film based on what we had managed to shoot. Much to our surprise, the film was nominated for Academy and Palme d’Or awards and also took the Jury Prize at the 1976 Cannes Film Festival.
Arabia: Sand, Sea & Sky.
Producer: Michael McKinnon
Arabia: Sand, Sea & Sky was a three-part series produced by Michael McKinnon and broadcast by the Discovery Channel, BBC, and National Geographic. I acted as biological assistant on the Red Sea episode, taking the team to Mesharifa for manta rays and to Sanganeb where we filmed mimic cleanerfish.
The Power of Partnership.
Executive Producer: Peter Vine
The UAE in general, and Dubai in particular, has built its success on partnerships, not just within the UAE but on a global level. This short film was made to support Dubai's impressive and successful bid to host World Expo 2020
True North Voyage of Friendship.
Executive Producer: Peter Vine
In late 2011 the ex-Volvo Ocean Racing yacht True North set out on its own voyage of discovery – to engage with ordinary people around the world and to learn about the challenges they face. They also wanted to share the thrills and excitement of sailing one of the world’s fastest yachts.
The Turtle.
Executive Producer: Peter Vine
The Turtle was the main film showing in the UAE pavilion at Expo 2012 Yeosu, South Korea. It won the Gold Dolphin Award at Cannes Corporate Media & TV Film Festival.
People of the UAE.
Executive Producer: Peter Vine
Almost 200 nationalities live and work in the UAE. This film, made as part of Dubai’s bid for hosting Expo 2020, emphasises the diverse, multicultural nature of the country.
Ali's Film.
Executive Producer: Peter Vine
Ahmed Al Dhuhoori became a recognised Emirati celebrity thanks to his performances in The Turtle, Ali’s Film, and other productions.
Dream Journey.
Executive Producer: Peter Vine
Dream Journey, the centrepiece of the UAE pavilion at Expo 2010, won four top awards at the New York Festivals’ Television & Film Awards and raised the bar for future media that we produced.
3 Days to Change the World.
Executive Producer: Peter Vine
E-learning is at the heart of Education Without Borders, a student organised movement that is expanding the boundaries of knowledge through the creation of a worldwide network of young people who are riding the wave of the electronic revolution.
Kosovo: The Hand of Friendship.
Executive Producer: Peter Vine
Kosovo documents the UAE’s humanitarian mission in Kosovo during 1999, where a simmering ethnic conflict exploded into violent civil war. Moved to compassion by the scenes of horror being broadcast around the world, the UAE acted quickly and decisively to help civilians caught up in the conflict.
Feast of Dates.
Executive Producer: Peter Vine
Voted 'Best Documentary' at the UAE Film Festival, Feast of Dates has been broadcast worldwide on many national and global channels. This magical story travels back in time and far beneath the arid desert to reveal the secret life of the date palm tree, Phoenix dactylifera .
Lethal Legacy.
Executive Producer: Peter Vine
As a result of the unprecedented success of this project, the contaminated area, formerly occupied by Israel, was gradually being returned to the local residents, who would hopefully experience a future free from the dangers of concealed mines and unexploded ordnance.
Sheba's Greatest Treasure.
Executive Producer: Peter Vine
The massive dam at Marib, one of the greatest wonders of the ancient world, created a huge lake whose waters turned the desert green and enabled Marib’s population to prosper. Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, seen here in the early 1950s, was instrumental in the dam reconstruction project in Yemen.
Family Tree.
Executive Producer: Peter Vine
Family Tree is a dramatic account of one family and a very special tree. It was the main feature in the UAE pavilion at Milan in 2015. I wrote the initial story based on a dream that celebrated the date palm. We filmed from another helicopter as our fictional tree was moved from city to desert in a fight to save it from being swallowed up by development.
Expo 2015 Presentation.
Executive Producer: Peter Vine
This film was made to launch the design of the UAE pavilion at Expo 2015 to the general public.
24/7.
Executive Producer: Peter Vine
UAE from dawn to dusk, as shown in the UAE pavilion at Expo 2008.
Emotions.
Executive Producer: Peter Vine
We made this film on 15 June 2012, to show how visitors engaged with the displays and films that formed the UAE’s Living Seas exhibition at its Expo 2012 pavilion.
Over the Emirates.
Executive Producer: Peter Vine
A 26-minute film showing the UAE from above. It includes stunning footage of the largest continuous sand desert on earth – the Empty Quarter – rugged peaks of the Northern Emirates, exquisite offshore islands and every major city in the country.
Then and Now.
Executive Producer: Peter Vine
Both the extent and rate of development in the UAE is impressive. Then and Now was a short film that I produced to compare historical footage with contemporary views of the country. During the course of production we unearthed some seldom viewed footage of life before oil was discovered.
