Filming

 

Given his knowledge, expertise, and field experience as a Naturalist, Wildlife Biologist, and Wilderness Survival Instructor, Vincent Pinto is uniquely skilled to assist you with your TV, documentary, or full feature filming needs. Whether Vincent is in front of the camera as a presenter or behind the scenes helping to orchestrate your filming logistics, creative ideas, and props, Vincent is a formidable asset to your filming project!

Vincent has consulted, worked with, or appeared in the following projects:

 

  • Presenter on various topics for the “American Dream The Movie” with Joel McEwen.

 

  • Consultant and presenter during extensive filming at Raven’s Nest Nature Sanctuary for “Water Matters More!” PARA Short Film. WATCH NOW.

 

  • Consultant for several Conservation Documentaries.

 

  • Provides key props for international Wilderness Survival episodes of several popular TV Survival shows.

 

  • Ongoing Location Fixer for several local and international filming projects.

 

  • One week of filming at  Raven’s Nest Nature Sanctuary for a wildlife conservation series with a British film crew. Acted as local fixer, provided creative ideas, expertise on local wildlife, and furnished key props and sets. Pre-scouted all wilderness locations for the shoot. Ensured every aspect of the production on location in AZ.

 

  • Expert Wilderness Survival consultant for the acclaimed BBC series Marooned with Ed Stafford. Scouted and vetted suitable filming locations in Arizona, provided one-on-one wilderness survival skills training, gave wilderness safety briefings, and crafted props for use in filming.

 

  • Feature appearance on the Discovery Channel’s Naked and Afraid series – season 2, Meltdown in Bolivia. Worked with filming crew in remote Bolivian wilderness, including interviews, used handheld recorder to film himself, and demonstrated expert-level Wilderness Survival Skills while under extreme duress.

 

  • Filmed for a Wilderness Survival pilot in the panhandle of Florida. Was chased by pedigree bloodhounds and a helicopter through the remote Florida wilderness along with my partner, as they attempted to capture us through the day and night.

 

  • Trains, vets, and evaluates candidates and participants for current hit Survival TV shows  at Raven’s Nest Nature Sanctuary, including observation and evaluation of key survival skills – shelter, fire-making, and much more.

 

  • Provides key props for the Arizona episodes of several popular TV Survival shows.

 

  • Co-star in The Patagonia Treasure Trail, an eco-western highlighting the impacts of mining in the Sky Islands of Arizona. Film won runner-up for Best New Film at Phoenix Film Festival.

 

  • Filmed for Travel Bug TV series  – Consultant & On-screen Natural History expert for Dr. Mike Leahy.

 

  • Filmed for Buggin’ with Rude TV series – Consultant & On-screen Natural History expert.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So many different natural environment occur in southeast Arizona, that you may well be able to film proxies of other countries here. For example, our Oak Woodlands are very reminiscent of similar ones found in the Middle East and North Africa. Likewise, our Pine and Spruce-Fir Forests bear a striking resemblance to those of Canada! Finally, a trip to the Sonoran or Chihuahuan Deserts is akin to filming in old Mexico.

With 5 Sky Islands seasons you also have your pick of weather conditions, ranging from cold to searing hot, from dry to rainy, and everything in between. Let us know when you want to film here and we’ll provide a prognosis of the climate at that time of year. Also, provide us your wish list of filming criteria and we’ll scout, find, and vet ideal location choices that will help to guarantee a successful filming venture in or near the wilds of Arizona.

Vincent will take the lead in providing the key information that your production requires, regardless of the topics and logistics involved. Needless to say, Vincent will have already put in many hours in the field prior to your arrival to help ensure the success of your shoot and filming production.

RAVEN’S NEST NATURE SANCTUARY ECO-LODGE

 

If you are looking for an ideal place to base and shoot your Filming project, Raven’s Nest Nature Sanctuary has a proved track record with numerous British Production Companies. In addition to the beauty and strategic location of our 42-acre Nature Sanctuary, we have built an Eco-Lodge with wide range of luxury facilities to make filming easier and more productive for your crew.

While staying at our Eco-Lodge you have access to:

  • Raven’s Nest Nature Sanctuary and its varied filming locations, including Woodlands, Grasslands, Arroyos, and Canyons
  • Our 2,000 square-foot Sky Islands Discovery Center, including ample space to securely store your valuable equipment, numerous electrical outlets for charging, and dark spaces to carefully review film, and full of Natural History Displays that can be useful during your shoot
  • Numerous Wilderness Survival props authentically handcrafted by Vincent using only natural materials
  • Use of our unique Stone-age Village, including many attractive and functional survival shelters designed to learn hands-on Wilderness Survival Skills
  • Natural History props relating to the flora, fauna, and ecology of the Sky Islands region and the southwestern United States
  • Approximately 5 miles of scenic, well-marked Nature Trails that wind throughout Raven’s Nest Nature Sanctuary

Please visit the RAVEN’S NEST NATURE SANCTUARY section under the WHERE tab for further details.

 

Lodging & Meals

 

We have a variety of lodging options at Raven’s Nest Nature Sanctuary for you and your film crew. On the decidedly luxurious side, we have our Safari Tented Camp Eco-lodge. Both Jaguar Camp and Ocelot Camp are located in a secluded cove and each can be used as private or shared sleeping quarters. These extremely comfortable glamping sites have the following amenities:

  • Large 10’ x 14’ x 20’ attractive yellow canvas tents on Fir-wood platforms with private en-suite bathrooms
  • Each tent has a Sleep Number adjustable bed for a good-night’s sleep, as well as full furnishings
  • 6 state-of-the-art Incinerator Toilets in private En-suite bathrooms with attached outdoor hot showers
  • Access to 4 indoor hot showers at Main Camp
  • Private outdoor and covered dining options for up to 30 people
  • Delicious well-water so you don’t need to bring any water, just water bottles
  • 10 Copper Sinks in various locations at the Safari Tented Camp with delicious well-water
  • 7 Solar showers at Main Camp – individual private enclosures and comfortable set-up
  • Gorgeous Lion’s Den Birdwatching & Reading area
  • Outdoor Safari Tented Camp Dining Areas – Coati Cafe & Catclaw Lounge
  • Healthy and Gourmet home-made meals with a majority of organic, local ingredients
  • Evening Campfires if weather & wind conditions permit
  • A/V Set up for Evening presentations /programs/films at Sky Islands Discovery Center
  • Lizard Labyrinth
  • Organic Orchard & Gardens

 

 

Additional, smaller yet very comfortable canvas tents can be set up nearby as desired to accommodate your film crew. These tents have air mattresses, furniture, and private locations. Finally, we can also set up large, conventional tents for your crew as you desire. These are located in our Main Camp – located conveniently near our Tented Safari Camp. Regardless of which lodging options you choose, you can also avail yourself to our gourmet cuisine. With both organic and conventional meal plan options, you can custom-make your food options while staying with us. We’ll provide complete flexibility in term of which meals you take, adjusting as your filming logistics demand. Additionally, we can provide significant refrigerator/freezer and cooler space to help store any food you may want to bring to Raven’s Nest.

On-screen Appearances

 

Vincent has the knowledge and relaxed demeanor to be an excellent on-screen host or actor for your project. As a Naturalist, Wildlife Biologist, and Wilderness Survival Instructor he is quite comfortable imparting his knowledge in front of the camera. He is not only able to follow your specific directions, but also is a wealth of useful and innovative ideas that you can tap into.    Vincent’s areas of expertise with filming experience include:

Natural History

  • Wildlife Biology
  • Conservation Biology
  • Wildlife Tracking
  • Ornithology
  • Mammalogy
  • Herpetology
  • Entomology
  • Botany
  • Ethnobotany – human uses of native plants
  • Conservation Issues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wilderness Survival

  • Survival Shelters of many types
  • Fire-by-friction, including bow-drill, hand-drill, fire-plow, and fire-saw
  • Flint-knapping
  • Stone-age and Wilderness Tools
  • Water-finding and Safety
  • Weather-related Disaster Prevention
  • Natural Navigation – without modern tools
  • Cordage or Rope-making from plants
  • Primitive Hunting and Trapping
  • Survival Signals
  • Wilderness and Outdoor Safety
  • Wildlife Tracking

 

 

 

If you would like to use him as a presenter, Vincent will gladly send a topic-appropriate clip of himself upon request to help you decide upon his inclusion in your film project. Considering his extensive list of teaching experience, including at the university level and for other teachers, he feels extremely comfortable in the role of a host, narrator, and/or on-screen actor.

Consulting

 

Working intimately with your film crew, Vincent can provide expert and invaluable assistance in any of the following areas:

  • Wilderness Survival Skills – in a wide range of environments, including in North America and throughout much of the world. Vincent has spent key time in the wilds of North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
  • Wilderness Survival and Natural History pre-shoot training for other presenters
  • Natural History facts and associated sound science in a number of realms, including: Wildlife Biology, Ecology, Botany, Ethnobotany, Biogeography, Wildlife Conservation, and living Archaeology
  • Detailed information about a broad range of flora and fauna throughout the world, though especially in the American Southwest
  • Custom guiding to film wildlife on location, including difficult-to-find species
  • Expertise in tracking local wildlife, including by prints and other signs
  • Dangerous plants and animals of the Southwest – Rattlesnakes, Scorpions, Spiders, predatory Mammals, suspect Plants, and much more!
  • Expert knowledge about useful plants, including wild edible and medicinal plants – Vincent’s M.A. is in Ethnobotany – how people use native plants for a plethora of purposes
  • Astronomy facts and sky tours in some of the best celestial viewing conditions in North America

 

Props

 

 

 

Given his extensive experience as an expert Wilderness Survival Instructor, Vincent possesses the skill and the artistry to furnish you with the artifacts and props that you require for your project. These may include, but are not limited to:

  • Fire-by-friction sets in a variety of techniques – fire-plow, hand-drill, bow-drill, and fire-saw
  • Arrowheads, arrows, bows, and other weapons, including artful decorations
  • Completely natural and visually arresting survival shelters suitable for actual use
  • Wild edible, wild medicinal, and other useful local plants – all of which can be arranged in gorgeous displays
  • Baskets, containers, and other natural vessels
  • Mineral paints for pictographs and other ancient art projects
  • Pecked rock bowls, mortars, and other lithic arts
  • Tanned Buckskin items and clothing for period reenactments

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

 

Vincent has taught for the following organizations, among others:

  • National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS)
  • Embry-Riddle University – Prescott, AZ
  • The University of Arizona
  • Cochise College – AZ
  • Circle Z Ranch – AZ
  • Tucson Audubon Society’s Desert Institute – AZ
  • Me to We – AZ
  • Green Valley Recreation – AZ
  • Friends of Brown Canyon – AZ
  • The Desert Botanical Gardens – AZ
  • Friends of the San Pedro – AZ
  • Pueblo Grande Museum – AZ
  • Wintercount Gathering – AZ
  • Wings over Wilcox  -, AZ –
  • Southwest Wings Birding & Nature Festival – AZ
  • Santa Cruz Nature & Heritage Festival – AZ
  • REI – AZ
  • Miraval Resort – AZ
  • Arizona Game & Fish Expo – AZ
  • The Arizona State Museum -Tucson, AZ
  • Tom Brown’s Tracker School – NJ
  • Prescott College – AZ
  • Western New Mexico University – NM
  • Dona Ana Branch Community College – NM
  • University of Arizona High Desert Conference – AZ
  • Rabbitstick Rendezvous – ID
  • Northern Lights Gathering – British Columbia, Canada
  • Boy Scouts of America – AZ
  • Friends of Sabino Canyon – AZ
  • Desert Audubon – AZ
  • Chiricahua National Monument – AZ
  • Sharlot Hall Museum – AZ
  • Smoki Museum – AZ
  • Flowing Wells High School – AZ
  • Mission Montessori Academy – AZ
  • Prescott College Student Mentor – AZ
  • American Museum of Natural History’s Southwestern Research Station – AZ
  • Apache Grade School – AZ
  • Filming for “Travel Bug” TV series – AZ
  • Filming for “Buggin’ with Rude” TV series – AZ
  • Tucson Green Festival – AZ
  • Pathfinder Ranch Environmental Education Center – CA
  • The Chewonki Foundation – ME
  • Appalachian Mountain Club – NH
  • Poko MacCready Outdoor Education center – NY
  • Greenkill YMCA – NY
  • Corinth Elementary School -Corinth, NY
  • Several Teacher’s Conferences – NY
  • Whiteface Mountain Native American Festival – NY
  • Fairview Lake YMCA – NJ
  • Pennypack Environmental Education Center – PA
  • Churchville Nature Center – PA

VINCENT’S OTHER EXPERIENCES

 

  • Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Researcher – AZ
  • Spotted Owl Researcher – NM, OR, & AZ
  • Wild Turkey Researcher – AZ & NM
  • Reptile & Amphibian Researcher – MO
  • Mammal Researcher – MD
  • Wildlife Habitat Specialist – UT
  • Marine Biologist – AK
  • Substitute Teacher – AZ
  • High School Instructional Aide – AZ
  • Sky Islands Alliance’s Tracking workshop – NM

 

 

Extensive Backpacking & Hiking experience in: AZ, NM, UT, CO, WY, MT, HI, CA, OR, WA, ID, MO, FL, PA, NJ, NY, NH, ME, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Botswana, and Australia.

Stone-Age Wilderness trips in: AZ, NM, CA, ID, MT, PA
To view further details about Vincent Pinto, please click:BIO