Going for the kill: A cinematographers' analysis of filming and editing kill shots in trophy hunting videos produced in South Africa.
Tolmay, Roland Andrew
Tolmay, Roland Andrew
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Abstract
Trophy hunting videos, particularly those featuring impact shots of animals, can evoke negative emotions in sensitive viewers and non-hunters. This study
examines how such footage is filmed and edited by trophy hunting content producers in South Africa and explores alternative cinematic and editing
techniques to reduce these adverse reactions. Anti-hunting organizations frequently use hunting visuals from public platforms like YouTube to criticise
hunting practices. However, by employing alternative camera framing, shot sizes, and responsible editing techniques, these videos could shift the narrative to
emphasise how controlled, legal hunting contributes to species and habitat conservation in South Africa and makes a sizable contribution to the economy.
The research methodology involved qualitative interviews with hunting content producers and hunting professionals, textual analyses of hunting videos and
YouTube comments, and an autoethnographic reflection on the researcher’s own experiences in filming trophy hunting videos. The findings reveal that professional content producers are aware of their responsibility to present an accurate and realistic narrative. Techniques such as over-the-shoulder framing, combined with responsible editing that avoids slow motion or repeated impact shots edited in sequence, can help mitigate negative emotional responses from viewers. By adopting these research-informed techniques, content producers can create a narrative that not only reduces negative reactions but also educates viewers on the positive conservation impacts of ethical hunting. This study makes a significant contribution to the field, as there is limited existing research on trophy hunting videos and viewer sensitivity. It provides practical guidance to producers, editors, and cinematographers on how to minimise viewer sensitivity while conveying the conservation benefits of regulated hunting practices.
Description
Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Motion Picture Production in the Department of Visual Communication, Faculty of Arts and Design at the Tshwane University of Technology.
Date
2024-11-02
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Tshwane University of Technology
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Keywords
Trophy hunting, Hunting videos, Cinematography, Editing, Postproduction, Cinematic conventions, Impact Shot, Hunting videos, Southern African hunting, Anti-hunting.