Trained Ravens for Film and Television
Bran the raven, one of the most intelligent of all birds, is capable of very complex sequences, and can be flown in a whole variety of locations, he also has a wonderful temperament, so is very well behaved with presenters and actors.
He can be seen below, top left, wearing the HD minicam and is the first and only raven to carry a camera, so you can now achieve stunning on board footage in a whole variety of locations, from cityscape to mountains.
What a raven can do on camera
Ravens are among the most intelligent of all birds, and that is not a nature-documentary flourish — it is the practical reason a raven can be given a complex sequence and hold it. Bran can be flown in a whole variety of locations, and he has a wonderful temperament, so he is very well behaved with presenters and actors.
If your scene needs a bird to do something specific in a specific order, rather than simply fly through shot, the raven is usually the answer.
The on-board camera
Bran is the first and only raven to carry a camera. Wearing our HD minicam he delivers on-board footage from the bird’s own point of view in a whole variety of locations, from cityscape to mountains.
That is a genuinely rare shot. See the on-board cam and drone page for how it works and what it needs.
Common questions
Can we film on our own location?
Often, but not always. Some locations will not give you the shot whatever bird you put in them — the sightlines, the light, the wind or the space are simply wrong. Send us the location, ideally with photographs, before you lock it. It costs nothing and it has saved productions a great deal.
How much notice do you need?
It depends entirely on the sequence. A perched shot, or a straightforward flight to the hand, needs far less lead time than a choreographed sequence built around a specific action. Complex work is measured in months rather than weeks. Ask us early and we will give you a straight answer.
Will the bird work close to actors and presenters?
This is a large part of what we do, and it is the reason the birds are raised and flown by us rather than sourced in. Tell us what the contact needs to be — a hand, a shoulder, a glove, a look — and we will tell you what is realistic with a raven and how long it would take to prepare.
Do you travel?
Yes. Our birds have filmed across the UK and abroad, from the Scottish moors to Arco in Italy.
Is the flying real, or is it done in post?
Real. The birds fly in real time, at full speed, to camera. Nothing is slowed down, and nothing is composited.
Planning a shoot
Every job starts the same way. Tell us what you are trying to film and we will tell you honestly whether it is possible, and how — including when the answer is no.
Our birds are raised and flown by Lloyd and Rose themselves, which is what makes calm, close work with actors and presenters possible. They fly in real time rather than being slowed down afterwards. The birds’ welfare comes first on every job.
Some sequences can be set up quickly. Others cannot — the goshawk work for H is for Hawk took fifteen months of daily preparation before a camera turned. The earlier you bring us in, the more you will get.
Working with us
Tell us what you are trying to film and we will tell you honestly whether it is possible, and how.