The Banks Endeavour
Bringing Sir Joseph Banks to life in film
‘Banks was the great panjandrum of science, in the 18th century he was the leading scientist in the country and more should be known about him.’
Sir David Attenborough CBE FRS, The Collection, Lincoln, February 2014
Red Dog Film, a Lincolnshire based media non-profit collective, is planning to make an authentic period drama and documentary about a forgotten hero… Sir Joseph Banks.
Why?
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There is already a great deal of interest in this man, one of the most important scientific figures in the history of the British Isles. His influence is at the heart of the botanic, scientific, geographical, ecological and social legacy of the age of enlightenment. He is considered by many to be the father of Australia, yet there are few films and programmes about his life and his work. Certainly, he is barely celebrated in the UK, where he came from. And yet, the impact of his life is felt today throughout our modern global society in countless varying facets. We plan to bring him back into the public's consciousness, using film.
What?
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The film will be structured as a 40 minute drama bookended by interviews with key individuals taking about Sir Joseph, including Sir David Attenborough himself.
As you can see from the pitch video, David Attenborough, like many scientists, believes more should be known about Sir Joseph. You can watch the full interview with him from a link further down this page.
The period drama will focus on an elderly Sir Joseph being interviewed about his life by a young botanist and through a series of flashbacks, significant moments from his life will be brought to life including, the company hopes, the discovery of Botany Bay etc.
Red Dog Film plans to film in Lincolnshire, in London and in Australia. We have partners in Australian media who are very excited about the idea.
Who is helping?
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In February 2014, a prestigious exhibition about the life & work of Sir Joseph Banks opened at ‘The Collection’ in Lincoln and was launched by Sir David Attenborough, who is also the patron of the Sir Joseph Banks Society and who spoke passionately about this extraordinary man.
You can watch a short documentary about the exhibition and Sir David’s visit, made by Red Dog Film here:
When?
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Assuming this campaign proves to be successful, we would then go into preproduction by summer 2014. Our ambitions are now to work with Australian production companies. It would be a few months until cameras could roll, as it would take that long process to get permission to film on the replica of the endeavour, or to contract with a local broadcaster in Australia or the UK etc. We would likely going to production at the end of 2014.
Post production, the period when the entire film comes together and it is fine tuned: the visual and aural edits, the music composition and performance, the final sound mix, effects, colourisation etc and would take place during the winter and into 2015.
We are already in discussion with broadcasters in the UK and abroad to show the film on terrestrial TV. As we learn more, we will update you…
Red Dog Film CIC
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Red Dog Film is a Lincolnshire Community Interest Company that has developed an impressive reputation for making ambitious, fact-based, engaging, award-winning, historical films. A recent example of Red Dog Film’s work is “Lancaster”, a 16-minute, period drama prefaced by interviews, made for East Lindsey District Council supported by Arts Council England.
This is the film's website www.lancaster-movie.com
