BOOTAWA resident Dr Jim Frazier ASC OAM might have been looking through the macro and micro lenses of cameras for much of his life, but his vision is gigantic.
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Dr Frazier has traversed the planet as a wildlife cinematographer, most notably for David Attenborough, National Geographic and the BBC. And, more locally, for the Australian cult classic ‘Cane Toads: an unnatural history’.
He is the world-renowned inventor of the Frazier Infinity Lens, a lens that revolutionised movie making for both wildlife films and Hollywood, with early use in blockbusters like Titanic and Jurassic Park.
He has won over 40 national and international awards, including an Oscar, an Emmy, an honorary doctorate and a lifetime achievement award from the Cinematographers’ Society.
He is an artist that paints using manipulation of the growth of minute crystals and pieces of his art work are owned by such luminaries as Oprah Winfrey and Hilary Clinton.
Yet at an age when most people are enjoying retirement, Dr Frazier is embarking on what he considers his life’s purpose – a massive musical environmental film project titled ‘Symphony of the Earth’ (SOE).
“My whole life’s path has led to this,” said Jim. “Having travelled the world filming for Attenborough and other people I received an overview of what’s happening on this earth that most people are never exposed to.
“Being very in tune with things natural I saw the writing on the wall for the whole of humanity if we don’t create change, and therein lies the aim and purpose of SOE.”
Twelve years in the designing, SOE is a huge undertaking, at the centre of which is a feature film of the same title. The mission of SOE is ‘to bring about a global shift in consciousness and awareness through the music and voices of the creatures of the Earth’
An impassioned advocate for the environment, Jim’s concept is to bring together musicians, singers and composers to produce music that will be coupled with sounds from wildlife, to communicate the message that Earth is in need of urgent help.
“If you want to change the world in any way, shape or form you use the heroes of the people,” explained Jim. “And who are they? The musicians, singers, composers, entertainers. And they have the biggest sway and the biggest followings on the earth. When they say something people really take notice.
“I’m doing something extremely unique. I want to introduce to the world a whole new genre of music, and that is animal music.
“I will be sending 25 of the best wildlife guys I know all over the world to film animals making sounds. It has to be visual – you have to see on the screen the animals making the sounds. The composers will build that in to the music with the singers.”
The film will be made in 16 languages so that it reaches a truly global audience.
“The environment is a global problem and it has to be dealt with on a global scale. It really is a matter of building an enormous groundswell among people,” said Jim.
Jim’s vision for SOE does not stop at film. He has plans beyond the scope of the camera, with the profits of the film and documentaries going back into the organisation to fund the foundation of multiple environmental projects, wildlife havens, and research centres.
SOE now has full charitable status and the ball can now start rolling on funding.
On an individual level, you can assist by becoming a member of SOE, or by pre-ordering copies of a book of Dr Frazier’s stunning butterfly photographs, titled ‘Butterflies on my Mind, a sample of which can be seen here on our gallery above.
For more information on SOE, or to enquire about membership or the butterfly book, you can visit www.symphonyoftheearth.org (currently being redesigned) or email Dr Frazier on avesaven@bigpond.com.