Profile on Kim Kindersley

Actor and award winning documentary film maker who communicates conservation and climate change on behalf of whales, dolphins and indigenous people, with his latest production “Whaledreamers” about to hit the screens.

Kim Kindersley has been making documentaries and working in environmental media for over 18 years. He has worked with PlanetArk, Global Green, Greenpeace, IFAW, Climate Friendly, Whaleman Foundation and many others. With Pierce Brosnan, he created many Global Campaigns for sustainability and Save the Whales.

Having known Julian Lennon (son of Beattle John Lennon) for thirty years, Kim says: “We have a mutual interest in the messages of the film. Julian is going to release a new album which reflects more and more his own commitment changing the world....and what a legacy to be bringing forward in this way. 20 percent of the films profit will flow into the indigenous cultural projects and whale related causes”.

Julian Lennon was originally inspired to do this film with me after seeing Baraka in a cinema and it was Gordon Bobbin who brought that film to Australian cinemas and to the Orpheum. Baraka is the longest running film in Australia.

In 1991 Kim completed his first full length Documentary called 'The Dolphin's Gift'. It tells the story of Fungie the friendly dolphin who lives in a bay off the west coast of Ireland.

'It was meeting this dolphin that profoundly changed my perspective on life. I was in the freezing water and he swam right up to me and stared right through me with this all seeing eye.

“I had no idea that there was such magic in the world…I had thought, that happiness came through success and career. From that moment on I determined, that to the best of my ability, I would follow my heart's desire…when the dolphin looked into my eyes I realized that Humanity is totally a part of nature, that we are one with all things and more or less everything that I had been taught was irrelevant without this understanding …".

'Dolphin's Gift' sold all over the world.

Two years later Kim completed his 2nd film "The Dolphin's Story". A tale about a young girl's dream to swim with a dolphin in the wild. The film was shot in Belize and earned Kim a finalist place in the Tele Awards USA."I spent over three weeks on my own with this dolphin in the wild…sometimes over 5 hours a day in the water.

“I built up a close bond with Peto as she was known to the islanders. We began to explore a more telepathic communication that I believe we are all capable of, if only we can quiet the mind. The dolphin became my friend and taught me so much about unconditional love."

Back in London, Kim collaborated with producer Adrian Mondsey to make a version of the film entitled 'Dolphin: a Magical Musical Mystery'.

Other film projects have included 'Sacred Fire', a collaboration with director Kia Miller and the 'The Julian Lennon Story' for Channel V Australia.

In 1995 Kim teamed up with producer TM to research and develop a project called 'Eyes Of The Soul'. As a result of this extensive collaboration relationships have been formed with many Indigenous groups around the world who have deep connections with the Dolphins and Whales.

It is slated to be made into a TV series, Imax film, Feature documentary and Feature film.

"I am consistently amazed and appalled at how little the media covers 'positive magical stories', it's as if the people in power want the world to be a violent, fearful place without hope. Yet we have already most of the solutions to most of the problems on our planet…if only people were allowed to see that there is a choice …that is our main goal here with the work at Heart Magic, to show people that they have a choice and that there is still a magical world out there that is worth preserving and fighting for in a nonviolent way. I believe that the future of our continued life on this planet hangs in the balance...if we do not wake up collectively now we could be condemning future generations to extinction."

“Whaledreamers” is the name on the lips of film watchers. Two reviews in Urban Cinefile www.urbancinefile.com.au – in advance of its release in Australia in September – give a clear picture of how it will be received:

REVIEW BY Louise Keller:

It is to Julian Lennon's infectious tune Saltwater that the closing credits roll to this passionate documentary that pleads for better understanding between all people. The film has already won acclaim at various festivals around the world and is sure to raise more interest in Australia, whose indigenous people are at its heart. English actor turned filmmaker Kim Kindersley makes his own personal journey through the film as he joins indigenous tribal leaders from around the world in a spiritual gathering with the Aboriginal Mirning tribe. The whale is their symbol of humanity and through rituals around a fire the indigenous elders make their sacred plea.

It's a thought provoking film that touches on issues of climate change as well as the killing of whales and includes compelling images of the great mammals themselves as they respond to the calling.

It all began for Kindersley 10 years ago in Ireland when researching his ancestral roots. It was swimming with a dolphin that inspired him to begin his research, followed by a promotional film and an invitation to a whale calling ceremony in South Australia by the Mirning tribe's song man Bunna Lawrie. 'People of the world need to reconnect,' says Lawrie, a sentiment with which few would disagree. How Julian Lennon became involved in the project is not made clear, but there is one intriguing fact that comes to light. After a Tribal Elder presents Lennon with a white feather, we are told according to an extract from Cynthia Lennon's book that John Lennon alerted his son to look for a white feather 'And you'll know I'm there looking out for you.'

Cinematic and often rousing, Whaledreamers will appeal to those who take the changing nature of our world seriously. For Kindersley, the indigenous people at the film's core are perhaps symbolic of the world at large, as they convey their message of love and peace. Actor Jack Thompson pledges his considerable support behind the project not only makes a moving statement at the Byron Bay Film Festival but adds gravitas with his distinctively voiced narration.

REVIEW BY Andrew L. Urban:

There is quite an echo of the mood of the 60s in Whaledreamers, in the best possible sense, with peace, love and harmony major themes. A yearning for the world to heal itself, to enjoy the connections between humans and nature - especially whales and dolphins, of course - and an insight into the core of dreaming as an indigenous life experience. Made with the passion of the committed and the sincerity of the believer, Whaledreamers is both an ecological and a spiritual film, urging us to consider the upside of harmony and the downside of ignorance and environmental carelessness. But it also confronts the whale killing tradition in some indigenous communities.

Whales and dolphins swim past the camera and their (usually) silent witness is message enough. Filmmaker Kim Kindersley has invested years of his time and layers of his being in the film, which is both insistent and sincere.

Jack Thompson narrates in his wonderful voice, and also lends his persona and his stature to the enterprise. He is not merely mouthing the words, but meaning them.

The film will no doubt preach to the converted, but that's no fault of the filmmakers and their supporters; that's the miserable reality of the way the world is. And it is exactly what the filmmakers intended.

Whaledreamers will be the only feature length film shown at Greenfest in Brisbane in October.

For more on Whaledreamers and Kim Kindersley visit these websites:

Source: www.heartmagic.net and www.whaledreamers.com

Media Man Australia Profiles

Whaledreamers

Media Man Australia Film Update

Media Man Australia has assisted in a media, publicity and / or capital raising capacity on the following:

Entrepreneurs - the Reality Show

Sum Of Existence

Sweet Cyanide

Joy's World

Australia's Greatest Entrepreneurs (interviewed and PR via Media Man Australia network)

Fight Of The Century

Brothers At War

Whaledreamers

Internet Movie Database

Greg Tingle

Website

Media Man Australia