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The Insect Man won a Diamond Award at BIAFF 2008.
It deals with the work of Jean Henri Fabre (1823-1915) the famous student of insects whose interests extended to all scientific disciplines. He left 11 volumes of "entomological memoirs", many watercolours and other writings. He lived in a country house called Harmas (the red villa) near Sérignan du Comtat in Provence. The house is now a national museum.
The Insect Man
by Florent Van Opstal
When I first visited the "Red Villa" in Sérignan in 1983 I was fascinated by the collection of insects made by Jean-Henri Fabre. Even then, I visited the sites of the entomologist and filmed them in Super 8. | |
When, years later, I discovered the English book "The Insect Man" (Heinemann 1959)1 and a few Dutch documents about Fabre, I knew I had to make a film about him. I was mesmerised by this man of science who called the subjects of his discipline "My beloved insects." | |
Making the Film
Between 2005 and 2007 I travelled to Provence in Southern France at various seasons. I visited the still existing sites where Fabre had studied his subjects. The region around the "Mount Ventoux" and the flora and fauna alongside the Rhone yielded my most beautiful images. |
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Sadly, of the rich biota during Fabre's time, only a few sanctuaries remain. Ninety percent of the film was shot in France. | |
Camera and Editing
Camera: Canon XL 2
Editing: Final Cut Pro 5 |
1 | The Insect Man by Eleanor Doorly (Author), Walter De La Mare (Introduction), Robert Gibbings (Illustrator) was first published in 1936. Written for children it has a family visiting France to learn about Fabre's work. Paperback copies of later editions can be found on www.amazon.co.uk for 50p with older hardback copies selling for up to £20. |
2 | Century Optics has merged with Schneider Optics. See their website www.schneideroptics.com. |