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Some of the films photographed
or directed by John Bulmer:-
Fat Fiancee
Photographed & Directed
A bride in Western Uganda has to be a Fat Bride, to be respected, indeed
to fetch any bride price. After the deal is agreed the young girl is kept
in a Fattening Room for up to six months till she is considered ready
for the wedding ceremony. (Cicada Films,
Discovery Channel)
Planes Pigs, and the Price of Brides
Photographed & Directed
The Migani people in the highlands of West Papua have been one of the
most isolated tribes in the world. Recently a few missionaries have reached
the area. The people have decided they want to join the modern world,
and they believe that the way forward is to build an airstrip. Spurred
on by the local missionary, they forge ahead with their plans and start
to fell trees and dig the earth; mostly oblivious to the extent of the
changes this will bring to their way of life. (Essential
TV, Discovery Channel)
The Witchdoctors New Bride
Photographed & Directed
The Me’enit people of Western Ethiopia migrated last century from Southern
Sudan to their present home in Ethiopia. They have kept their tradition
of highly elaborate funeral ceremonies, and of predicting the future
by reading the entrails of their cattle. This is the story of a young
girl who was due to become the third wife of the local witchdoctor. Her
whole life is shattered when her mother dies, and the readings of the
entail promise death to her and her family if the marriage goes ahead. (Essential
TV Discovery Channel)
Beehives and Runaway Wives
Photographed & Directed
The Sheko people of Ethiopia live by gathering honey from the high trees
of the rainforest. They risk their lives both from climbing the huge trees
and from the stings of the vicious bees. This film is about Miangu, a
honey gatherer who is also having trouble at home. He married a second
wife as his first bore him no children. The first wife ran away, and Miangu,
between climbing the trees for honey, is taxed with the problem of how
to get her back. (Essential TV Discovery
Channel)
The Chief who talks with God
Photographed & Directed
Chief Itapi rules a small group of people in the Western Highlands of
Papua, previously West Irian. He believes he has the ear of God and controls
his people in God’s name. He also wishes to extend his power over the
whole tribe of the Bunani Mee, and to this end he builds a meeting house
and holds a pig feast. He believes that to live traditionally is serving
God’s
will and showing independence from their Indonesian rulers. (Essential
TV Discovery Channel)
Stick Fights and Lip Plates
Photographed & directed
50 min film on the Surma people in South West Ethiopia. The men still
practise violent stick fights, and the women still pierce their lips
to insert giant lip plates before marriage. Some young girls are now
refusing to pierce their lips, but the men are resisting the change.
(Essential TV Discovery Channel)
Wow! Strong story line, intimate interviews
and some of the most unique people who have shared their way of life
with us.- Maureen Lemire, Discovery.
House of the Spirits
Photographed & directed
Film for Discovery Channel on a group of people living in the rain forest
in Siberut Island, Indonesia. The people believe that spirits from the
forest inhabit their bodies. If they don’t give these spirits a good
time them may leave, and the person will die. (Essential
TV Discovery Channel)
Really lovely film The philosophy of be happy
or the spirit will leave is clear, consistent and compelling - Maureen Lemire, Discovery.
A Mysterious Death
Photographed & directed
Film for BBC “Under the Sun” about a funeral in Ghana and the search
for the cause of death... finding if the deceased was killed by a curse.
This wonderful documentary opens a window
onto an entirely different culture - Daily Telegraph.
The Search for Shangri-La
Photographed & directed
50 min film for BBC “Journeys” and PBS Boston, on an expedition with
Charles Allen and Mark Shand to walk over the Himalayas from Nepal to
far western Tibet in the search for the remains of an ancient civilisation
which was the source for the legend of Shangri-La.
I must say I was hugely impressed.... John
Preston, Sunday Telegraph.
Dances with Llamas
Produced, photographed and directed
50 min Film for BBC “Under the Sun” on llama herders 14,000 feet up in
Bolivia. The climax is their annual “Tinku”,
often a battle to the death.
This rivetting report showed an astonishing
slice of rural life at it’s
most primitive and violent.... Stafford Hildred, The Sun.
The Beast of Bardia
Photographed and directed
50 min film on an expedition to find a rare Elephant in Western Nepal.
Produced by Cicada Films for Discovery and Channel Four. This is a mystery
story of adventure in an exotic setting.
Chosen by Channel 4 in their producer’s guide
as a “Model” for
the Encounters series.
Empty Quarter
Photographed and directed
50 min film for BBC Journeys on writer Sandy Gall crossing the Empty
Quarter in Arabia by camel.
A delight from start to finish... Max Davidson,
Daily Mail.
Bull Magic
Produced, photographed and directed
50 min film for BBC "Under the Sun" and National Geographic about Bull
racing on the island of Madura off Eastern Java.
The most entertaining programme of the week...
Time Out.
Women of the Yellow Earth
Photographed and directed
A Film about the life of two families in remote Northern China, and the
problems arising between them and the family planning authorities. The
main character ends up with being forcibly sterilized. For BBC "Under
the Sun".
... extraordinary film, as intimate and natural
as the recent Beyond the Clouds series... Daily Mail.
The Painter and The Fighter
Photographed and directed
A film about the Surma people who live in one isolated area between south
west Ethiopia and Sudan. This tribe who have remained entirely isolated
from the outside world, make their own music and art - through body painting,
pot making etc. They also have a wild side - manifested in ritual stick
fighting. This film was for Survival Anglia and has been shown on National
Geographic, and Channel 4.
I have no words to express my admiration
for your film about Surma. It is superb.... Pam Hogan Nat Geographic,
head of Co-Productions.
Queen of the Elephants
Photographed
A 90 min film with Mark Shand about a journey through Northern India
on Elephant back. The film highlights the problems facing the wild Asian
Elephant. (Discovery
Channel)
The photography is stunning... New York Newsday
The Tide of War
Filmed
A film about the environmental impact of the Gulf War. Made in two versions,
30 min for Channel 3, and 50 min for National Geographic
Vincent the Dutchman
Photographed
A 50 min film for “ Omnibus” Directed by Mai Zetterling and staring Michael
Gough as Vincent Van Gogh. (Winner of the
BAFTA award, Best Documentary)
Finite Oceans
Photographed and directed
50 min for Discovery Channel with Dr. Roger Payne on pollution of the
World.
A show that gave us the highest results for
the evening.... Discovery Channel.
The Artists Horse
Produced, photographed and directed
A 20 minute film for the "South Bank Show" about art and the horse. (first
prize in "Art Films" at Cork Film Festival)
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