The polar bear (Ursus maritimus), also known as the white bear, northern bear, or sea bear is a speices of bear that is native to the Arctic.  The polar bear is a semi-aquatic marine mammal and hunts well on land, on the sea ice, and in the water.

 

Although the polar bear usually looks white in color, its fur is actually translucent and its skin is black.  Polar bears have two layers of fur - one is oily guard hairs that quickly shed water, the other is a woolly underlayer for insulation.  Its thick blubber  (up to 4" or 10cm) and fur insulate the polar bear against the cold.  Polar bears living in captivity (like in the San Diego Zoo) are fed a less-fatty diet so that their blubber percentage decreases and they can therefore enjoy the warm weather without overheating. 

 

 

More Facts on POLAR BEARS.


Interview with Dr. Steven Amstrup
Pieczenik, Sharon | 2007-08-22 | 15:05mins | POLAR BEARS.
This interview with Dr. Steven Amstrup was commissioned by Polar Bears International.  It is an informational interview that discusses the effects of global climate change on the polar bear population.  Dr. Steven C. Amtrup is the team leader for the U.S. effort to study the polar bears of the Southern Beaufort Sea. He works with the U.S. Geological Survey's Alaska Science Center. He also led the effort to map polar bear maternity denning sites in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and is the author of the chapter on polar bears in "Wild Mammals of North America: Biology, Management, and Conservation," edited by George A. Feldhamer, Bruce C. Thompson, and Joseph A. Chapman.
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Sharon Pieczenik and Dr. Steven Amstrup met through Polar Bears International during the 2006 bear season.  This interview was shot on the Tundra Buggy Lodge out on the tundra.  It would have been preferable to shoot the interview outside on the deck of the lodge, however it is extremely windy in Churchill and the surrounding areas.  Working in the tundra poses some very interesting problems when aiming for clean video and sound...but the challenges make the job exciting (if not a bit stressful).

 

Sharon Pieczenik: lighting, cinematography, sound, interviewer, editor

Edward Watkins: PBI logo animation 



Interview with Dr. Randi Meyerson
Pieczenik, Sharon | 2007-08-21 | 6:25mins | POLAR BEARS.
This is an interview with Dr. Randi Meyerson, commissioned by Polar Bears International. This is an informal interview with Dr. Meyerson concerning the role of captive polar bears and the zoos which house them.  Dr. Randi Meyerson is a veterinarian at the Toledo Zoo. She also chairs the Polar Bear Species Survival Plan for the American Zoo and Aquarium Association. She is closely involved with all issues concerning captive polar bears in North America. She played a leadership role in producing a comprehensive nutrition manual for polar bears in zoos as well as a husbandry manual and has been involved with a number of volunteer projects for Polar Bears International. 
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Sharon Pieczenik and Dr. Randi Meyerson were introduced to one another through their work with Polar Bears International. This interview was taped while both Ms. Pieczenik and Dr. Meyerson were staying at the Polar Bears International's house in Churchill, Manitoba during the 2006 bear season.

Captive polar bear footage was generously provided by the San Diego Zoo.

The interview footage was shot on a JVC GY-HD110U camera in HDV 720p 30fps.


Sharon Pieczenik: cinematographer, sound, interviewer, editor
Edward Watkins: PBI Logo Animation


Interview with Norbert Rosing
Pieczenik, Sharon | 2007-08-21 | 10:30mins | POLAR BEARS.
This interview with Norbert Rosing was commissioned by Polar Bears International. Sharon Pieczenik was thrilled to have the opportunity to spend the day riding along with Mr. Rosing as he tracked polar bears around Churchill, Manitoba. They also managed time for an interview detailing Mr. Rosing's career and photographic techniques.  Norbert Rosing is a world-renowned wildlife photographer. For over twenty years, Mr. Rosing has traveled throughout the arctic and captured its unique world on film. He is a frequent contributor to international magazines and books throughout Europe and North America. He has won several awards for his work.
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Since 1988 Norbert Rosing has traveled frequently to Churchill, Manitoba. He is a close friend of the organization Polar Bears International. Sharon Pieczenik met Norbert Rosing during the 2006 polar bear season while she was on assignment for Polar Bears International. Norbert was kind enough to grant Sharon an interview and let her join him on a day of adventure tracking down amazing arctic shots.

 

While in Churchill, Mr. Rosing gave a free talk to the public and autographed his latest book, "The World Of The Polar Bear."

 

The video was shot on a JVC HD110U in HDV 720p 30fps.

 

Sharon Pieczenik: cinematography, sound, interviewer, editor

Edward Watkins: PBI logo animation



Ambassadors of the Arctic
Pieczenik, Sharon | 2007-08-20 | 12:45mins | POLAR BEARS.
"Ambassadors of the Arctic" is a promotional film for Polar Bears International’s Leadership Camp. The film will be sent to possible private donors and corporate sponsors to help fund the program. Leadership Camp takes students from around the world and exposes them to ten days of intense fieldwork dealing with the plight of polar bears as an indicator for global climate change. The students keep daily web journals so that anyone online can follow along on with the students’ journey. After the camp, each student returns to his/her community as an “Ambassador of the Arctic,” to help educate their peers to think globally and act locally.
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This was my first professional commission (as well as the first video I ever made outside of a classroom setting). Polar Bears International found me through my masters of fine arts program at Montana State University.

 

This film was accepted into and shown at:

American Conservation Film Festival 2006

Wild and Scenic Film Festival 2007

 

I was a one woman crew on this shoot doing all pre-production, production, and post-production (shooting, lighting, directing, sound, interviewing, writing, editing). That is even my voice doing the voice-over for the video. Edward Watkins, the genius behind this website's design, did the graphics for the video.

 

FYI - I shot the video on the amazing high-definition Sony HDW-700 (despite my professor telling me that I could not physically handle the gear...yeah right!)

 

For further information on Polar Bears International, please visit their website at http://www.polarbearsinternational.org.