Mark Emery Ocala Evening Lecture

Many of you know that Ocala has been a film destination for years. Mark Emery has cataloged 40 films here, spending years focusing on learning how to film North- Central Florida’s wildlife. Historically, films made here were just scenes in films such as “Live and Let Die,” “Creature from the Black Lagoon,” or “The Yearling.” Today, series including the BBC’s “Planet Earth” documentary, and networks such as NBC, PBS Nature, National Geographic Television and Disney Plus are highlighting Ocala’s own back yard. Many of the films and documentaries were here because of the amazing underwater clarity of Silver Springs, which have an international reputation for beauty and biodiversity. Now we are finding that this fast-growing county is compressing the wildlife population that draws filmmakers, birders, fishermen, hunters, and hikers. In this lecture, Emery will share rarely seen scenes captured after hours both above and below the surface of the water. Prepare to be amazed at what is going on in your own backyard!

Mark Emery grew up in Florida. He worked at Silver Springs driving glass-bottom boats, wrestling alligators, and milking rattlesnakes for Ross Allen’s Reptile Institute. Later he went to work for Jordan Klein Film and Video. Jordan Klein Sr. invented underwater cinematography. Mark and his wife, Mary, traveled to 35 countries producing, directing, and shooting scores of television shows and commercials about fish and wildlife for National Geographic Television, BBC, Nature on PBS, The Discovery Channel, and Disney Plus. He has won two Emmys for cinematography, a Chris Award, and has been named Wildlife Communicator of the Year. His photography has been published in National Geographic Magazine, Newsweek, The London Times, Outside Magazine, Outdoor Life, Florida Sportsman, Backpacker Magazine, Alaska Magazine, books, calendars, and commercials. Mark and Mary spend their summers filming and guiding film crews and fishermen in Alaska.

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Host or Publisher Florida Institute for Human & Machine Cognition