How Do I Keep LITTLE FINGERS From My Mic, Rycote, Cords

M

MonkeyBusiness

Carbonite Member
Hi Guys

I've just bought my first lot of 'prosumer' video gear, and I'm heading to Bali to film Monkeys. I have a Rycote S-Series Windshield kit, but I'm concerned that these little fellas will grab hold of it and snap it off the top of camera (mount). So I thought of trying to mount the Rycote down below the camera, onto my Tripod. The big question still remains, how do I keep little fingers away from the Rycote, cords, etc?

What is the outcome if I wrap the windshield in foam and attach? Or should I try to put a wire cage/cylinder around it? Can I put it in a plastic tube, mesh on both ends? All of these are possibilities, but what effect will it have on the actual mic, and the recorded sound?

Any help/suggestions, greatly appreciated.

MB
 
I have to say, this is quite an interesting problem :)

Have you filmed monkeys before or heard about them doing any of this, or are you trying to be prepared in any way you can? Maybe you should look around for someone who has filmed in those regions and give them a call?

If I were to guess, I would think that if the monkeys really want to grab and touch the windshield, mounting it below probably won't help. The thing that makes the mic more interesting than the rest of the camera might be the fur on the windshield, in which case you might consider renting a full size zep and use it without the fur (it will still protect decently against wind, but not if there's much of it). Regarding wrapping something around it, this will definitely have an effect on the performance of the mic, both in regards to tonality and pickup pattern (I would abandon the cylinder idea, as it would be too hard and reflective). Wether it would be too much or not, only you can decide - do some tests!
 
Bring something else that will distract them more, like a stuffed animal monkey?

If you are able, you gotta get pictures and share them with us.
 
Have you filmed monkeys before or heard about them doing any of this, or are you trying to be prepared in any way you can? Maybe you should look around for someone who has filmed in those regions and give them a call?

Hi Jema

Thanks for the audio tips, I'm a complete novice in all aspects of film-making. I have spent some time with the Monkeys (Crab Eating Macaque) last June, and they are very inquisitive and cheeky. Anything left loose or lying around becomes monkey property. I think you're right though, I might just have to experiment when I get there, and just see what they do. As long as the Rycote is firmly attached, I hope all will be okay.
 
Hi Dave

Good idea about the distraction, but there can be up to 20 monkeys around you at any one time, and the stuffed animal would be gone in a matter of seconds. I don't have any 'action' shots, but I do have a favourite pic of my two little mates from Alas Kedaton.IMG_1864 3.jpg
 
From the Zoo folks here, strategically sprinkle some black pepper on the gear.

To start, make sure you don't overdo it and run some tests first before showtime.

Cheers.
 
Generally when filming wildlife you are not meant to personally interact with the animals, and to keep a distance in order to film their natural behavior. If the animals are clambering over you and your gear then its safe to assume that you are too close.

Wildlife photographers often film from a hide (you can buy pop up hides, kind of like a tent), or from vehicles, or from a good distance with a telephoto lens.

If the animals are habituated, or fed by humans, then you can expect non-natural behavior; such as the monkeys coming up to humans to try to plead for food (or steal it). If that is the case then this would beg the question why bother filming habituated animals displaying non-natural behavior?
 
Tell the monkeys if they touch your equipment, they will never work in that town again. Get the director to fire them.
 
Having been to Bali, I can say firsthand that any tourist sites where monkeys are present, you will find them to be very social...to the point that they will grab at your shorts or shirts if you have something that they're interested in. I walked through the monkey forest in Ubud with a bag of peanuts to feed them, and they had no fear coming up and grabbing at the bag, or me, or my wife. If you wear a hat, sunglasses, jewelry or something they want, expect it to be gone. The bag of peanuts will buy some time and distract them, but probably not long enough for you to setup a shot. If they see empty hands, they usually back off.
If you get to these sites early, the monkeys will be on you like skin on a grape. You might consider going later in the evening, after tourists have fed them well. Other than that, I'm not sure what you could do to keep them away from your gear. Good luck.
 
Allan Black said:
From the Zoo folks here, strategically sprinkle some black pepper on the gear.

To start, make sure you don't overdo it and run some tests first before showtime.

Cheers.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip Allan!

I'm going to ask you a contradictory question: Most juvenile monkeys I met are very social and even cheeky, but the older monkeys aren't as 'interactive' - any tips on how to communicate/get involved with the older and larger monkeys?
 
My wife and I lived in Singapore for 9 years. We went to most of the surrounding countries and the bad news for visitors is the monkeys in the tourist areas are trained to grab things which are then "found" for rewards.

Increase your insurance!
 
Seriously; you are not meant to interact with wild animals. (I'm not talking out of my a** here either; I used to be a ranger and wildlife-guide for nearly a decade in National Parks).

Feeding them makes them worse; they become more prone to grab people, steal food, become aggressive. When they become too aggressive and attack easy targets (usually little kids with food) then they have to be put down.

Monkeys that are used to being fed by tourists eventually lose the ability (or just lose their interest) to forage naturally. The younger monkeys become totally dependent upon hand-outs as they do not learn the necessary skills for foraging from their parents. Its a vicious cycle.

Film from a distance to get natural behavior.
 
¨but the older monkeys aren't as 'interactive' - any tips on how to communicate/get involved with the older and larger monkeys?¨

I would be seriously worried about your good intentions indicated above - As Simon has adequately said in his post, you should not, in my opinion, be ¨interacting¨ with wild animals.

The results often look cute on your videos, but the results of the changes in animal behaviour are left for subsequent tourist visitors, or more importantly for the population of the area, who have to deal with the interaction in their daily lives, crops, etc - which in the end, often end up in the deaths of the animals - which I´m sure is not the intention of the initial visitor, looking for interesting video.

I also have some experience as a guide in wildlife parks.
 
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Hi Paul & Simon

Thank you for your comments. I have reflected upon what you have both said, and I think you would need to visit these areas to get a better understanding of the situation. You assume that I'm entering a 'wildlife' situation, and this simple is not the case - and hasn't been the case for many, many years. If we are to have any hope of saving this planet and the beautiful creatures that remain, we need to work out how to live 'together'. Sad as that may be, I think it will be our only hope for some species. Barring someone solving the world's problems and putting up massive well-protected reserves, the slaughter will continue, and species will continue to disappear from this planet...
 
I have been to enough places where monkeys have been subjected to human interaction and behavior to know that it causes far more problems than it solves.

I live in East Africa, and there are many places where humans and wildlife cohabit naturally. I frequently get Vervet Monkeys passing overhead in the trees in my garden; at least twice a week. At no point have I ever felt the need to try and interact with them, or to feed them, or to touch them. Doing so would destroy their natural behavior, with no long term benefit to the monkeys. The only benefit in these situations is for this short term gratification of naive tourists that believe they are in some way 'helping' the monkeys. Don't be under any illusion; this is about people, not monkeys.

In National Parks, feeding the animals would result in an immediate expulsion from the park. One only had to look at places like Cape Point in South-Africa, where baboon attacks on humans have become common place, resulting in the destruction of the baboons. This is the end result of these interactions.

Yes, you cant just snap your fingers and save the world. But you can do your little bit, one step at a time. Start by being part of the solution, rather than saying "Well everyone else does it so why cant I."
 
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