The International Association of Wildlife Filmmakers

Will Goldenberg - wildlife cinematographer

Will Goldenberg

I am a specialist natural history and documentary cinematographer based in the US. Shortly after after earning a Masters of Science in Wildlife from Cal Poly Humboldt I accepted a full scholarship to attend UWE Bristol where I earned a Masters of Arts in Wildlife Filmmaking under the mentorship of Miles Barton (BBC Natural History Unit). Since then, I have focused my professional work on contributing to natural history programs and environmental documentaries as a cinematographer, director and scientific consultant. The coastal redwood forest of Northern California is my home and I am inextricably linked to this ecosystem through a network of relationships that have grown from decades of filming and research. This rich background and experience (including specialist canopy filming) has allowed me to discover-pitch-film never before seen behavioral sequences and capture rare conditions. I enjoy experimenting with small electronics and I build my own systems for multi-axis motion control, camera trap, lapse time and photostacked micro timelapse.
Will Goldenberg: links
Will Goldenberg - wildlife cinematographer

selected work

The Americas (exp. release 2024)

Additional Cinematographer for amphibian behavioral sequences filmed on location and studio environments. Responsible for filming complex high speed macro shots using motion control equipment and capturing unique footage of fog/light conditions that were central to the story.

Life on Our Planet (2023)

Camera assistant for VFX location plates in redwood forest. Scouted locations and assisted cinematographer with cable dolly rigging/filming as well as RC vehicle mounted gimbal filming of forest habitat.

Wild Babies (2022)

Field director for sea otter behavior sequence filmed on location over 1 month in Alaska. Based out of a remote field research camp, I was responsible for directing a 3 person crew for boat based Shotover filming, drone aerial filming and topside/underwater timelapse filming.

skills list

Aerial, Animal Behaviour, Birds in Flight, Blue & Green Screen Filming, Cable Dolly, Camera Traps, Canopy Access filming, Data Wrangling and workflow, Camera Assistant, Canon Cameras, Digital Editing (Avid, Final Cut etc), Diving Qualifications, Microscopy, Drone Operator, Expedition, Extreme Environments, Field Craft, First Aid Qualifications, Gimbal Filming (Ronin etc.), Hand Held Filming, Hide Work, Jib and Dolly, Long Lens, Lumix Cameras, Macro Studio, Macro Location, Medical and Scientific, Motion Control, Observational Documentary, Panasonic Cameras, Platform work, Time Lapse, Red Cameras, Set Building, Shooting AP, Shooting Director, Sony Cameras, Sound Recording, Sync and Crew Filming, Working at Height
contact - Will Goldenberg