Wild’s crews are experts in their fields and chosen for their commitment to the stories and subjects that they work with. Their dedication is reflected in the quality of Wild’s extensive image libraries and it programming success overseas.




Mike Bhana

Brief History

  • Eight years as a journalist prior to moving into television.
  • As a photojournalist during the 80’s Mike had stories printed worldwide - illustrated by over 2000 published photographs including 21 cover shots.
  • Published his first book in 1989 – “New Zealand Surfing Guide.” It is still in print today.
  • Produced/Directed over 14 Hours of Prime-time Documentaries inc. 12 hours of Prime-Time US Documentaries.
  • Produced and/or Directed more than 50 Television Commercials.
  • Produced/Directed more than a dozen Corporate Videos inc. In-flight Airline Programmes.
  • Produced/Directed Sell-through Videos.
  • Produced/Directed 43 Sports programmes.
  • Produced/Directed first 23 Episodes of Gone Fishin’.
  • Produced/Directed 20/20 Items for both NZ and the US.
  • Currently Mike has Produced/Directed and Shot more shark documentaries than anyone else on the planet.

Achievements

  • WorldFest Platinum Remi Award - April 2007: Best Documentary - "Hope in Hell - Monday"
  • WorldFest Gold Remi Award - April 2007: TV Series Family/Children - "OceanZOO"
  • WorldFest Film Festival - September 2004: Best of the Festival Awards - TUNA COWBOYS.
  • WorldFest Film Festival – April 2004: Special Jury Prize – Creative Excellence in Film – TUNA COWBOYS.
  • Belgrade Underwater Film Festival – December 2003: 2nd Place in Group A – TUNA COWBOYS.
  • Mondial Film Festival – France November 2003: Palm D’Or – Best Film: Tuna Cowboys.
  • Mike’s Cinematography featured heavily in the 2001 Emmy Award winning series “Twisted Tales,” 2002 Emmy Award winning series “The Most Extreme” and 2003 Emmy finalist “The Most Extreme.”
  • Worldfest International Film Festival 2001 – Three nominations in the Category of Best Underwater and Marine Science Film – Winner top three places:
    • Platinum Remy Award – Shark Gordon “A Whale of A Shark.”
    • Gold Award – Shark Gordon “Mako – Friend or Foe.”
    • Silver Award – Shark Gordon “White Shark.”
  • Jackson Hole Film Festival 2001
    • Nomination in the Category of Best Animal Behaviour.
    • Nomination in the Category of Best Cinematography.
  • Emmy Awards 2001
    • Nomination in the Category of Best Cinematography in a Documentary.
  • Qantas Press Awards 1993 – Winner in the Category of Best Transportation/Tourism Story. - 20/20 item “Slim”.
  • Completed writing his first full-length feature film “Twilight” in 2001.
  • 2002 - Completed writing “In Pursuit of Sharks” a 46,000-word book on shark biology, statistics and his exploits filming and documenting them over 6 years. Remains unpublished.
  • 2003 – Completed children’s book for Learning Media on Sharks.
  • 2003 – Completed second screenplay “Descent.”

Additional skills

  • OSH (Occupational Health and Safety) Certified Occupational Diver.
  • Over 2400 logged scuba dives.
  • Nitrox and Re-breather qualified.
  • Dan O2 Provider Certificate.
  • Advanced 1 st Aid and Trauma Certified Industrial Medic.
  • Defibrillator Operator.
  • Over 50 hours of helicopter filming and rescue work.
  • Highly experienced free diver confident to 30m.
  • Over two decades of boat handling experience inc. over 10,000 sea miles and, during the past 5 years, skippered his own 50-foot yacht through the Pacific.
  • Skilled Stills Photographer.

Current History

  • Curator/Creator "Planet Shark" - the world's largest touring exhibition on sharks - 2009 till present.
  • Director/Writer "Pacific Beat Street' - Polynesian magazine format television series about life in New Zealand - 2009 till present.

Past History

  • Underwater Camera "Man vs Fish - Mako" - A Discovery Channel 1 hour documentary on fishing with Matt Watson.
  • Topside/Underwater Camera "Fragile Paradise" - A 1 hour natural history documentary as part of the HD BBC series "South Pacific".
  • Producer/Director "Hope in Hell - Monday" - A 1 hour pilot for an international TV Series on Red Cross delegates under fire around the world.
  • Talent/Underwater Camera "Perfect Predators" - A 1 hour natural history documentary on sharks for Discovery Channel.
  • Originating Producer "Top Five Eaten Alive" - A 1 hour Discovery Channel documentary on shark attacks.
  • Series Producer/Director "Hope In Hell" - A 9 part 1/2 hour TV Series on Red Cross delegates at work in some of the worl's major trouble spots.
  • Producer/Director/Camera "Death Zone" - A 1 hour natural history documentary revealing startling new information about the movements of Great White Sharks.
  • Series Producer/Director/Camera "OceanZoo" - A 13 part 1/2 hour TV series on aquariums in New Zealand and Australia.
  • Concept/Producer/Director/UWW Camera "Tuna Cowboys" - A 1 hour National Geographic documentary on tuna farming.
  • Concept/Producer/Director/UW Camera "Shark Gordon" - A 1 hour documentary on Shark Gordon's Most Danferous Moments for Animal Planet.
  • Concept/Producer/Director "Turning Back Time" - A 1 hour documentary on culture in Vanuatu.
  • Concept/Producer/Director/UW Camera "White Shark - Nature of the Beast" - A 1 hour Discovery Channel documentary about Great White Sharks.
  • Concept/Producer/Director/Camera "Riddle of the Rays" - A 1 hour Discovery Channel documentary on stingrays.
  • Concept/Producer/Director/Camera "Mako - Swift Smart and Deadly" - A 1 hour Discovery Channel documentary on Mako Sharks.
  • Concept/Producer/Director/UW Camera "Whales and Dolphins of Aotearoa" - A 1 hour natural history documentary on cetaceans in New Zealand.
  • Concept/Producer/Director/Camera "Just When You Thought It Was Safe" - A 1 hour natural history documentary on sharks in New Zealand waters.
  • Concept/Producer/Director/Camera "Gone Fishin" - The first 23 x 1/2 hour shows in a series on fishing in New Zealand.