Professional

assisting in

tv - and movie

productions

01

TV PRODUCTIONS

Since 1998 we have been booked again and again as organizer for TV productions. We take care of all the logistics on location, such as the transport of equipment, the provision of accommodation and catering, boats, trips and the necessary permits in the respective countries.

02

DOCUMENTARY

Back in 1999 we worked with Michelle Cousteau's team on Pico and shot the film Whales and Dolphins, Tribes of the Seas in 3D. Together with the Mantello brothers / France we worked on this documentary and brought breathtaking footage of feeding fin whales off Pico to the screen. Since then we have been outfits for numerous focus with BBC, Netflix, Nat Geo and Discovery. German productions have also used our expertise with Terra X and most recently in May 2022 the terrific Frank Elstner with his conservation series.

03

PHOTOGRAPHY

Countless photographers have been our guests during the last 3 decades and have been able to take magnificent pictures. The knowledge about the megafauna of the Azores is based not least on these photo documentations. Countless articles in professional magazines around the world were made with our help.

04

SCIENCE

For years we have been supporting researchers and biologists doing field projects in the Azores. We ourselves have initiated the Megalodon Project and support shark research and shark conservation. Last but not least, it is our cooperation with international foundations that makes this research possible and thus provides us with the knowledge about the megafauna in the Atlantic. With these results, protected areas can be declared and catch quotas can be adjusted. Not least because of our knowledge, the last ICAT meeting was able to ban the landing of mako sharks.

Professional Portfolio Pico Sport Lda

Operating since 1996 for whale watching and scuba diving.

Since many years photographers, TV teams and scientists come to the Azores to work from our boats with whales, dolphins, sharks, manta rays, mobulas and look for feeding balls and Tuna. We believe that spreading knowledge contributes significantly to the protection of sea-dweller in the Atlantic which is why we support the work of the pros with great verve.

Our treasure trove of experience with professional film and photo work is rich. Consequently we are able to respond adequately to different requirements and wishes which the work involves. Apart from well prepared and well organised work, luck is also important because neither weather nor situations in the nature can be planned. This is why it is necessary to work with professionals at the water who are able to quickly make the right decisions in each situation.

In the last 25 years we worked with various international photographers and TV Teams.
This is just a small selection of names of photographers: Joe Bunni, Kurt Amsler, Franco Banfi, Rienhard Mink, Rainer Schimpf, Robert Wilpernig, Daniel Brinckmann, Doug Perrine, Tomas Kutoc, George Karbus, Nuno Sa, and specially Gerard Soury.

Film Teams

Joao Paulo Krajewski Brazil Nat Geo
Reinhard Mink, German TV HR 3
Thomas Behrend Blue Planet Film Germany for RTL
Hans Jöchler, Die letzten Paradiese for ARD
The Montello brothers, whales and dolphins in 3 D for Michele Cousteau
Martha Holmes & Davina McCall – Life at the extreme
Roger Horrocks for Our planet / Silbervack productions feeding balls around Pico and Faial with dolphins and bastard mackerel

Blue Planet 2

Blue Planet 2 with Jonathan Smith, James Honeyborn and Nuno Sa as cinematographer.

In May 2015 the BBC Blue Planet 2 Team worked with us for new episodes which were broadcasted in autumn 2017. Blue Planet 2 is one of the most important series worldwide about the oceans and their creatures. Among others we sank two dead whales at the coast of Pico to let BBC film bluntnose sixgill sharks in the deep sea. In this process breath-taking film material could be produced: Sequences of dead whale at the surface and sharks feeding , filming a dead sperm whale in 700m deep and six Gillsharks feeding on it,
spermwhales feeding balls with blue sharks. Further on the same team filmed feeding balls in Norway with Orca and humpback whales feeding on Herring.

Current productions

Luis Lamar for a new Netflix landmark series about the Ocean. Azores
Nuno Sa for a new Netflix landmark series about the Ocean. Azores. https://nunosa.pt/
Discovery channel – Shark weeks with Joe Romeiro

Productions out of the Azores

Silverback production – THE HUNT Orca feeding sequences in Patagonia and Norway
Plimsoll productions – Various movies Orca feeding sequences in Patagonia and Norway southern right whales
BBC -Patagonia. Orca feeding sequences in Patagonia and Norway southern right whales

…and many more!

We hold a big stock of 1st class footage which is available fort sell. Some excellent material is currently frozen because it can only be published and sold after the material has been broadcasted in some shows.

Contact us for: Azores, Patagonia, Norway, Orca hunting , feeding balls, blue sharks, Mako sharks , Whale sharks, Bluefin Tuna, Dolphins. Spermwhales, Bluewhales, six gill sharks, Salpida, Aurora borealis.

If you wish to produce in the Azores we guide you through the permit process and will assist you to point out the right time of season, equipment, boats and crew.

In 2015 we worked with five significant nature productions:

BBC Blue Planet OCEAN
BBC Life at the extreme
Pimsoll Productions
Davina McCall, UK TV
NHK Japan TV
ORF UNIVERSUM with Erich Pröll and National Geografic
ARTE with Nomad TV and Joe Bunni

how we work

We dispose of all resources, so that you can work with the Azores’ cetacean without unnecessary loss of time, money and nerves:

1

We have a network of land-bases whale spotters at three islands which allows us to observe more than 600 kilometers of coast line and to operate in areas where no commercial whale watching boats enter. This is important because according to Azorean law snorkelers can join whales only as long as there are no other boats in sight.

2

We have modern and perfectly maintained speed rubber boats in different sizes as well as an expedition power catamaran with 2 x 310 hp diesel engines. The catamaran has a length of 12.60 meters and is licenced for up to 200 miles distance from the coast. It has a cabin for relaxation, a kitchen, a toilet and a flying bridge. It is equipped with the latest technology which makes it an ideal base for film and photo teams. A 11.50 meter long Rodman Fisherman is used for offshore shootings. Our boats can transport canoes without difficulties. All skippers have already worked with professional teams.

3

Our service round the clock – from accommodation to transfer – we offer the best opportunities to use the production time efficiently. You always have the first information about weather, animals and position.

4

According to Azorean laws film and photo productions with whales under water require a special permit. We can assist you with the paper work. However, please keep in mind that the application has to be filed two month before the start of the production. No licences will be issued for the months of July and August.

5

Preparation is of high importance: We know the waters and the local conditions which is why we can prepare you perfectly for your work.

6

The course of the weather is monitored via internet.

7

At days where excursions are not possible due to weather conditions, we do not charge neither preparation nor cancellation fees.At days where excursions are not possible due to weather conditions, we do not charge neither preparation nor cancellation fees.