Hi Bluegum Tribe,
Here's a bit of Bluegum in the media....
Bluegum Bushcraft's Lee Trew was the 'bushcraft and trapping consultant' for Australian movie The Hunter, starring Willem Dafoe and Sam Neill.
Lee made the primitive (ie non-metal) traps for the movie, and gave advice on where the traps should be set, how Willem's character might de-scent, where he might pitch his camp, and how he might move through the bush. He also gave advice on what gear he might carry (at one point he uses Lee's Tracker knife to gut a wallaby) and how he might go about finding and trapping the Tasmanian tiger.
The movie was released last month in the US, and Willem had some cool things to say about his experience of learning bushcraft, tracking and trapping, in this article from the Washington Post...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/willem-dafoe-answers-a-call-to-the-wild-in-the-hunter/2012/03/29/gIQAbMIRlS_story.html
Here's an excerpt:
“Your other performer becomes that trap, that snare you have to lay. It’s the same kind of call and response I have when doing a scene.” A local survivalist guide taught Dafoe how to use the traps as well as how to act in the wilderness.
“It was very useful to see his attitude of how he moved through the forest. It sounds a little suspicious, but it was really important. His whole attitude — it wasn’t like, ‘hello, tree’ — he had a sense of everything. He really knew how to melt in the environment. He had a confidence in the terrain and a love for it.”
That confidence rubbed off on Dafoe as he learned to set several traps and interact with his surroundings. “After a while, I could really see animal paths. It’s exciting, you know, to learn something. You’re transformed.”
The movie is well worth checking out - it's beautifully shot and acted, and the traps and bushcraft feature prominently. We can honestly say it's a whole lot more authentic in that respect than pretty much any feature film we've seen - they really went the distance in making sure the details were as realistic as possible. Good on 'em!
(And check out the Extras on the DVD for more on the bushcraft/trapping in the movie)
happy tracking,
The Bluegum Family
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