A Wing and a Prayer French Filmmaker Jacques Perrin Captures Birds in Flight by Ky N. Nguyen French filmmaker Jacques Perrin directed, produced, co-wrote and narrated ìWinged Migration,î a documentary following the migratory patterns of birds that marked Perrinís first effort as a director after a distinguished career as an actor and producer. Recalled the director, ìEarthbound, watching the birds fly across the sky, we undertook this film. We had to go higher, nearer the birds, within striking distance of the stars.î By phone, Perrin insisted, ìThe 14 cinematographers really directed the movie. Different perspectives helped. The directors of photography were very patient. They had to wait for the right moment. The good light was early in the morning. The weather had to be accessible. We might fly once a week.î Seventeen pilotsóflying planes, gliders, balloons and helicoptersówere among the five crews of more than 450 people. For more than four years, they shot in 40 countries and all seven continents in locations including the Eiffel Tower, Monument Valley, and the Arctic and Antarctic circl es. Perrin noted, ìWhere we can approach the wild birds in the North or South Pole, humans are so rare, the birds are not afraid.î Elsewhere, the birds had to become accustomed to the film crew. The directed added, ìI will always treasure the memory of the first time we achieved this. The cameramen were following the movements of the geese. With one hand, the assistant would push away those geese who came too near the camera. The roll of film ran out. Radiant, tears in the eyes Ö they looked at me Ö speechless, motionless. The technical results were of minor importance. They had been in the confidence of the birds in flight.î Perrin explained how in the end, the documentary was crafted in the editing room: ìWe had 15,000 hours of footage. Editing took one year of workóspread out over two years. We must sometimes refuse beautiful sequences. You cannot make an objective story. You must look for something. You must open your windows.î Ky N. Nguyen is the film reviewer for The Washington Diplomat.