Re: [dinosaur] Prehistoric Road Trip,Tiny Teeth, Fearsome Beasts

[Thomas Richard Holtz <tholtz@umd.edu>]

Mike Habib wrote:

> Namely, while we are discussing paleo documentaries, Iâm curious to read...

> 1) Which are favorites? (If PRT is a new fav, then great! I think itâs very good, personally)

Very good question. I think there are so many varied types that there isn't a single best.

Attenborough's "Lost Worlds, Vanished Lives" might have been the best, most comprehensive overview of paleontology, but is obviously quite dated.

I'm a big fan of "The Mystery Dinosaur" (Impossible Pictures) because of its narrow focus and use of many different points of view on a single particular topic.

"Walking with Dinosaurs" remains a masterpiece of a particular style, although it had its problems and is of course now dated. Often copied, never surpassed.

But I think the best paleo documentaries currently aren't on TV: they are PBS Eons. Short, focused, generallyÂup-to-date, and do not solely focus on the "Ancient Life Greatest Hits."

> 2) What would make them better? What do we need more of? Less of?

More talking heads, allowed to complete entire paragraphs rather than just have snippets. Greater diversity of clades, types of research. More new scientists!

> 3) What do folks think that we on this list (e.g. the informed, professionals and amateurs alike) can most do to help make Paleo docs better?Â

Good question. A couple of issues:

* Give advice to production teams as to what are the good topics and interesting people they should interview. Despite what some have posted on the list (but they wouldn't know, since they don't have professional experience in the topic), the talking heads are often selected not because they are necessarily the world experts. Instead, because production studios are businesses, they have to be frugal in choices. So they find who has done successful (entertaining & informative) interviews in the past, and preferentially choose them (better a known person than risk an unknown whom might waste their time.)

* If possible, see if you can help out in fact checking.

* When you find one that is good, spread the word on social media!

* I will post more thoughts when I don't have a bunch of back-to-back Zoom meetings...

On Tue, Jul 21, 2020 at 4:57 PM Mike Habib <biologyinmotion@gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks Mickey!

With that covered, I propose that we make the most of someone being a bad actor.Â

Namely, while we are discussing paleo documentaries, Iâm curious to read...

1) Which are favorites? (If PRT is a new fav, then great! I think itâs very good, personally)

2) What would make them better? What do we need more of? Less of?

3) What do folks think that we on this list (e.g. the informed, professionals and amateurs alike) can most do to help make Paleo docs better?Â

Credit to Honorable Colleagues here for noting some of this already.

Cheers!

âMBH

Sent from my Cybernetic Symbiote

On Jul 21, 2020, at 12:50 PM, Mickey Rowe <mickeyprowe@gmail.com> wrote:

ï

So...

Yes, the DML still has list owners. Yes, we will still step in to prevent flamewars from scorching all they touch.

My powers to execute control over the list are not the same as they used to be with older software. Generally hasn't been a problem since the list generally hasn't been a problem.

If I could, I would right now remove the address aviva@gmx.us. I can't because that address is not in the subscriber list any more. The address was added to the list just barely over a month ago. They apparently left on their own. You can draw your own conclusions from that behavior.

Any time you think someone is getting out of hand, please feel free to write to me directly and ensure that problems get my attention early. I don't monitor this list as carefully as I used to because I haven't had to. If I have to again... I will.

Your humble list owner,

Mickey Rowe   Â(MickeyPRowe@gmail.com)

--

Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
Email:Âtholtz@umd.eduÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ Phone: 301-405-4084
Principal Lecturer, Vertebrate Paleontology

Office: Geology 4106, 8000 Regents Dr., College Park MD 20742

Dept. of Geology, University of Maryland
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