ArgoFilms

ArgoFilms is a production company specializing in documentary filmmaking. Established in 1990, ArgoFilms has received six Emmy Awards, a duPont-Columbia Award for Journalism, four Genesis Awards, and over one hundred other awards internationally.[1]

ArgoFilms
IndustryEntertainment
Founded1990
FounderAllison Argo
Headquarters
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
ProductsWildlife documentaries
Websitehttp://www.argofilms.com/

Allison Argo, who serves as producer, director, writer, editor, and narrator for ArgoFilms, began the company with the goal of "lending a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves."[2] The company focusing especially on endangered species and captive animal issues.[3]

Frogs: The Thin Green Line, Chimpanzees: An Unnatural History, and Crash: A Tale of Two Species are acclaimed documentaries produced in collaboration with National Geographic and PBS.[4] In total, ArgoFilms has created fifteen films for National Geographic and PBS.[5]

Currently in pre-production at ArgoFilms is The Story of Dao, the company’s first feature film.[6]

History
Ivan in Tacoma, Washington (1989)
Director Allison Argo and cinematographer Joe Pontecorvo in Northern Thailand, 2011

In the late 1980s, Allison Argo encountered a captive gorilla named Ivan living inside a shopping mall in Tacoma, Washington. For over two decades, Ivan had lived in a concrete enclosure without exposure to natural light or other gorillas. Prompted by this encounter, Argo left her career as an actress to produce films on conservation and captive animal welfare.[6]

The Urban Gorilla, directly inspired by Ivan’s condition, took three years for ArgoFilms to complete as their first production.[6] The team included Allison Argo as writer, director, and producer; Argo’s then-husband, Director of Photography Robert E. Collins, as principal cinematographer; and Glenn Close as narrator.[7] The film, broadcast by National Geographic, was nominated for two national Emmys,[8] and received a 1992 Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award.[9]

After the success of The Urban Gorilla, National Geographic approached Argo to discuss further collaboration. This led to ArgoFilms’ second documentary, Keepers of the Wild, for which Argo won a 1992 National Emmy for Directing. Filming for Keepers of the Wild spanned Kenya, Belize, Canada, and the US, starting ArgoFilms’ international travel. Argo wrote, directed, and produced the film, with Glenn Close once again performing as narrator.[10]

Productions

Since 1990, ArgoFilms has produced 14 documentaries, as well as shorter films to support wildlife and conservation causes. The company frequently collaborates with National Geographic Television, PBS, and Thirteen/WNET. Six of ArgoFilms’ documentaries were produced for the PBS Nature series.

Year Film Title Involvement Notes
1990 The Urban Gorilla producer, director, writer, editor Nominated – 1990 Emmy Award
Nominated – 1990 Emmy Award [8]
DuPont-Columbia Award [11]
Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival – First recipient of the Best Newcomer award [12]
Christopher Columbus Award
WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival Award
Genesis Award [13]
Narrator – Glenn Close
1992 Keepers of the Wild producer, director, writer Won – 1992 National Emmy Award for directing
Christopher Columbus Award
Narrator – Glenn Close
1996 The Last Frog producer, director, writer, narrator Won – 1996 National Emmy Award[14]
Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival Award[14]
Japan international Wildlife Film Festival Award[14]
Missoula International Wildlife Film Festival Best of Festival[14]
Earthwatch Award
1997 Stolen Treasures producer, director, writer, narrator
King Cobra writer Won - 1997 Emmy Award News and Documentary[15]
Lords of the Everglades writer
Extraordinary Dogs producer, director Finalist - Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival
Snake Invasion producer, director, writer, narrator
1999 Secret Life of Cats producer, director, writer, narrator Won – 1999 National Emmy Award[14]
Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival[14]
Japan international Wildlife Film Festival[14]
International Wildlife Film Festival[14]
ITVA Peer Awards
Christopher Columbus Award
Wisdom of the Wild producer, director, writer, narrator
2000 The Urban Elephant producer, director, writer, narrator Won – 2001 Emmy Award for Outstanding Cultural & Informational Documentary – Best Director[16]
The New York Festivals World Medal
Genesis Award[17]
2003 Inca Mummies: Secrets of a Lost World producer, director, writer, narrator ITVA Peer Awards
2004 Return to Freedom producer, director, writer, narrator, editor A short film for the American Wild Horse Sanctuary[18]
2006 Chimpanzees: An Unnatural History producer, director, writer, narrator Won - 2007 National Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in a Craft: Research [19]
Genesis Award[17]
Best Editing, Best Television Program $250,000-$500,000 Budget, Merit for Powerful Storytelling, and Merit for Advocacy at the International Wildlife Film Festival[20]
Christopher Columbus Award [21]
Explorer's Club<[22]
2008 Crash: A Tale of Two Species producer, director, writer, editor, narrator 31st International Wildlife Film Festival: Sapphire Award-Second Place, Best Conservation & Environmental Issue, Best Script[23]
Nominated - National Emmy Award[24]
2009 Frogs: The Thin Green Line producer, director, writer, editor, narrator Selection for DC Environmental Film Fest[25]
2011 9/11: Where Were You? producer, director, writer, editor This film is about immediate responses to the attack on the World Trade Center.[26]
2013 Parrot Confidential producer, writer, editor, narrator Genesis Award[27]
Special Jury Award, New York Wild Film Festival[28]

ArgoFilms is in pre-production for The Story of Dao, the company’s first full-length feature film. The film is based on the life of an elephant named Pang Dao, whom Argo first encountered during the filming of The Urban Elephant for PBS Nature and National Geographic.[29]

The Story of Dao began pre-production in 2011. The film’s six-week scout in Southeast Asia was funded by a Kickstarter campaign,[30] which received over $25,000 from over 200 backers.[31]

References
  1. "Frogs: The Thin Green Line: Ask the Filmmaker," Nature, April 2009, Aug. 2012, https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/frogs-the-thin-green-line/ask-the-filmmaker/4872/.
  2. "About ArgoFilms," ArgoFilms, 2011, Aug. 2012, http://www.argofilms.com/films.
  3. Bates, Mary (January 28, 2013). ""Allison Argo: Filmmaker, Conservationist," Izilwane: Voices for Biodiversity". Archived from the original on July 27, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  4. Nature, 2012, Aug. 2012, https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/
  5. “ArgoFilms,” Internet Movie Database (IMDb), Aug. 2012, https://www.imdb.com/company/co0249843/.
  6. Bates. ""Allison Argo: Filmmaker, Conservationist," Izilwane: Voices for Biodiversity". Archived from the original on 2014-07-27.
  7. “Robert E. Collins,” IMDb, Aug. 2012, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002300/, “Glenn Close,” IMDb, Aug. 2012, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000335/, and Allison Argo, interviewed by “The American Dog Reports,” “Inspire: Documentary Filmmaker Allison Argo,” The American Dog Magazine, Winter 2011, 56-57, http://issuu.com/americandogmag/docs/www.theamericandogmag.com/search?q=Argo.
  8. K. Connor, Mark (30 September 2011). ""Portrait of an Artist," East Side Monthly". Archived from the original on 28 July 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  9. "All duPont-Columbia Award Winners". Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Archived from the original on 2012-08-14. Retrieved 2012-10-19. SILVER BATON WTBS-TV, National Geographic Society, Explorer: The Urban Gorilla
  10. Scheiderer, David (February 17, 1993). ""TV Reviews: 'Keepers': Affecting and Thoughtful," Los Angeles Times". Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  11. ""All duPont-Columbia Award Winners" Columbia Journalism School". Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  12. ""2013 Speakers," Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival". 2013. Archived from the original on July 28, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  13. Eldred, Rich (25 April 2014). "Humane Society Honors Cape Filmmaker," Wicked Local". Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  14. ""2013 Speakers," Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival". Archived from the original on 2014-07-28. Retrieved 2014-07-21.
  15. ""News and Documentary Emmy Awards," IMDb". 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  16. ""The 22nd Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards," Emmy Online" (PDF). 2001. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  17. Eldred. "Humane Society Honors Cape Filmmaker," Wicked Local".
  18. ""Video Gallery," American Wild Horse Sanctuary". 2014. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  19. “OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN A CRAFT: RESEARCH” Archived November 22, 2010, at the Wayback Machine NATIONAL TELEVISION ACADEMY 28TH ANNUAL NEWS AND DOCUMENTARY EMMY AWARDS - WINNERS p15
  20. ""International Wildlife Film Festival," FFW". 2008. Archived from the original on July 3, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  21. ""The 58th Annual Christopher Award Winners," The Christphers, Inc". 2007. Archived from the original on 4 July 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  22. ""Weekend Picks: Bubbles, Comic Books, and Documentaries," About.com". 2007. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  23. "Crash: A Tale of Two Species". Agro Films. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  24. ""The 30th Annual Emmy® Awards for News & Documentary The Nominations," The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences" (PDF). 2009. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  25. ""Frogs: The Thin Green Line," DC Environmental Film Fest". 2014. Archived from the original on July 28, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  26. ""Episode: 9/11: Where Were You?" National Geographic". 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  27. ""Genesis Awards," Humane Society of the United States". 2014. Archived from the original on July 8, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  28. ""Parrot Confidential Celebrates 'Special Jury' Award at the NY Wild Film Festival," Foster Parrots". 2014. Archived from the original on August 10, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  29. Ali Berman, “Elephants in Captivity Awareness Film Hits Fundraising Goal,” Ecorazzi, May 2011, August 2012, http://www.ecorazzi.com/2011/05/06/elephants-in-captivity-awareness-film-hits-its-goal-on-kickstarter/.
  30. Bates, Mary (28 January 2013). ""Allison Argo: Filmmaker, Conservationist," Izilwane: Voices for Biodiversity,". Archived from the original on 27 July 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  31. "The Story of Dao — raise awareness for elephants thru film". Kickstarter. May 12, 2011. Retrieved 2012-10-19.
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