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."Frogs: The Thin Green Line: Ask the Filmmaker," Nature, April 2009, Aug. 2012, https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/frogs-the-thin-green-line-ask-the-filmmaker/4872/.
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.""About ArgoFilms," ArgoFilms, 2011, Aug. 2012, http://www.argofilms.com/films. The company focusing especially on endangered species and captive animal issues.
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.Nature, 2012, Aug. 2012, https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/ In total, ArgoFilms has created fifteen films for National Geographic and PBS.“ArgoFilms,” Internet Movie Database (IMDb), Aug. 2012, https://www.imdb.com/company/co0249843/.
In 2012, the company’s first feature film, The Story of Dao, was in pre-production.
History
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.
The Urban Gorilla, directly inspired by Ivan’s condition, took three years for ArgoFilms to complete as their first production. 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.“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. The film, broadcast by National Geographic, was nominated for two national Emmys, and received a 1992 Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award.
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.
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 Notes1990The Urban Gorillaproducer, director, writer, editorNominated – 1990 Emmy AwardNominated – 1990 Emmy Award DuPont-Columbia AwardJackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival – First recipient of the Best Newcomer award Christopher Columbus AwardWorldFest-Houston International Film Festival AwardGenesis AwardNarrator – Glenn Close1992Keepers of the Wildproducer, director, writerWon – 1992 National Emmy Award for directingChristopher Columbus AwardNarrator – Glenn Close1996The Last Frogproducer, director, writer, narratorWon – 1996 National Emmy AwardJackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival AwardJapan international Wildlife Film Festival AwardMissoula International Wildlife Film Festival Best of FestivalEarthwatch Award1997Stolen Treasuresproducer, director, writer, narratorKing CobrawriterWon - 1997 Emmy Award News and DocumentaryLords of the EvergladeswriterExtraordinary Dogsproducer, directorFinalist - Jackson Hole Wildlife Film FestivalSnake Invasionproducer, director, writer, narrator1999Secret Life of Catsproducer, director, writer, narratorWon – 1999 National Emmy AwardJackson Hole Wildlife Film FestivalJapan international Wildlife Film FestivalInternational Wildlife Film FestivalITVA Peer AwardsChristopher Columbus AwardWisdom of the Wildproducer, director, writer, narrator2000The Urban Elephantproducer, director, writer, narratorWon – 2001 Emmy Award for Outstanding Cultural & Informational Documentary – Best Director The New York Festivals World MedalGenesis Award2003Inca Mummies: Secrets of a Lost Worldproducer, director, writer, narratorITVA Peer Awards2004Return to Freedomproducer, director, writer, narrator, editorA short film for the American Wild Horse Sanctuary2006Chimpanzees: An Unnatural Historyproducer, director, writer, narratorWon - 2007 National Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in a Craft: Research “OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN A CRAFT: RESEARCH” NATIONAL TELEVISION ACADEMY 28TH ANNUAL NEWS AND DOCUMENTARY EMMY AWARDS - WINNERS p15Genesis AwardBest Editing, Best Television Program $250,000-$500,000 Budget, Merit for Powerful Storytelling, and Merit for Advocacy at the International Wildlife Film FestivalChristopher Columbus Award Explorer's Club2008Crash: A Tale of Two Speciesproducer, director, writer, editor, narrator 31st International Wildlife Film Festival: Sapphire Award-Second Place, Best Conservation & Environmental Issue, Best ScriptNominated - National Emmy Award2009Frogs: The Thin Green Lineproducer, director, writer, editor, narratorSelection for DC Environmental Film Fest 20119/11: Where Were You?producer, director, writer, editorThis film is about immediate responses to the attack on the World Trade Center.2013Parrot Confidentialproducer, writer, editor, narratorGenesis Award Special Jury Award, New York Wild Film Festival
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.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/.
The Story of Dao began pre-production in 2011. The film’s six-week scout in Southeast Asia was funded by a Kickstarter campaign, which received over $25,000 from over 200 backers.
References
External links
ArgoFilms official website ArgoFilms at the Internet Movie Database