Team
Director
Jennifer Hart Gardner is a queer filmmaker based in San Francisco, CA. Prior to the pandemic, she worked in film and commercial production in NYC for eight years, moving between multi-platform branded content for companies including Teen Vogue, Canon, and Apple Music and independent films. Films she’s worked on have premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival, Tribeca International Film Festival, Frameline Film Festival, and the Cannes Short Film Festival.
She holds a Master’s Degree in Political Theory from Central European University, the EU’s first University in Exile.
James Aldred
Canopy Cinematographer
Trained by the BBC Natural History Unit, James specialises in 3d aerial cable cam systems, long-lens animal behaviour and remote expedition work. He has been honoured to provide camerawork for many high profile productions, and has had the pleasure of working alongside hundreds of inspirational people, not least Sir David Attenborough and HRH Prince William.
His speciality and lifelong passion is filming at height, particularly within the rainforest canopy. The high canopy remains largely unexplored and filmed—a treasure trove of exciting discoveries and natural beauty.
In 2013 he was awarded an Emmy for cinematography and has since won two RTS awards and been nominated for several BAFTA’s.
Recent credits include: The Green Planet (BBC); Our Planet (Netflix); Hostile Planet (National Geographic); Dancing With The Birds (Netflix) and Primates (BBC1). https://www.jamesaldred.com
Tim Kovar
Climbing Producer
Tim Kovar is a Master Tree Climbing Instructor with 30 years of teaching experience. His love and respect of nature, coupled with his wanderlust spirit, led him to metaphorically and literally take the vertical path less traveled. The path has led him into the remote jungles of the world in pursuit of his vision to help connect others to our natural world.
In 1993, Tim began his career at Tree Climbers International in Atlanta, where he helped develop the standardized curriculum being taught around the world. Today, he continues to work closely with TCI, serving as their international instructor and ambassador, ensuring the integrity of the organization’s high standards. In 2005, he co-founded Tree Climbing Northwest, which was operated by New Tribe. In 2010, he founded Tree Climbing Planet.
He has worked extensively with canopy researchers stationed around the world, including ornithologists in Indonesia, primatologists in Uganda, entomologists in Ethiopia, and herpetologists in India, and students in Central America. https://treeclimbingplanet.com/