Scott Mouat is an award-winning cinematographer, director and photographer. He’s as passionate about storytelling as he is about capturing stunning images.  He’s worked throughout New Zealand and filmed many of its secretive and critically endangered species including the kākāpō  (New Zealand’s critically endangered night parrot) and the Hoiho (yellow-eyed penguin). 

In 2005 Scott completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Natural History Filmmaking at the University of Otago. From 2005 - 2021 he worked as a freelance cameraman for a variety of companies including the BBC, WGBH, and NHNZ and filmed in a number of countries including New Zealand, Africa, Sri Lanka, China and the Middle East.  

He specialises in natural history where his emphasis is always on character and behaviour, essential elements to any wildlife story, and he’s spent many hours in hides, day and night, creating intimate sequences around his subjects.  From penguins to parrots his approach is simple, the subject should be completely oblivious to your presence.  This often transfers to his work with people, working as close as possible but not impeding the activity, becoming an invisible part of the team and always looking for moments of action, reaction, humour, anger, frustration, triumph, tragedy.

Motion time-lapse, drone aerials , long lens work and infrared, Scott’s experience covers many areas and a variety of equipment including, Red, Sony and Canon and Nikon cameras, and DJI Inspire drones.

Known for his patience, careful composition and thorough coverage, he works to capture beautiful and genuine moments that visually progress the story whatever the subject matter, wherever the location. 

Scott has also produced and directed several independent productions. These include ‘The Unnatural History of the Kakapo’, an award-winning feature-length documentary and Brave New Wilderness, a documentary following the kākāpō and takahē recovery programs. He’s even dabbled in a bit of human drama with short films like ‘Broken’ a film officially selected for the 2017 New Zealand International Film Festival (NZIFF).

In 2021 Scott returned to the University of Otago to study for a Masters in Teaching and Learning, specialising in biology and media studies. Since then he’s devoted his time to teaching filmmaking to others, he’s currently the Teacher in Charge of Media Studies at Otago Boys High School in Dunedin.