Wildlife Filmmaker Tristan Bayer and Naturalist Vanessa Garnick Get CAUGHT IN THE MOMENT on Animal Planet

Wildlife Filmmaker Tristan Bayer and Naturalist Vanessa Garnick Get CAUGHT IN THE MOMENT on Animal Planet

The Next Generation of Animal Planet Personalities Is Young, Hot and in Love

SILVER SPRING, Md., March 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The next generation of Animal Planet talent brings youth, adventure, wildlife and, yes, love to the screen. CAUGHT IN THE MOMENT, a new series from Animal Planet, slated to air in 2006, opens viewers' eyes to a brave young world. Meet Tristan and Vanessa, a couple as dedicated to each other as they are to nature. Childhood sweethearts and intrepid adventurers both, wildlife filmmaker Tristan Bayer and trained naturalist/artist Vanessa Garnick take viewers on a wild ride -- moment by moment -- as they make films about the world's most iconic animals. This couple has traveled the world and is now focused on capturing the rhythm of life in the animal kingdom.

The only thing greater than their love for each other is their love of the natural world and the animals that inhabit it. Tristan and Vanessa reveal themselves to be deeply committed to the preservation of the environment and endangered species, while respecting and experiencing the cultures they encounter.

Using wilderness savvy, inventive camera techniques and local expert trackers, they set out to capture the defining moments in the lives of animals across the globe. From the annual migration of the flamingo to Africa's Lake Victoria, to mass mating of the Anaconda in South America, from Howler monkeys gathering in the thousands, to Orca calves learning to breathe in Washington State, Tristan and Vanessa aim to find animals demonstrating rarely seen behavior, life affirming moments or milestones in their development.

"CAUGHT IN THE MOMENT is a great example of the fresh, contemporary programming viewers will see on Animal Planet going forward," said Maureen Smith, executive vice president and general manager, Animal Planet. "Animal Planet prides itself on presenters who are just as passionate about the animal world as we are. Tristan and Vanessa are captivating as a young traveling twosome in love with wildlife and each other. They represent the next generation of Animal Planet presenters -- young, adventurous and attractive."

Throughout their journey, viewers get an inside look at what it will take for Tristan to realize his wildlife filmmaking dream. Like a fly on the wall, our cameras follow as his relationship with Vanessa is tested, animals remain elusive and his patience and skills are put to the test. Viewers also watch as the duo roughs it, encounters danger and stands in awe of the amazing spectacles they face.

Each episode will be fast-paced and music-driven, MTV-style, propelling the journey forward and leading up to the final act when a 3-5 minute cut-down of Tristan and Vanessa's film shot throughout the hour is played against music from emerging contemporary artists. The animals will be the stars of these mini-videos as their lives and beauty provide the stunning visuals that weave a revealing and magical wildlife journey.

Tristan and Vanessa first met as toddlers when Tristan's father, the famed wildlife filmmaker Wolfgang Bayer, was filming coyotes at the Garnick dude ranch in the wilds of Wyoming. Fate brought them together again when they both took a high school art class and have been together ever since, traveling and making films about what they're passionate about -- wildlife, culture and life.

Tristan has spent his entire life traveling to the far corners of the world, making documentaries. Tristan's multi-faceted work experience includes everything from working on adventure races in Brazil, directing music videos, and modeling in the pages of Vogue and Abercrombie and Fitch. Having grown up in the wilds of Wyoming, Vanessa has a devout appreciation for nature. Visiting Africa with her grandparents when she was 13 was a formative experience, inspiring her to become active in preserving the natural world. She became a certified naturalist through the National Park Service, but the "multi-artist" has many other talents, including singing, songwriting, painting and graphic design.

CAUGHT IN THE MOMENT is an Animal Planet production. Jeanie Vink is executive producer.

Animal Planet, available in more than 86 million homes nationwide, is the only television network dedicated exclusively to the connection between humans and animals. The network's original programming brings together people of all ages by tapping into a fundamental fascination with animals and providing an entertaining mix of programming including original movies, adventure series, sports, drama and sitcoms. Discovery Networks, U.S., a unit of Discovery Communications, Inc., operates and manages Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, Discovery Health Channel, Discovery HD Theater, Discovery Kids Channel, Discovery Times Channel, The Science Channel, Discovery Home Channel, The Military Channel, Discovery en Espanol and FitTV. The unit also distributes BBC AMERICA.

Source: Animal Planet

CONTACT: Alice Rao of Animal Planet, +1-240-662-2953, Alice_Rao@discovery.com

Web site: http://www.discovery.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: To download photos of CAUGHT IN THE MOMENT, Go to www.press.discovery.com; Click U.S. Networks; Click Animal Planet; Click Photography & Artwork

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