Steve Irwin’s mix of gonzo naturalist and snappy commentator on “The Crocodile Hunter” is popular with viewers and producers alike. Production costs are lessened by focusing on human interaction with animals. (Ken Hively / LAT)
Jacques Perrin’s “Winged Migration,” a big-screen hit with American audiences, undercuts today’s convention in the wildlife film industry that birds and bugs don’t sell in the United States. Big-toothed predators have been getting the lion’s share of attention on film and television these days. (Robert Gauthier / LAT)
