The makers behind The Marine Team DVD have received praise from the television personality David Bellamy.

Penryn's Oscha Productions is now busy working on Marine Team 2 and a big Cave Watch programme.

It's a year since we first reported on the Cornish film-makers behind the successful Marine Team DVD.

We re-visited director Martin Gaunt for an exciting update and launch a great competition!

In the past 12 months Penryn-based Oscha Production has seen its first project being sold in stores all over the country.

A satellite TV channel has also show Marine Team as part of its programming.

National Recognition

"It was a great moment when The Discovery Channel broadcast Marine Team," smiles Oscha Productions Director Martin Gaunt.

A seal pup filmed by Martin and his crew

"As a new, small production company it's very difficult to get recognised. We were able to show the 'Discovery' team the finished product. They liked it and bought a licence to show the film."

Martin and his small enthusiastic team received many enquiries about Marine Team after it was aired on television.

"It was really good exposure for us and very satisfying to know our work was going out to a wide audience."

One of the major boosts for the team came from a famous wildlife television personality.

David Bellamy praised the Marine Team production

"We received an email from David Bellamy which we were really chuffed with," says Martin.

The note said the film "reflected the truth about real wildlife and real people".

Bellamy's note went on to say:

"It was a super film. I enjoyed it greatly. It was 80-plus minutes of real meaningful adventure."

"David Bellamy does put his neck on the line and say how he feels," believes Martin.

"To get an accolade from him was a real boost for us, after a long, tiring time putting the film together and getting it distributed."

A seal as filmed for the second Marine Team DVD

Marine Team has been selling well nationwide for many months. More than 17,000 copies have been sold.

At one time the DVD was ahead of Arnie's 'Terminator' film in the WH Smiths charts in Cornwall!

"We're now working with Ottakers and the National Trust to further promote Marine Team," says Martin.

But it doesn't end there. The first Marine Team project has been a big success and plans are already underway for new projects including a second installment of marine life.

Marine Team video cover

"In the next Marine Team DVD we will have footage of a successful rescue of a Minke Whale," reveals Martin.

The five metre-long whale became stranded at Longrock near Penzance early in 2003.

It took 20 people more than four hours to free her and guide her to safety. Martin captured the amazing event on camera.

"To be that close to a big beautiful creature was incredible," remembers Martin.

"We wanted to show how such a rescue brings all types of people together with one aim. We were able to capture the huge amount of euphoria when the rescue was successful."

"Whether you're a wildlife fan or not, you've got to be a fan of the 'feel-good factor' and that will really come across in the footage."

Exclusive news footage

On a more serious note the new Marine Team, which isn't out until 2006, will show the exclusive footage Martin captured for British news channels about the controversial seal-culling in Canada.

A sealer in Canada

"We went out with an open mind," says Martin. "There's big money to be made from the seal pup culling so it can be big business for some."

The Canadian government said in April this year the cull was necessary to protect the region's commercial fish stocks and that the seals were not threatened by extinction.

Canada called a halt to the main thrust of one of the country's largest seal culls for more than 50 years in Mid-April this year. Hunters in small boats were allowed to continue to hunt until the quota of 350,000 is met.

Read more from BBC News

Filming Adventure

Martin's team were allowed to film on the Canadian Ice Floes as long as they kept a fair distance from the 'sealers'.

"You have to be careful where you tread as there are broken ice stretches," says Martin.

"It's almost like walking on lily-pads."

To add to the ice-danger, one group of sealers took offence to Martin's team filming.

"We were trying to make our way back to the helicopter," remembers Martin.

The Marine Team on location in the Canadian Ice Floes

"The 'sealers' boat turned around and started breaking through the ice heading towards our helicopter. It had to take off while we were stranded on the ice."

The small patch of ice the Marine Team crew were standing on was no more than two metres by one metre in size.

"We were holding on to our kit tightly, and could see the water begin to come up over the ice," says Martin.

"It was a scarey moment, but soon after the sealers' boat did start to back off, and we were able to get back on to our helicopter."

"It was a real-life adventure and we were the first people to bring back the footage which was broadcast on BBC news."

Cave Watch

Back on dry land in Penryn, Oscha Productions is now working on a new exciting project in the south west.

Cave Watch will allow people to see exclusive footage of life with seals in Cornwall's caves.

Inside a Cornish cave

"The idea came about after we'd worked with Stephen Westcott who monitors the seals in caves around the Cornish coast," explains Martin.

"They can be 400 metres deep and at the back you usually find a lovely little beach. This is where the grey seals will give birth."

A lot happens in the caves in a short amount of time and Martin wants to capture this exclusive footage for the first time.

"With our night vision cameras and low lighting we want to be able to show the seal pup being born," he says.

"It's a great sight for animal lovers. We will be able to film when the seals begin to moat there fluffy white coats and grow from a bag of skin and bones into a big barrel of lard!"

Martin's team have filmed many seals in Cornwall and around the world

Martin hopes to capture hours of groundbreaking material, including the first time the pups venture into the water.

"We're hoping to run these pictures from the cave to a location nearby," reveals Martin. "We'll have a mobile display with plasma screens where people will be able to watch the amazing footage."

The project will involve local children as well.

"We're planning to do a lot of work with Cornish schools," says Martin.

"We believe education needs to be fun and have a sense of discovery," he explains. "We want to make this a project for local people and get them really involved."

A seal looks surprised to see a film crew in the Canadian Ice Floes

People outside of Cornwall should be able to enjoy this pioneering project as well.

"The Discovery Channel team are really interested and want to include this project in a season they have planned for next year."

Work has already started on Cave Watch. Martin and his team at Oscha Productions have been searching for a unique location where the dream can become a reality.

Keep logging on to the BBC Cornwall website as we will follow this exciting project step by step.