Lance Milbrand is a producer, cameraman, writer, video editor and on-camera storyteller with over 17 years of experience in motion picture production. Since 1987, he has worked on and produced dozens of films and videotapes, including extensive natural history work in the field. He has worked on major motion picture teams and with many prestigious organizations.
Milbrand first started diving in Florida at the age of 13. He lived in Ft. Lauderdale, and moved to San Diego in 1978. He attended San Diego State University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Arts, with an emphasis on illustration. Following college, Lance worked a variety of jobs, including almost two years at Diving Unlimited International. At DUI, he worked on illustrations for their products for their catalogs and manuals.
Lance first became involved with video and films in 1986, and has worked steadily to improve his skills. He was director of underwater photography for CBS’ Survivor in Palau, and produced a one hour special, Island Castaway, for National Geographic Explorer based upon his 41-day solo adventure on Clipperton Island off the coast of South America. He also shot a cave diving feature for National Geographic Explorer as well.
Lance has participated in many major underwater film projects, working on five different IMAX films with Macgillvary Freeman Films and Howard Hall Productions. Since 1998, he has been on the crew for Island of the Sharks, Journey into Amazing Caves, Coral Reef Adventure, Denizens of the Deep, and Louisiana Wetlands. He has also produced projects for CBS News, the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI), and for the cable television series, Wild Things.
In recognition of his work, Lance has received several awards, including the Cine Golden Eagle for his film on Quintana Roo, the Gold Remi Award for Black Bears, Trouble Brewing, and the Golden Panda Award for his contributions to the Blue Planet series for the BBC. He also received two first place awards from the Outdoor Writer’s Association of America Film Contest for his production of Fish for Tomorrow for the National Marine Fisheries Service. In 2005 Lance was nominated for an EMMY award as director of underwater photography for his work on the reality TV series Survivor: Palau.
Although Lance enjoys working underwater, and holds full cave certification and is an extended range diver, he also works topside on many projects and has produced videos for the University of California at Irvine, Southern California Edison, Lockheed-Martin, and many others.
Milbrand shoots with a High Definition video system and edits video using Final Cut Pro software. He has an extensive natural history library and his travels have taken him to many unique destinations, including the Galapagos Islands, the far Pacific, Alaska, Mexico, Great Britain, and numerous other countries.
Lance and his wife Jeanne, live in Southern California.
