FOOTBALL, politics, war, and dance. What do they all have in common? Well, if any are your passion, then it won't take too much scrolling to find a film of TV show where they take centre stage. 

Work in the stock market? Take your pick from Wolf of Wall Street, American Psycho, and the Big Short. Spend your weekends playing or watching NFL? Go serious with The Blind Side or less so with The Longest Yard. Think newspapers are the best thing since sliced bread? Prepared to be overwhelmed by the options at your fingerprints. 

But for those of us in the forestry industry, we are, quite literally, onto slim pickings and on the rare occasion our passion sneaks its way onto the screen it more often than not involves a chainsaw and some unsuspecting American teens. 

The good news is that we won't be dealing with any of that nonsense here and some exceptions do exist - although there aren't nearly as many as we would like and we are longing for the day some Hollywood bigwigs green light the Tales for the Trees series into the blockbuster it deserves. 

Here's our look at some of the times forestry workers have appeared in films and TV. Fingers crossed we'll need to update this list in the not so distant future. 

Hugh Jackman as a lumberjack, X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) 

Forestry Journal:

He's played Jean Valjean in the epic Les Miserables, hunted down Count Dracula as Van Helsing, and was even cast as Eddie the Eagle's trainer in a recent biopic. But for us Hugh Jackman's defining moment came near the start of a Wolverine film. 

X-Men Origins: Wolverine, a 2009 blockbuster, tells the backstory of the retractable claw-clad superhero and features a stellar cast, including Ryan Reynolds and Liev Schreiber. 

The film's plot details Wolverine's childhood as James Howlett, his time with Major William Stryker's Team X, the bonding of Wolverine's skeleton with the indestructible metal adamantium during the Weapon X program and his relationship with his half-brother Victor Creed.

That's all well and good but it's events in Canada we really care about. Following a dramatic opening, which features the American Civil War, both World Wars, and the Vietnam War, the action appears to have quietened down by 1979 when Logan (as he is known then) is working as a logger.

With a beard, cigar, and - of course -  chequered shirt, it's a life Jackman appears at home in and we were impressed by the work going on in the yard. 

Sadly, his life in forestry wasn't to last. 

Nicolas Cage the logger, Mandy (2018) 

Forestry Journal:

Where to even begin? Let's try at the start of 2018's psychedelic, psychological horror film Mandy which starred Nicolas Cage and Andrea Riseborough. 

It's 1983 and somewhere near the Shadow Mountains, California, and Red Miller (Cage) is living a reclusive existence in the woods with his girlfriend Mandy Bloom (Riseborough). Given the genre, you'll have probably guessed by now that it isn't too long before things go awry, but you might be surprised by some of the fantastical turns the story takes (the third-act chainsaw fight being a particular highlight). 

Howard Keel as a lumberjack, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)

Forestry Journal:

We're throwing it way back with our next entry to an all-time classic. Oscar-winning Seven Brides for Seven Brothers might just have it all: family, romance, Hollywood stars, and singing lumberjacks. Even if you haven't seen the 1954 hit, you'll have heard of it - and with good reason. 

In the 1850s lumberjack Adam Pontipee (played by Howard Keel) lives with his six brothers in a remote cabin in the Oregon woods. Intent on finding someone to do the housekeeping, he marries boardinghouse cook Milly (Jane Powell).

Once at the cabin, Milly begins civilising the uncouth Pontipees and it isn't long before the brothers try to find women of their own.

Cue the music... 

The Three Stooges, Some More of Samoa (1941) 

Forestry Journal:

Featuring native tribes and rituals, some will argue this entry has aged the worst on our list and, by today's standards, has no place. While we wouldn't necessarily disagree, we'll leave that discussion to another day and, instead, let's just marvel at the remarkable longevity of The Three Stooges. 

Released in 1941 and the 59th outing of the trio, Some More of Samoa is the only one to put the greatest industry at its heart with the fellas playing tree surgeons enlisted by a rich old man to find a mate for his rare puckerless persimmon tree.

Off they go to the fictional tropical island of Rhum-Boogie to find the tree but when they arrive they are captured by the natives. 

Will they escape? You'll have to watch to find out. 

Donald Duck, Up a Tree (1955) 

Forestry Journal:

What will Donald Duck get up to next? The loveable cartoon waterfowl has been a Scout leader, fire chief, and even Santa Claus. 

But it's the 1955 short Up a Tree where he finally found the best place to be, taking on the role of a logger. All is well in Donald's life until a run-in with Chip and Dale and, as you'd expect, chaos ensues.

Widely regarded as Donald Duck's funniest outing, his logging skills leave a lot to be desired and, if anything, it's become the perfect example of how not to do forestry. 

Michael C. Hall, Dexter (series finale) 

Forestry Journal:

The series finale to Dexter was, to say the least, controversial. Without getting into all of the details, it's safe to say some fans were left a little disappointed. 

But not us. At least not in Dexter Morgan's decision to move to Oregon and take up a new life as a lumberjack. 

Have we missed any major ones that should be on our list? Let us know below or by emailing jack.haugh@forestryjournal.co.uk