The Living Planet: The Making of The Living Planet
(1984)
Also known as: Programme 13
An interesting glimpse into the workings of wildlife filmmaking, this forty minute documentary goes behind the scenes of the second award-winning BBC mega-series, The Living Planet, produced by Richard Brock. Following the work of the entire crew, from film editors to radiophonic operators, the programme explores the practical side to filming such a diverse and monumental series.
An entertaining special, narration by humourist Miles Kington charts both the lighter moments and the problems the crew encountered. A delightful confession reveals a seemingly ferocious display by a polar bear simply resulted from the smell released when a hungry cameraman unscrewed his flask of soup.
An enjoyable and diverting show, it includes an interview with the world renowned naturalist David Attenborough who Kington notes "enjoys a rather strange, symbiotic relationship with the BBC". The story behind a highly ambitious natural history series, The Making of The Living Planet is a unique insight into the varied world of wildlife cinematography.
The Living Planet: The Building of the Earth (1984)
Richard Brock
