Documentary: BAFTA Guru- Dale Templar

As part of my pre-production I watched a video on the BAFTA Guru website: Dale Templar: In Conversation. Here is what I learnt.

BAFTA GURU- DALE TEMPLAR

Dale Templar is the series producer of Human Planet. Her passion is wildlife and people.

Dale Templar

Every shoot on human planet was like an expedition. They had to carry around huge amounts of expensive equipment to unimaginable places.

On the show they used special slow-motion cameras, and super slow-motion cameras (like the Phantom), which meant they had to fly in a special camera operator, along with the camera.

Phantom Camera

They also used a crane to take the camera up and over areas a camera operator cannot get to. This also meant they had to carry those around too.

Camera Crane

For aerial photography they used a special piece of equipment called a Cineflex. This gave them stabilisation and a long zoom. This camera had to be attached to a helicopter. When a helicopter was available, they used a piece of equipment called a Cinebulle, which essentially is a hot air balloon with a camera attached to it, and a seat for an operator.

Cinebulle

Almost every single piece of kit they took out on location broke down at some point, especially a piece of kit called a Cable Dolly. In one sequence they suspended it over a river, and you can see how much work, and safety equipment, goes into setting up and using the dolly.

Cable Dolly

Overall I found this video very interesting. I was surprised to see all the different types of technology they use to film each episode, and to learnt that they even dare to take some of this equipment into unimaginable places. Many environments can be difficult to film in, so before going on any shoot you need to think about how the environment is going to affect how you work, and how your equipment works. Preparation is key.

Video:

BAFTA Guru- Dale Templar: In Conversation (http://guru.bafta.org/dale-templar-conversation)

Images:

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/2260714223/Dale_bafta_talk_CU.jpg

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2010/04/19apr10engplflex954.jpg

http://www.aceeast.com/cam_images/Techno151.jpg

http://www.cleyet-marrel.com/site/IMG/jpg/MadagascarBaobabs06_1.jpg

http://www.adventurecamera.co.uk/images/ScottishLandscapes-cableDolly.jpg