BBC1's "Planet Earth" - how'd they get THAT shot?

Jack

13 Mar 2006 - 16:47

If you had a chance to sit down in the pub with the makers of Planet Earth, what questions would you ask?

Personally, I'd love to know how they got the shot in show two where a huge and devastating snow avalanche comes straight towards the camera. Firstly, how did they time it? Did they set off the avalanche with explosions? Secondly, how on earth did they protect the camera? Or did they write the camera off (e.g. have a wireless link to the camera, position the recorder out of harm's way and just keep recording until the camera is destroyed) ???

(I've put this thread in the "Production" forum rather than the "Reviews" forum because it's more about how they made the programme rather than a review of the programme)

edeverett

13 Mar 2006 - 21:09

My bet is on a stick of dynamite and a long lense (or a helicopter), but I'd have to see it again to say something more sensible.

Isn't it practise in some areas to set off controlled avalanches as a safety thing so you know when they are going to happen?

Jack

14 Mar 2006 - 09:11

Yes, in some (all?) ski resorts they "clear" potentially dangerous snow build ups with controlled exposions, effectively triggering a controlled avalanche.

Yes, I was wondering about the long lens option. From what I remember, the perspective was such that it couldn't have been shot with a long lens. It looked very much like the snow was about to completely engulf the camera. But I could be wrong.

What other questions would we want to ask them?

Jack

20 Mar 2006 - 12:47

BrandRepublic are reporting that "Planet Earth" could bring in £20M in profit for the BBC from DVD sales and it'll be the corporation's first HD DVD release. The "Blue Planet" made £15M from DVD sales. Apparently there'll be a "making of" book for "Planet Earth". The first broadcast of "Planet Earth" (March 5th) got 8.9M viewers.

edeverett

20 Mar 2006 - 21:34

The web-designer in me has been getting excited by the "special edition" design on the BBC website each day a Planet Earth episode is shown. It adds another dimension to it if these can be seen as adverts for DVDs.

(Still I'm happy to pay my license fee for stuff like this. [and radio 6])

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