A few weeks ago I had an opportunity to work with a National Geographic Television crew. They are doing a five-part special series about the Titanic. The crew, based in London, flew in to document the new Titanic Museum Attraction and focus on the continuing fascination people have with the world’s most famous ocean liner. One of the five one-hour specials will feature the museum.
Brendan Walker
Brendan Walker, who is hosting the documentary, was hilarious. His background is in aeronautical engineering, but he has applied his vast knowledge to building roller coasters, thrill rides and creating amusements throughout the world — and hosting a variety of television shows in England (including many for the BBC). He wears eyeglasses that belonged to his grandfather.
Unlike the news crews I usually work with, these guys came with a crew and a truckload of equipment (I wouldn’t have wanted to be responsible for their “additional luggage” fees at the airport). Where news folks come in to get a story, shoot their video, do their interviews and hit the road, this was television — not news. I think we shot every interview and every scene at least four times (most of them five or six times). They had lighting guys, a sound man, a producer, an associate producer and two videographers. I doubt they were familiar with the term “backpack journalist.”
Part of the National Geographic crew
The National Geographic Channel was launched in 1997 in the UK. It started airing in the United States in 2001. Today, the channel is available in over 143 countries, seen in more than 160 million homes and in broadcast in 25 languages. Based in Washington, D.C., the National Geographic Society‘s historical mission is “to increase and diffuse geographic knowledge while promoting the conservation of the world’s cultural, historical, and natural resources.”
It was fun simply because it was so far removed from the television work I am usually involved with. Beth Haynes of WBIR followed them around while they were shooting at the Titanic Museum Attraction and did a wonderful story for Live at Five at Four (you can watch Beth Hayne’s report by clicking the logo to the right). I’m pretty sure Beth finished her story, went back to Knoxville, edited her piece and had it on the air before I finished shooting with the crew that day in Pigeon Forge.
The five-part special (each segment one hour long) is tentatively scheduled to air on the National Geographic Channel in the United States and UK this fall. Once I know more details, I’ll pass them along.