INTO THE RISING SUN - Amazon Prime / TUBI - 4 Episodes

Researcher (and Camera Operator and Colourist)

In addition to being Camera Operator / Second Camera and Colourist on the series, I took on the task of researching and creating reports that outlined exciting content creation possibilities — from the golden fields of Yuzu farming to learning about preparing notorious Fugu (‘poison blowfish’) — detailed logistical opportunities for success, and proposed effective ways of conveying a sense of travel in Japan within the constraints of television production realities. It was a position I had undertaken for several EBM television series for over the past decade.

Series summary: Global traveller, Scott Wilson, returns to Japan to tour around by motorcycle, and experience the country's rich cultural and cuisine offerings found off the typical tourist trail.

Legends of the Deep - Cineflix / Discovery Channel / Science Channel - 2019 - 3 Episodes

Researcher

Continuing the legacy of their grandfather Jacques Cousteau, discovering exciting ‘mystery’ oceanic filming opportunities for Céline and Fabien Cousteau meant searching around the globe for fascinating yet largely unknown mysteries that would grab the attention of television viewers. A large part of my work entailed connecting with oceanic researchers and dive site operators to discuss their current projects and discoveries, linking them together with the production crew and the Cousteaus, and outlining episode possibilities that could be brought to fruition. Discovering and sifting through large amounts of information, identifying key elements and prioritizing material that could be clearly conveyed to and acted upon by the team, all under intense production schedules, was particularly satisfying.

Series summary: Legends of the Deep features Céline and Fabien Cousteau as they dive deep to explore some of the greatest ocean mysteries of all time. Armed with their family’s passion and pioneering spirit, Céline and Fabien head beneath the waves in search of answers. The waters off Cyprus are home to a mammoth 40-year-old wreck, and the team is determined to find out who sank the infamous Zenobia ferry on just her second voyage. In Shag Harbour, Canada, Céline and Fabien dive to the sea floor to investigate one of the best documented UFO sightings in history. Using the latest technology, the aquatic adventure continues in the infamous Bermuda Triangle. And, Céline and Fabien explore the legend of a sea serpent lurking in the depths in the Great Blue Hole of Belize.

Building Off The Grid - Discovery Channel - 2018-2019

Production Assistant - Photography Editor and Metadata Logging

- Photographic assessment, selection, and editing of field photography for client end uses.

- Photography metadata logging, both internal to the file and Excel sheet organization, for successful SEO social media engagement.

- A deep understanding of social media usage both in terms of media content styles but also the needs of the communication department’s end uses.

Series summary: Tired of city life, hundreds of families move off the grid every year in search of better living. With fewer building restrictions holding them back, the sky is the limit for these adventurous outdoor enthusiasts as they work with builders to construct their perfect off-the-grid home.

Over the Horizon / My Pacific Quest - National Geographic Channel - 2017 - 6 Episodes

Researcher

As the crew navigated the South Pacific, my role as Researcher involved identifying key destinations and outlining the unique content offered for production success in remote areas that were often characterized by a lack of communication abilities. My reports provided a cornerstone for achieving cinematic success in the field by hunting out unique filming opportunities as well as logistical possibilities for a crew on the move, all the while understanding the needs of both the field (or more precisely ‘on the water’) crew and domestic production team alike.

Discovering content and crafting narratives meant maintaining a deep sensitivity to those we encountered, from ancient Fijian fire walking rituals to the legacy of Marshall Island atomic bomb testing at Bikini Atoll (and the story of the people forcibly removed from their quiet paradise in order to do so).

Series summary: Kiwi adventurer Ellis Emmett embarks on an incredible journey across the waves of the South Pacific. He must harness the power of the wind to explore some of the most remote islands and atolls on the planet; places only accessible by sailboat. Greeted by the isolated people who call these shores home, Ellis immerses himself in the fascinating, yet threatened cultures of Tonga, Fiji, Wallis and Futuna, the Marshall Islands, and Kiribati.

Descending - National Geographic - 2012 - 13 Episodes

Researcher

Building upon our success with the series Departures, our team at Echo Bay Media took on an exploration of the world below the waves, bringing travel and underwater exploration together in a highly technical television series.

As Researcher for the project, I once again sifted through large amounts of information to identify the most engaging opportunities, condensed large and complex possibilities into clear narratives, proposed exciting storylines, and identified people who could be met along the way for the best chance at success. In creating a research report it is much more than just about information, but rather the ways in which one can create a pipeline between the reader and the content, in this case ensuring a clear connect between the crew on the boat, the producers at home, and the people and events that awaited us in the field.

Series summary: Earth is a water planet - yet so few dive in to discover the world beneath the waves. Descending is a thrilling underwater adventure series for a new generation eager to explore the seven seas.

Departures - Outdoor Life Network / National Geographic - 2008-10 - 24 Episodes

Researcher

My role as Researcher was to discover down exciting story locations, outline possible adventure narratives, and outline logistical opportunities for production success. Often given no more than the name of a country with which to start, I crafted detailed reports that assessed location viability for episodes as well as detailed supporting information that allowed the production team to move forward in episode planning and creation. Success in doing was owed in part to my extensive academic research background, ability to condense large amounts of information into clear passages for the reader, and to offer content that both informed and inspired.

Further, using my photographic experience, I created visually stunning image banks to prepare the field cameraman and hosts with a sense of key national aesthetic elements that they would be facing, preparing them for a visual understanding of the location and inspiration.

Series Summary: Aimed at the adventure seeker, Departures is an action-packed and personal journey about two travelers. Scott Wilson and Justin Lukach leave their lives behind in search of unique experiences through some of the most beautiful and remote places on earth. From epic landscapes and unforgettable culture, to the often trying times that come with international travel, the series chronicles the unforgettable friendships, personal successes and sometimes crushing disappointments that befall them on their journey. Accompanied by their friend and cameraman, Andre Dupuis, Departures showcases the revelations of two travelers who strive to find themselves and new perspectives while trekking across the globe. Departures is as much about the journey as it is the destination. No prizes, no contests, just real life and real travel.