Episode 002 - How I became a wildlife filmmaker

In this episode i will be giving a detailed account of how I managed to break into the wildlife filmmaking industry. I will also describe some of the different roles in natural history TV and what makes up a production team.
If you have any questions or want me to expand on anything mentioned in here please do leave comments below!
thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed!

[@AndrewStuderVisuals]

Super inspirational! Stoked to see you living the dream after not giving up :D

[@exploretheroad-douglasparker]

Hey brother!! Living the dream with you buddy!!

[@isagf4804]

Thanks man! Loved hearing your story, you got yourself a new subscriber

[@exploretheroad-douglasparker]

Thats awesome! I have been away filming and I am just finishing up 3 new episodes in the edit. First one should be out tonight :)

[@henrykirkwoodfilmmaking]

Thanks for explaining all this Doug! I'm a wildlife filmmaker looking to break into the industry, wish I had a Granny to film! Subscribed on Spotify and will look forward to the next Podcast. Cheers, Henry.

[@exploretheroad-douglasparker]

Absolute legend thanks very much! Mass editing currently happening, three episodes and a vlog on the way watch this space!

[@romanwilliwildlife]

Very cool! Subscribed!

[@exploretheroad-douglasparker]

Thanks man!

[@adampakenhamwildlifenature]

Great instruction Doug looking forward to the podcasts. I think your tenacity and hard work is a good lesson to younger viewers of just what can be achieved if you believe in yourself. Can’t wait for the next episode.

[@exploretheroad-douglasparker]

Thanks very much indeed! Hopefully it is, on the podcast I will be bringing on guests and also sharing more of my own personal stories from location. Check out Explore the ROAD podcast on spotify, apple podcasts or youtube podcasts for the first few episodes :)

[@jakejacka2164]

Can I ask, do you really need a bachelors of science majoring in zoology or something to pursue this career? Will it be a lot easier?

[@exploretheroad-douglasparker]

Hey there! It’s one of those things where it helps if you have it, researching stories requires a lot of paper reading and contacting scientists. HOWEVER, if you have made your own film (mini personal project film or big private funded film) about … gorillas … and you contacted researchers and made a programme. That carries more than enough weight to say you can research and create films. It’s not something you absolutely need to get the job, helps … but isn’t essential. But you need a plethora of evidence effectively that you can make films. That evidence can be our own projects , photography , science degree , volunteering with animal projects … anything.

[@CoenradJMorgan]

Hello Douglas, thank you for this. I am constantly surprised by the number of people from diverse backgrounds who tell me that the behind the scenes DVD extras from BBC or Nat Geo are their favourite part….a Scottish camera operator spends weeks of trekking to a location in Mongolia , spends 3 days in a camera blind for 30 seconds of Snow Leopard footage. There is huge interest, I have watched BBC Spring Watch BTS and was amazed at the seemingly kilometres of cables snaking its way from remote cameras to a production truck. I am really hoping that you will stick with this as many of us who religiously consume BBC earth and similar material are very interested in the “how” of it. Thank you for doing this.

[@exploretheroad-douglasparker]

Thanks! Im really glad You like channel and want to hear more! I’m currently editing a series on filming bears in Alaska for Netflix and another filming bonobos in the DRC for Disney! Both will be posted here in the near future 💪💪