BBC Videos - The Documentary Network

Sensory: BBC Wildlife Director John Downer & the technology of ‘spy-cam’ filmmaking

Documentary.net staff — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 17:48:32 +0000

Exciting developments in camera technology have levelled out of the playing field between the professional and the amateur and so the battle now for programme makers like award-winning wildlife filmmaker John Downer is having to produce something better than the average person. The difference comes from investing into understanding the behaviour of the animal and devising a way to capture those unique moments, using a huge amount of research, inventiveness and dedication. This has resulted in exceptional and unique technical solutions that tell a story in an new and compelling way.

Discovering Deep Space

Documentary.net staff — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 18:04:51 +0000

Around the world, a new generation of astronomers are hunting for the most mysterious objects in the universe. Young stars, black holes, even other forms of life. They have created a dazzling new set of super-telescopes that promise to rewrite the story of the heavens. This film follows the men and women who are pushing the limits of science and engineering in some of the most extreme environments on earth. But most strikingly of all, no-one really knows what they will find out there. Not even drop-dead good looks and boyish enthusiasm could save Brian Cox from the first law of science on TV. No matter how hard you try, you can't make cutting-edge astrophysics intelligible for the scientifically illiterate. After all, even the scientifically literate barely have a clue what's going on; and if they do, they don't always agree. So throughout Wonders of the Solar System, I found myself saying: "I'm sure this is a-m-aaazing, Brian, but I haven't a clue why." Horizon: Seeing Stars showcasing the world's best telescopes, got round this problem by not bothering to explain the difficult stuff, the basic message of the voiceover being: "This is all really important but I'm not going to say why, as you won't understand, so just sit back and enjoy the pictures because they are stunning." This no-nonsense approach was surprisingly effective because it lived up to its billing: the images were breathtaking.

Birds of Paradise

Documentary.net staff — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:24:09 +0000

Living in the depths of the New Guinea rainforest are the spectacular birds of paradise - creatures so beautiful that the first Europeans believed they must have fallen from heaven. Filming their bizarre courtship displays is the Holy Grail of wildlife film makers: some perform like iridescent acrobats, others make hypnotic pulsing sounds as they quiver and vibrate. David Attenborough narrates the film. He has been entranced by these birds since he was a boy and he introduces a team of New Guinean naturalists as they embark on a gruelling expedition to try to film ten birds of paradise deep in the heart of the rainforest.

James Steele: America’s mystery man in Iraq

Documentary.net staff — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:35:34 +0000

Iraq war: 10 years on. A 15-month investigation by the Guardian and BBC Arabic reveals how retired US colonel James Steele, a veteran of American proxy wars in El Salvador and Nicaragua, played a key role in training and overseeing US-funded special police commandos who ran a network of torture centres in Iraq. Another special forces veteran, Colonel James Coffman, worked with Steele and reported directly to General David Petraeus, who had been sent into Iraq to organise the Iraqi security services.

Welcome to India – Survive On A Crowded Planet (Episode 3/3)

Documentary.net staff — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 08:23:23 +0000

With India destined to become the most populous nation on earth by 2026, you've got to be highly tactical in your search for a better life. It's not just about you and your dreams today - it's about the family over generations to come. Prakash and Mangesh are brothers in their early twenties from an illegal settlement surrounded by the buzz of downtown Mumbai. Prakash is deckhand on a yacht while striving to realise his dream and launch a Bollywood career. But his family are playing the long game, and make it clear his sole purpose is to earn enough to fund in their joint future: his brother Mangesh's course in software engineering. Apparently doomed to be the underdog, an audition does finally come Prakash's way. Swapan, a merchant in a hectic fish market, works so hard for his family's future that his wife knows he is ruining his health. When preparations for the huge Durga Puja festival - celebrating the cycle of life - adds yet more stress, it is clear that he is simply fulfilling his role in this cycle. Sujit, who crafts disposable clay tea cups for slim margins in Kolkata, hardly dares dream of seeing his family and newly born daughter hundreds of miles away in his home village. But not prepared to give up, he conjures a business idea that allows them to come to the city - proving that with enough ingenuity, thinking long term can make dreams come true. Watch Part 1 & Part 2

Welcome to India – Survive On A Crowded Planet (Episode 2/3)

Documentary.net staff — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 08:19:03 +0000

This observational series continues to explore what life is really like in some of the densest neighbourhoods on the planet: the backstreets of India's megacities. A popular tactic for people here, so adept at operating in a crowded world, is turning the stuff others would call waste into an opportunity. Johora started out as a rag-picker, but through building a bottle recycling business on a railway embankment, she has big ambitions for her family of seven kids. When the local gangsters increase their protection payment demands, she boldly takes out a big loan and attempts to push her illegal business to another level. And it's not just small waste. Kanye uses a handheld blowtorch to cut up ships discarded by the rest of the world, helping satisfy India's thirst for steel. His dangerous but relatively well-paid job educates his three daughters and provides his ticket to a brighter future. But his hopes are in jeopardy when he is laid off. Ashik buys up beef fat from the abattoir and proudly renders it down to make tallow. It looks disgusting, even before he is plagued by a maggot infestation. But this thrifty use of waste may well be destined for your soap or cosmetics. Watch Part 1 and Part 3

The Secrets of Scientology

Documentary.net staff — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 07:45:07 +0000

The Secrets of Scientology is a documentary follow up of John Sweeney's 2007 investigation into the Church of Scientology and features interviews with former high-ranking members of the organization. In 2007, while investigating the Church of Scientology for Panorama, reporter John Sweeney had a dramatic on-camera confrontation with a church spokesman named Tommy Davis. The church was accusing the reporter of bias and it attempted to stop the documentary from being broadcast - a campaign backed by Scientology A-lister John Travolta. Sweeney has returned to investigate the church again. This time, one of those officials has turned whistleblower to help him reveal the dark secrets of the church, which boasts Hollywood A-listers Tom Cruise and John Travolta among its devotees. Edit: Some people see banner ads from Scientology in the video. Awkward.

BBC’s Louis Theroux Masterclass – His Style, Technique and Vision

Documentary.net staff — Fri, 25 May 2012 14:15:10 +0000

British documentary film maker Louis Theroux has a unique style. Like no other he manages to strike the balance between getting involved with and close to his topics and making sure he keeps enough distance to guarantee his neutrality and independence. His open approach, integrity and diplomacy win people over, even those living in some of the world's most closed communities. Theroux's work method has resulted in quite a few memorable scenes and movies. In his own words and with the aid of video fragments he will shed a light on his style, technique and vision.

Watch some clips from his work: Racism in South Africa

Martha, Louis Theroux & the Vegas slot machines - Gambling in Las Vegas

Louis talks to prison guards - Louis Theroux Behind Bars

Louis talks to a girl arrested in a fight - Louis Theroux - Killadelphia

A Day In The Life Of Billionaire Richard Branson

Documentary.net staff — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 13:34:20 +0000

Ever wondered what a day in the life of Richard Branson was like? The Virgin Group chairman recorded a video diary while visiting London to promote his new book Business Stripped Bare. Seems to be like our usual day... ;-)

Human Planet BBC Documentary 1080p

Documentary.net staff — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 12:41:59 +0000

Watch exclusive clips from the fantatstic series "Human Planet" from the BBC in stunning 1080p. Human Planet is an awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping, heart-stopping landmark series that marvels at mankind's incredible relationship with nature in the world today. Uniquely in the animal kingdom, humans have managed to adapt and thrive in every environment on Earth. Each episode takes you to the extremes of our planet: the arctic, mountains, oceans, jungles, grasslands, deserts, rivers and even the urban jungle. Here you will meet people who survive by building complex, exciting and often mutually beneficial relationships with their animal neighbours and the hostile elements of the natural world. Human Planet crews have filmed in around 80 locations, bringing you many stories that have never been told on television before. The team has trekked with HD cameras and state of the art gear to film from the air, from the ground and underwater. The result: a "cinematic experience" created by world-class natural history and documentary camera crews and programme makers. 26 clips from the series, including: (Click "Next" in Video Player Controls")

Human Planet Trailer
Sea Bed Hunting On One Breath: Two and a half minutes on one breath. Filmed underwater in real-time for Human Planet, Bajau fisherman, Sulbin, freedives to 20 metres to catch a fish.
3,000 Arctic Reindeer Face a Mighty Water Crossing: Elle-Helene, a young girl from northern Norway, leads the dramatic migration of 3,000 reindeer across 2 1/2 km of water to new pasture.
Ken Bradshaw's big wave hold down: Surfer and legendary big wave hell-man, Ken Bradshaw comes unstuck charging waves at Himalayas on Hawaii's North Shore. He battles for air as a six wave set pounds the inside.
3,000 Arctic Reindeer Face a Mighty Water Crossing: Elle-Helene, a young girl from northern Norway, leads the dramatic migration of 3,000 reindeer across 2 1/2 km of water to new pasture.
Girls Judge Boys in Desert Sex Factor: After a long drought it's the first Gerewol for 6 years, a male beauty contest for the Wodaabe men of the Niger desert to impress young women and get a new lover.
Thousands of fishermen empty lake in minutes: On one day of the year the Dogon people of Mali can fish in the sacred water of Lake Antogo. It's every fisherman for himself as the lake is emptied in minutes.
Paddle Surfer Rides Monster Wave: A stand up paddle surfer braves the big waves in Hawaii. Unseen footage from Human Planet Episode 1:Oceans.
Hunting a Shark From the Deep: Amos and his son Karl-Frederik catch the largest Greenland Shark they've ever landed and pull it up 800 metres through a hole in the ice before feeding it to their hungry dogs.
Race against the tide, risking death under huge blocks of ice: The people of Kangiqsujuaq in Canada go to great lengths to add variety to their diet of seal meat, venturing under the sea ice during the extreme low tides of the spring equinox to gather mussels. It's a race against time. They have less than half an hour to search these temporary caverns before the tide rushes back in. A look-out keeps watch for the returning tide, but warning shouts can't be too loud in case the echoes bring down the ice.
Facing angry bees 40 metres high and unattached for honey: Tete climbs up a 40 metre tree, balances on a precarious branch and endures being stung by an angry swarm of bees to reach the most sought after of jungle foods -- honey.
Children hunt world's largest venomous spider for dinner: Orlando and his friends go into the Venezualan jungle in search of a snack - the venomous goliath birdeater, the world's largest spider which is the size of a dinner plate.
Family and pets move into a jungle treehouse: This Korowai family in Papua move into their new home 30 metres up in the jungle canopy. (age-restricted!)
Uncontacted Tribe: New footage of one of the world's last uncontacted tribes living in the Brazilian rainforest. Jose Carlos Meirelles works for FUNAI, a government agency that protects Brazil's indigenous people. Because of the threat posed by illegal logging and mining, he believes that the fight to protect these people depends on proving and publicising their existence. This aerial footage was shot from 1km away using a stabilised zoom lens. Brazil is thought to be home to around 70 isolated tribes.
Dynamite-triggered Avalanche: Heavy snowfall can pose a deadly threat in the Swiss Alps so, armed with dynamite, ski patrolman Martin sets off a controlled avalanche from a helicopter.
Fox Hunting with a Golden Eagle: Get an birds eye view of the action as a Kazakh hunter and golden eagle team up to hunt a fox in the barren Altai Mountains of Mongolia.
Gelada Monkey Army Raids Ethiopian Harvest: In the Simien Mountains of Ethiopia, a harvest is under attack from a ravenous enemy. Twelve year old Dereje steps up to defend his crops from the cunning Gelada monkeys
Three Men vs. Fifteen Hungry Lions: Dorobo men cut and butcher an already dead wildebeest before taking it away.
Snake Bracelets: There are millions of snakes in this flooded grassland around Tonle Sap lake in Camobodia; most are edible water snakes but some are venomous. Vaana's catch is destined for the biggest snake market in the world but not before his children have had a chance to play.
Australian Helicopter Cowboys: A helicowboy swoops into the 'death zone' to bring in 2000 cattle over 50km in the Australian outback.
Fishing at Victoria Falls: To avoid the dangerous animals of the Zambezi river Josphat and his brothers have opted for an alternative place to fish where elephants, crocodiles and hippos don't dare go.
Highwire Fishing: During monsoon season the Mekong swells to 20 times its normal volume, which brings more fish to the Khone Falls but makes them much harder to catch. Sam Niang, a local fisherman, came up with a plan to get to the best fishing perch. He built a tightrope across the rapids out of old cable and bits of rope.
Falcons Save Dubai: Keeping Dubai pigeon free is a challenge, but there's an ancient Arabian solution to this modern urban problem.
Showdown In Elk Town: Every summer the town of Estes, Colorado is terrorised by rutting male elk so fired up they invade the streets and charge at the tourists.
Monkey Muggers: Gangs of rhesus macaque monkeys run riot in the Indian city of Jaipur.

Hollywood Homes by Architect Richard Neutra

Documentary.net staff — Sat, 14 May 2011 16:04:34 +0000

Justine Frischmann looks at the leading man in Hollywood homes - Richard Neutra. His elegant Californian architecture from the 1930s and 40s now command huge prices. Yet while some are being lovingly restored, one stunning home was recently flattened.