In at the Deep End - capturing drama and detail underwater
Michael Pitts
In-person (Lecture Theatre 1.18, Queen's Building, University Walk, BS8 1TR) and via Zoom (link below)
Michael Pitts is a cinematographer and film producer with over 30 years’ experience of making wildlife and science documentaries across the world. His work has appeared in numerous BBC, Discovery Channel and National Geographic productions.
Michael was principal cameraman for the underwater filming for three recent BBC1 series, Great Barrier Reef, Mission Galapagos, and Blue Planet life (Great Barrier Reef).
Three years in the making, he completed a major six-part series Garden in the Sky, narrated by Sir David Attenborough, set in Hong Kong and China. Each 30-minute episode looks behind the scenes of Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden at their work on nature conservation, sustainable living, and holistic education.
Michael was the Director of Photography on A Plastic Ocean, which was released in January 2017. It shows the proliferation of plastic and the damage it causes to our environment and wildlife across the world’s oceans.
In 2022, he completed filming the underwater episode for the new BBC/Apple series Prehistoric Planet. As an ardent shipwreck enthusiast, he has produced a series of films for National Museums Royal Navy on the wreck of the Invincible currently on display at the Historic Dockyard, Chatham.
He has been awarded EMMYs for cinematography on two landmark BBC productions - Sir David Attenborough’s The Private Life of Plants, and the first Blue Planet series. In addition, he has received the Kodak award for cinematographic excellence and the New York Festival’s Gold award for cinematography for Dragons of Komodo.
His presentation will take you through rain forests, across deserts and into the depths of the world’s oceans and give you an insight into how sequences are structured.
In at the Deep End will be an inspiration to any filmmaker.
Contact information
For any queries, please contact bvi-enquiries@bristol.ac.uk
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Spinner Dolphins (Midway, Central Pacific)
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Pink Anemone Fish (Chuuk Lagoon, Western Pacific)