TV Presenting
A seasoned wildlife film-maker who's worked with the likes of Sir David Attenborough, Dan offers an authoritative but light-hearted take on science, nature, environment, history and travel.
Dan has 10 years' experience in the production of innovative science and wildlife programmes for the world-famous BBC Natural History Unit, National Geographic, The Discovery Channel & WNET. He has learned from the best presenters in the business including Sir David Attenborough (Planet Earth, The Life of Mammals - BBC), Jesus Rivas (The Death Squeeze - National Geographic), Romulus Whitaker (Snake Hunter - National Geographic) and Steve Leonard (Animal Camera - BBC). His work with Rom Whitaker on The Snake Hunter (Zebra Films) won the Panda Award for Best Presenter-led film at Wildscreen.
Currently, Dan's working with the award-winning TV production company Table Mountain Films to develop a thrilling new series based on Invasive Aliens, a Sunday Times Book of the Year.
To discuss your film project with Dan, please email (without spaces): info @ daneatherley . com
Dan has 10 years' experience in the production of innovative science and wildlife programmes for the world-famous BBC Natural History Unit, National Geographic, The Discovery Channel & WNET. He has learned from the best presenters in the business including Sir David Attenborough (Planet Earth, The Life of Mammals - BBC), Jesus Rivas (The Death Squeeze - National Geographic), Romulus Whitaker (Snake Hunter - National Geographic) and Steve Leonard (Animal Camera - BBC). His work with Rom Whitaker on The Snake Hunter (Zebra Films) won the Panda Award for Best Presenter-led film at Wildscreen.
Currently, Dan's working with the award-winning TV production company Table Mountain Films to develop a thrilling new series based on Invasive Aliens, a Sunday Times Book of the Year.
To discuss your film project with Dan, please email (without spaces): info @ daneatherley . com
Dan's TV Showreel
Assistant Producer
Researcher/Coordinator/Field Assistant / Camera Assistant
- Planet Earth (BBC Natural History Unit)
- The Life of Mammals (BBC Natural History Unit)
- The Natural World: Upper Mississippi (@GB Films / BBC Natural History Unit)
- Steve Leonard’s Animal Camera (BBC Natural History Unit))
- Ultimate Snake: Death Squeeze (Zebra Films / National Geographic)
- Snake Hunter - North America (Zebra Films / National Geographic)
- Snake Hunter - Costa Rica (Zebra Films / National Geographic)
Researcher/Coordinator/Field Assistant / Camera Assistant
- Golden Seals of the Skeleton Coast (Zebra Films)
- The Natural World: Wild Indonesia (Zebra Films / BBC)
- Living Britain (BBC Natural History Unit)
- Andes to Amazon (BBC Natural History Unit)
- The Natural World: Salmon (BBC Natural History Unit)
- Swarms (Partridge Films)
- Earthtrek (Partridge Films)
- Hidden Worlds 2 (Partridge Films)
- Cobras (Partridge Films)
- Wildlife Explorer (Partridge Films)
- Forest Tigers (Partridge Films)
Overseas filming
Courses
Skills and Experience
Pre-production
• Generating new ideas for programmes.
• Writing & pitching treatments.
• Identifying the most fascinating stories and developing them into filmable sequences.
• Identifying and then developing fruitful relationships with relevant experts & contributors.
• Effective use of all information sources including internet, libraries, etc.
• Pinning down and recceing locations.
• Budgeting.
• Planning and co-ordinating film trips.
On Location
• Directing natural history and sync film shoots; directing a presenter to achieve the most effective and coherent delivery.
• Shooting presenter sequences on digital video (Sony PD150).
• Shooting on DV – including underwater using Amphibico housing.
• Setting up filming hides & wrangling animals for filming, set-building including burrows and tanks for underwater sequences.
• Sound recording & operating clapper board for sync filming.
• Taking production stills for publicity.
Overseas filming experience
• Germany and Sweden (Two 1 week film trips as Director and Camera Operator – shot underwater video).
• South Africa and Australia (3 week sync film trip as Assistant Producer).
• France and Portugal (1 week natural history shoot at two Zoos as Director).
• Nicaragua (1 week sync film trip as Director and Second Camera Operator).
• Canada (1 week natural history film trip as Assistant Producer).
• USA x 4 (1 month natural history film trip and three 2 week sync film trips as Assistant Producer).
• Costa Rica x 3 (6 weeks experience in jungle during 3 separate visits including recce, natural history and sync film trips as Assistant Producer).
• Java, Bali (2 month natural history film trip in jungle as Researcher).
Post-Production
• Conducting comprehensive archive footage research.
• Edit assisting & Script writing.
• Working with graphics companies such as BDH and 4:2:2.
- Australia
- Canada
- Costa Rica
- France
- Germany
- Indonesia
- Nicaragua
- South Africa
- Sweden
- USA
Courses
- Aspire Presenting Course (2021)
- Skillset - NVQ in Production Research (2000)
Skills and Experience
Pre-production
• Generating new ideas for programmes.
• Writing & pitching treatments.
• Identifying the most fascinating stories and developing them into filmable sequences.
• Identifying and then developing fruitful relationships with relevant experts & contributors.
• Effective use of all information sources including internet, libraries, etc.
• Pinning down and recceing locations.
• Budgeting.
• Planning and co-ordinating film trips.
On Location
• Directing natural history and sync film shoots; directing a presenter to achieve the most effective and coherent delivery.
• Shooting presenter sequences on digital video (Sony PD150).
• Shooting on DV – including underwater using Amphibico housing.
• Setting up filming hides & wrangling animals for filming, set-building including burrows and tanks for underwater sequences.
• Sound recording & operating clapper board for sync filming.
• Taking production stills for publicity.
Overseas filming experience
• Germany and Sweden (Two 1 week film trips as Director and Camera Operator – shot underwater video).
• South Africa and Australia (3 week sync film trip as Assistant Producer).
• France and Portugal (1 week natural history shoot at two Zoos as Director).
• Nicaragua (1 week sync film trip as Director and Second Camera Operator).
• Canada (1 week natural history film trip as Assistant Producer).
• USA x 4 (1 month natural history film trip and three 2 week sync film trips as Assistant Producer).
• Costa Rica x 3 (6 weeks experience in jungle during 3 separate visits including recce, natural history and sync film trips as Assistant Producer).
• Java, Bali (2 month natural history film trip in jungle as Researcher).
Post-Production
• Conducting comprehensive archive footage research.
• Edit assisting & Script writing.
• Working with graphics companies such as BDH and 4:2:2.
A few good bits from Dan's career so far
• Working with Sir David Attenborough on The Life of Mammals and Planet Earth
• Directing in Nicaragua for National Geographic & filming the eruptions of Krakatau, Indonesia.
• Working with Sir David Attenborough on The Life of Mammals and Planet Earth
• Directing in Nicaragua for National Geographic & filming the eruptions of Krakatau, Indonesia.