Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum
General Topics => The Debating Chamber => Topic started by: Highlander on October 30, 2014, 22:03:16 PM
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Just how much credit does David Attenborough deserve for Life Story. As far as I know he is only the presenter.
After all the team spent 1900 days filming the series in all manner of environments whilst all the while DA is sat at home waiting to do his voice over and subsequently take the plaudits.
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But does he mislead us? I think he is simply the voice of nature programmes! I think it is an absolutely wonderful programme - and they do give credit to the team(s) at the end ..... I recall that happening on the previous programme I watched where he was the commentator - the name escapes me at the moment.
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He does seem to take the"lions" share of the credit.
Or is that just my bias :-[
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I'm wondering how old our Mr Attenborough is now and also does he any track record for this kind of programme? >:(
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"track record" ?
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at least on his programmes we get to see nature whereas other presenters such as Michael Palin you only see him and a glimpse if you are lucky of what he is presenting. Love D.A. and his style so informative.
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Agree with you Rosy I cannot image who would take DA place
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If it was true that David Attenborough inappropriately steals the limelight in natural history programmes I wonder why the programme makers and the producers continue to hire him. It may be that his participation greatly increases the viewing figures since his name acts as quality assurance for the programme and we all know he has gained a unique stature from his lifetime dedication to wildlife and its televising. I certainly feel that way.
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There is no doubt that he is a very skilled presenter but for me the real stars are the cinematographers.
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We might say that the real stars are the animals; and that would be equally true. What the BBC has done on the last few years is to devote the last ten minutes of each programme to showing us how the film makers capured the sights and sounds that we have been shown. In that way the cinematographers are far more "front screen" than the ever were before - apart from Armand & Michela Dennis and Thor Heyerdahl who were always more important than the animals (but perhaps a bit before the start of your memory H?).
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Thor Heyerdahl Jacques Cousteau.
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And both used a very nice cameraman by the name of Alan Root who pays tribute to them in his book " Ivory, apes and peacocks" . Well worth a read!
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I love any programme from DA, but perhaps it is the BBC we should appreciate most of all. Over the years they have not just shown, but have made many great nature and science programmes. Which is more than can be said for its UK competitors, especially ITV, where the only time you get a nature programme from them is when it is celebrity led, e.g. Cloones, Fry or O'Grady. Sadly the days of ITV doing any 'serious' television science and nature, or documentary/factual are long past.
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And produced in Bristol, of course. Quality guaranteed. {Sorry couldn't resist some local pride}.
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For years even decades DA got involved hands on with the Natural world documentaries, his enthusiasm for the natural living world is second to none, he manages to bring colour and life to a world that is otherwise overlooked, his enthusiasm continues in his voice overs; we have to remember that the gentleman is now 88 years young.
The day that we are not able to enjoy his encounters with nature will indeed be very sad.
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I think he has a great voice and manner about him, a little like Michael Palin and comes across as a nice bloke.