Woody and Harriet worked with SeaLight Pictures to fulfil critical roles on a blue-chip 3 x 1-hour natural history series for National Geographic/Disney+, ‘Secrets of the Octopus’.

The show is scheduled for release in April 2024.

Harriet and Woody were part of the core crew travelling to multiple international and domestic locations for shoots up to six weeks in length. Woody and Harriet’s positions included the following responsibilities:

Richard Woody Spark: Cinematographer, Assistant Camera and Drone

• Organising equipment lists, carnets and insurance documents.

• Comprehensive pre-production cleaning, testing, and updating of all equipment before securing for transport.

• Ensuring cameras are programmed to technical outlines, including colour space, framerate, compression ratios, and timecode.

• Crucial management of media cards and batteries during extended shoots.

• Maintaining camera equipment in optimum working order and configuring as required. Daily upkeep of up to six underwater camera housings, including an underwater time-lapse system.

• Shooting natural history sequences of octopuses and the unique behaviour that characterises each species and their environments.

• Working closely with the Director of Photography and other Cinematographers to create blue-chip natural history sequences.

Harriet Spark: Associate Producer, Production Manager and Safety Diver

• Researching and crafting interviews with key talent and leading these interviews on location.

• Developing creative shot lists for each sequence and for remote crews.

• Writing comprehensive risk assessments incorporating closed-circuit rebreather diving

• Acting as in-water Dive Safety on location, using SCUBA and CCR equipment. • Managing safety on location, including CCR diving, and working with Skippers and Dive Supervisors to ensure a safe working environment for all crew.

• Leading safety and shoot briefings on location.

• Can quickly build rapport and relationships with a diverse group of people, from suppliers to key talent, to ensure the best possible shoot outcome.

• Recording sound on location using multiple microphones and external mixers

• Assisting with various underwater camera systems, including RED, Sony, Nauticam and GATES housings.

• Shooting behind-the-scenes content and stills.

• Organising and leading recces to potential locations and writing comprehensive condition reports for the Director and wider team.

• Logging footage and identifying species.

• Catering for breakfast, lunch and dinner for 10+ crew members over multiple weeks.

  From March-August 2022, Harriet fulfilled the role of Production Manager. Duties included:

• Managing permits and visa applications for complex shoots with multiple crews in remote locations.

• Managing cost trackers and shoot budgets.

• Managing and developing safety protocols for CCR diving and COVID-19

• Supervising Production Coordinators and overseeing all travel and accommodation bookings in remote international locations.

• Building and managing schedules for complex back-to-back shoots.

• Sourcing crew for various key roles.

• Managing key client relationships and leading pre-production crew briefings.