‘Oceans are wonderful, yet fragile’: Mark Brownlow, producer of Blue Planet II

The internationally-acclaimed series, Blue Planet II is a seven-part series that showcases the richness and variety of underwater life across our planet. With the Godfather of natural history Sir David Attenborough as the narrator and music by legendary composer Hans Zimmer, Blue Planet II has been shot over 1,406 days with 125 expeditions across 39 countries. The series is all set for the Indian television premiere in June on Sony BBC Earth. Producer of the series, Mark Brownlow tells us more about the series...

What kind of response has the Blue Planet series received from audiences all over?

We have been delighted by the response we have been receiving around the world. In the UK, the series was the most-viewed programme in the last three years. In China, over 200 million people have watched it. So, it seems to have really captured the imagination of a vast global audience, which is wonderful.

The film was shot over 1,406 days with 125 expeditions across 39 countries and took four years to make. What was the most challenging part?

The whole series was a massive undertaking. Filming the ocean is so much harder than the land because of the vagaries like currents, and weather etc. I suppose the most ambitious shoot we launched was in Antarctica where we became the first people in history to dive till the bottom of the seabed.  We had to contend with the cold and icebergs. We weren’t sure how the submarines would react to these conditions. 
In fact, we even sprung leaks whilst we were diving. So, it was pretty scary stuff, but we managed to succeed. The deep ocean holds more life and coral reefs than the shallows, which is extraordinary.

What were some of the biggest revelations for you?

I think it was the understanding of how complex the marine creatures truly are. For instance, the common octopus in South Africa can defend itself against shark attack by arming itself in a body armour shell that it collects off the seabed. There are Tuskfish on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef that use stones to smash open clams. I think, to me, the great surprise was how sophisticated and intelligent marine creatures truly are.

Has the advent of technology made it easier to film such expeditions?

Absolutely. Camera sensors are so sensitive now, that we can film in pitch darkness and still capture everything. That would never have been possible even three years ago.

What drew you to filming marine life and animals and what holds fascination for you now?

It’s a massive privilege and responsibility to be charged with making the new Blue Planet for a new generation. I am a biologist and fascinated by marine life, but I’m also fascinated by filmmaking. It’s a real honour to be able to combine those two passions.

What do you hope the audience takes back?

We never intended to make a campaign series. It was always a celebration of the wonders of the oceans, but over the course of filming, we witnessed the coral bleaching effect on the Great Barrier Reef; it’s filled with plastic. It is important to us that we give a contemporary and truthful depiction of the state of the oceans as they are today. We wanted the audience to gain appreciation of how wonderful the oceans are, but also how fragile they are and how much trouble they are in.