Filming Nemo
Blue Planet crew reveal behind the scenes secrets of amazing footage
Roger Munns lay on the seabed for a total of 120 hours as he patiently filmed a sequence featuring a clownfish, shown in tonight’s episode.
He finally caught the moment the fish pushed a coconut shell into position for its mate to lay her eggs on a coral reef.
Roger said: “Across this series there’s been so many mindblowing moments.
“My favourite was with the clownfish, when we saw it do so much more then we ever realised. We discovered it could move something 10 times its weight after watching it push a coconut.
“I now look at the clownfish in such a different way.”
Roger, who loves watching the series with his daughters, added: “We
Blue Planet II cameraman Roger Munns Roger films the clownfish Cuttlefish on move research the stories very well beforehand and patience is key. “We spent 120 hours on the sand, patiently waiting for the tide to bring something. You sit, wait and hope it’s going to happen. There are days when it doesn’t, and it’s hard, then there are days when it all comes together.” Roger said he also enjoyed filming a broadback cuttlefish which features in episode three tonight. The crafty creature is seen hypnotising a crab in the waters of Indonesia.
Last Sunday’s episode, narrated by Sir David Attenborough, 91, pulled in an astonishing 14 million viewers – the biggest TV audience of the year.
Producer Jonathan Smith, like Roger, said he too loves watching the programme with his kids. He admitted: “I wasn’t expecting such a huge reaction. Fish amid coral Such extraordinary viewing figures have really humbled us, with the thought that people share our sense of excitement about the ocean.
“And it’s great seeing my children’s eyes light up and seeing how excited they get when they see these incredible creatures and behaviours.
“That’s one of the best bits about this show – the impact it has on children.”
A question mark hangs over a third series, but Roger says he hopes to be able to continue wowing viewers.
He added: “It’s great to hear people are enjoying it. What we’ve captured still blows my mind.
“I just want to watch the scenes over and over again. I’m really looking forward to sitting down with my family and watching the other episodes with my three little girls in front of the fire on a Sunday evening.
“I want to watch the wonders of the ocean realm through their eyes.” Blue Planet II is on BBC1 at 8pm today
janine.yaqoob@trinitymirror.com
You sit, wait and hope the tide will bring something... then it all comes together ROGER MUNNS CAMERAMAN ON JOY OF FILMING BLUE PLANET II