Video interview: Behind the scenes with the 'Connected' producers

Zero Point Zero Production Inc travelled with local fixers from Story Productions to a remote part of the Amazon in Brazil to shoot scenes for Connected , a new science series on Netflix. We delve into the detail of the shoot with episode director Alyse Walsh and DoP Christopher Gill

Netflix launched its latest science series, 'Connected: The Hidden Science of Everything', in August 2020, exploring how we're connected to each other and the universe through six beautifully crafted episodes shot in locations all around the world. The third episode, ‘Dust’, investigates how dust from the Sahara makes its way as far and wide as the Atlantic Ocean and the Amazon Rainforest.

The New York production company Zero Point Zero Production Inc hired Story Productions to provide production services for the Amazon leg of the episode shoot. We took a crew of 11 (between the visiting crew and Story fixers) to the Amazonian Tall Tower Observatory (ATTO) in a remote area of the Brazilian rainforest. We’ll be delving into the logistical and technical challenges of the Amazon shoot in a separate post (coming soon) but who better to discuss the challenge of turning a brilliant concept into a beautiful series, than the episode director and DoP?

Alyse Walsh (episode director) and Christopher Gill (director of photography) talk to Nick Story about the challenges of filming in the jungle, dealing with the unexpected, sticking to tight deadlines, as well as traversing different continents and climates. 

“ATTO was the best place to observe that dust and we really wanted to go there, but access to the scientists was not super easy,” says Walsh. “They are very busy. The scheduling was difficult, but the scientists were incredible.” 

Alyse describes the challenge of getting to the top of the tower (which is taller than the Eiffel Tower). “There’s no elevator—it’s difficult to bring the equipment—but Story Productions’ team was very helpful with that, as well as helping us with translation, so we could plan how to walk to the top.”