Sir David Attenborough - First Life
He has one of the most distinctive voices on the planet and his wide-spread popularity makes him a legend in his own right, that and a 60-year-old career. But Sir David Attenborough’s dulcet tones are being replaced by an unlikely candidate – Craig, Daniel Craig.
The 007 film star has been picked by the BBC to narrate its natural history film, One Life, to generate millions of pounds from international cinema audiences and to try to solve the funding problems at the corporation.
This is Craig’s first venture into film narration, which will use footage from the acclaimed BBC series Life. That series has been hosted by Sir David since it first appeared as Life On Earth in 1979 and includes footage that can be described as ‘television gold’. I’m thinking in particular about Sir David’s encounter with some of the most elusive primates, the mountain gorillas in Rwanda. Priceless!
I understand the problems with securing funding and making budgets stretch. I myself have been a casualty of the recession and its fallout. However I can’t help feeling sorely disappointed that commissioning editors time and time again only want “names” for future projects whether it’s film or television.
It’s a voice-over for Christ sake. Surely there are other jobbing actors with wonderfully rich, suitable voices who need the work far more than Craig does? This isn’t about whether someone is into conservation or the environment or is an expert. It boils down to how big your profile is. Yes I realise the pluses of securing a film star, but to be honest, if the documentary is made well I doubt whether the audience would have a clue who they are listening to, if their tone was appropriate.
Daniel Craig as James Bond in Casino Royale
Speaking to the BBC, Craig said he was “very proud” to be part of the project.
“The BBC Natural History Unit have proven, year after year, that their documentary skills are second to none,” he said. “For the filmmakers who spend their entire lives recording beautiful images of dwindling wildlife, I have only a sense of awe and a deep rooted respect.”
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan of Daniel Craig, he’s done some great work – Enduring Love; Defiance; The Mother and he’s my second favourite Bond, after Sean Connery – I’ve no doubt he’ll do a wonderful job. It’s the attitude of the execs at the Beeb that has unimpressed me. As someone who is interested in film as well as wildlife, I feel insulted that they’re drawing a broad conclusion that unless they use a celeb no one will be interested.
Isn’t the point that natural history docos are about the wildlife, not the people involved? Yes you might get a tiny proportion going who are fans of Craig, but if they’re not concerned about conservation they’ll soon fall by the wayside.
In the new production, the 007 star will describe the lives of around 20 animals, from a Darwin’s beetle to a humpback whale.
One Life is being made by BBC Earth, a global brand for BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC. It will not be funded by the taxpayer, through the licence fee but executives say it’s an investment designed to generate more money.
Amanda Hill, managing director of BBC Earth and exec producer of “One Life,” said, ” ‘One Life’ is the first of three major motion pictures from BBC Earth Films, with ‘Walking With Dinosaurs 3D’ and ‘Africa 3D’ set to follow, so it’s fitting that a heavyweight star such as Daniel is involved.”
One Life, which is shot in High Definition (HD), will be launched in Japan in September and is expected to open in British cinemas before the end of the year.
whogivesamonkeys 
MLG
April 30, 2011
Is this a joke? Since when does a licence to kill qualify you to talk about the protection of endangered species?
urbanprimate
April 30, 2011
Hi MLG,
Sadly this is no joke. These days as long as you have a great production team behind you who can research and write the script, all you need is the ability to read out loud, providing of course you’re “a name”!! God knows how much he’ll get paid, but my guess is, it’s considerably more than Sir David. So are they really saving money?!
A
John F
April 30, 2011
Like you, i am a fan of DC but i wouldn’t watch any documentary based on the voice-over. I’m not sure i’d even recognise him by his voice alone. The narration is important of course but does it need to be a ‘star’? Is this another case of certain heads at the Beeb feeling the need for ‘celeb’ over someone less well known who does the job just as well if not better (think Radio 2)? Sir David’s voice is fine by me but if not someone like Bernard Hill who did the Wild China voice-over would be a good choice. We wouldn’t watch without the famous voice though would we? Nothing personal Daniel!
urbanprimate
April 30, 2011
Hi John,
Commissioning editors have become obsessed with using celebrities, whether they are A-list or Z-list. I’ve been told first had as a freelance BBC correspondent and former international newsreader, that I am not ‘high profile’ enough to be considered for certain programmes – they’d rather use a WAG or a soap star – so long as the public knows who they are, because they’ve featured in Heat Magazine, they’re happy. The narrative in docos like this is absolutely crucial as it will nudge the film along and I agree it needs a voice of authority and gravitas, but I’m not convinced a film star is the way to go about it. If film-makers aren’t looking at experts to voice it there are solid voiceover actors out there waiting for a lucky break…..me thinks they’ll be waiting a hell of long time if this attitude continues.
Matt
April 30, 2011
The thing is, unless the viewer is told it’s Daniel Craig I guarantee you over 95% won’t even know who is doing the voiceover (or care). It’s understandable to a certain degree having a global face on a product potentially makes it a bigger draw for sales on the international market, but seeing as it will probably be either revoiced in a native language in certain regions as it’s a documentary or/and subtitled, the original voice is completely lost. Along with the point entirely.
urbanprimate
April 30, 2011
Good point Matt,
But I reckon if it needs translating into a native language, subtitles will probably be used. Especially if Craig has cost a fair bit and he’s meant to be the ‘pull’ for international viewers.
A
Mister Williams
May 1, 2011
He does have a simian-quality to him though. He reminds me of Mr Shifter from the PG Tips ads…
Btw, SECOND best Bond? Pah!
He’s no Timothy Dalton.
MrW x
urbanprimate
May 1, 2011
Mister Williams,
I will ignore your first remark and I’m not going to get into a Bond debate on a blog dedicated to primates. However I will add I’m relieved you didn’t say Roger Moore, because he never really did anything for me.
x
Matt
May 1, 2011
Blimey, I thought I was the only person to like Dalton as Bond! Moore would have been good as Bond if it was ‘Carry On Bond’, in anything else?…pfft. I have to say, that photo of Craig is itching to have an Orangutan holding his empty left hand, I can’t recall Bond ever having a red haired Bondgirl.
urbanprimate
May 2, 2011
I’ve been writing this blog for just over five months and finally I get some kind of debate going and it’s about Bond. I suppose I should be grateful there’s at least dialogue between my readers.
I’m also going to contradict myself and wade into this too…..I think Matt you’ll find there was a red head. The rather striking and beautiful Polish actress, Izabella Scorupco who played the character, Natalya Fyodorovna Simonova in Goldeneye. How sad am I that I know this?!
A
John F
May 2, 2011
Asha, there is a clear link between Bond and primates – probably before your time.
Perhaps the best Bond of them all – Brooke Bond
http://www.80sactual.com/2009/01/my-name-is-bond-brooke-bond.html
I promise not to veer off-topic any further!
John
urbanprimate
May 2, 2011
Oh John, I’m not sure whether to laugh or groan.
I do remember some of the 80’s primate ads fairly well, (PG chimps in particular). Different era and what a change in attitude to how we look at wildlife now, thank goodness.
You won’t be scolded for going off topic. Nice to see people reading the thread.
A
John F
May 2, 2011
Sorry about that Asha – couldn’t resist!
Going back to the original subject, how does the use of a name/celeb in this way make you feel? Given that it’s a subject matter you plan to get more involved in do you feel there will be opportunities for someone who will be qualified? For every Brian Cox on tv there’s a – well, i won’t name names but you know what i mean.
urbanprimate
May 2, 2011
What can I say John, it would be wonderful to be able to combine my skills as a journalist with my new career path; but if it doesn’t work out, I’m not going to get in a twist about it. The reason I’ve decided to retrain in a completely different field is because I’m tired of the ‘politics’; the ‘nepotism’ and people telling me I’m not ‘famous enough’. Conservation needs people who care and are committed and that is where I’ll happily plough my time, energy and passion. I started my career as a print journo so I can always write and sell stories. It’s refreshing to know that people like you do care who’s fronting a programme and whether they’re credible enough to carry it off. Now how about writing to programme execs and telling them that?
A
Matt
May 3, 2011
I’d forgotten about Izabella Scorupco, but then I always hated Brosnan as Bond as the plots in those movies were absolutely horrendous.
As far as career wise, happiness is far more important than anything else. Sometimes obstacles on the path lead to a better field. Peter Sissons essentially retired as a result of BBC BS and agenda driven reporting of the news. I don’t care who is fronting a programme as long as they are competent and ask the right questions. He did and got pushed out as a result.
Unfortunately I can no longer stomach BBC science programmes as they are an affront to science. They either dumb down or sell the agenda of the organisation. The recent documentary on ‘climate sceptics’ was a hatchet job that pushed the AGW argument with gems from the president of the Royal Society making the bizarre claim that we create seven times more CO2 than the rest of nature when in reality it’s roughly 4%. No correction, as he’s a scientist (in genetics, with no background in climate science) so he must be right and it wouldn’t be of benefit to the BBC agenda. They may as well of had Katie Price talk about it given the amount of actual credible or believable scientific argument.
Celebrity comes in many forms even with the scientific community and even scientists talk out of their arse when talking about things they have no background in.
I’m not a fan of Brian Cox either, I cringe whenever someone says he was in a rock band. He was in D:Ream for god’s sake!
Yeah I know, i’m going o/t. I had a point somewhere, I think. Probably.
urbanprimate
May 3, 2011
Brosnan wasn’t that bad Matt, he did run like a girl though.
As for programming across channels whether it’s factual entertainment or news, it’s all seen as the same – show business!!
Matt
May 3, 2011
It wasn’t so Brosnan per se, it was the ludicrous plots. Especially Die Another Die which isn’t even watchable drunk.
Fortunately Bond has now gone back to his gritty Ian Fleming roots as a cold hearted government killer (which is why I liked Dalton), and has ditched most of the gadgets which had overtaken the image. Thank you Jason Bourne!
Interestingly, Casino Royale was the first Bond movie released in China, and Quantum of Solace broke box office records for a movie opening in China so it’s come as no surprise the BBC is pushing Daniel Craig towards that market.
Ahh, back on topic 😉
Brosnan does run like a woman, but he still looks less of a dork running than Christopher Walken. Dolph Lundgren however, is the master.
urbanprimate
May 4, 2011
And I thought I was a Bond junkie.
As for Walken he can be forgiven. He redeemed myself in Fatboy Slim’s Weapon of Choice, plus his acting skills are a hell of a lot better than his running.
Matt
May 4, 2011
It’s a rarity you can find an actor with natural flying ability these days! But can you imagine Walken as Han Solo? The world breathes a sigh of relief Harrison Ford signed on instead, Harrison Ford breathes a sigh of relief he was only in the Original Trilogy. Not that he ever even admits to being in Star Wars these days. But then Crystal Skull made up for it being the Jar Jar Binks of Indy movies. As if his earring wasn’t bad enough!