As you may know, I have a few side-hustles that sometimes play into The Darnell Works Agency’s flow. For example, my original, experimental travel series “Rare Air” draws together my favorite pastimes to immerse viewers in spectacular natural settings. So far in life, these industrious filmmaking adventures have taught me an awful lot about what it takes to create quality entertainment. My education continues.
For as long as I can remember, I have always been deeply inspired by nature documentaries. Today, there are a number of series I tune into regularly to feed my interest. Forging ahead with “Rare Air,” I am now seeing some exciting new dimensions opening up. According to plans made over the past several months, the very next episode will share one of two momentous encounters I’ve ever had with an octopus. For the record, both felt very special.
A few weeks ago, while thinking about sharing that ultra-unique remembrance with others, I was startled to log into Netflix and see promotions for an award-winning documentary entitled “My Octopus Teacher.” Directed by Pippa Ehrlich and James Reed, the story spans a year in the life of acclaimed director, cinematographer and producer Craig Foster, in which he makes an amazing personal connection with an octopus.
Filmed wonderfully by Foster himself – and director of photography Roger Horrocks – in an undersea kelp forest at the tip of South Africa, I am here to attest: The experience of watching this film is truly unforgettable. Foster also narrates, beautifully describing a challenging phase in his life where his willingness to explore outside his comfort zone yields extraordinary new meaning for himself and his son, and grants each of us access to a magical, wonderful, hidden world.
A Netflix Original documentary executive produced by Ellen Windemith, “My Octopus Teacher” was developed over the course of 10 years, in partnership with Sea Change Project, Off The Fence and ZDF Enterprises. Go further behind the scenes here, thanks to Sea Change Project.
