In the Studio with Jason DeCaires Taylor

Creating an episode of In the Studio for BBC World Service

Client: BBC World Service

Brief: Episode of In the Studio featuring underwater sculptor Jason DeCaires Taylor.

Tandem process: Booked presenter and specialist underwater audio engineer, researched, wrote presenter brief, hired equipment, arranged travel, risk assessment, recorded interviews and sound FX, edited, mixed programme and delivered ready for broadcast.

Project

We pitched the idea of making a programme about the sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor whose underwater art breathes new life into the ocean. 

It proved to be a perfect fit for the BBC World Service series ‘In the Studio’. Presenter Miranda Krestovnikoff was booked to talk to Jason about his latest projects - not only on dry land in his studio in Lanzarote but also while swimming around his artworks deep in the Atlantic Ocean. Miranda and producer Alex Anderson put on their diving suits and entered the eerie world of Jason’s sculptures that not only look amazing, but also provide a habitat for fish and underwater plants. 

We contracted presenter Miranda Krestovnikoff and planned meetings and interviews to be recorded with Jason deCaires Taylor at a variety of locations in the Canary Islands, in the UK and remotely. We produced the necessary health and safety documentation and booked all travel.

The technical challenges of recording audio underwater were addressed and we hired a specialist sound engineer to carry out these recordings, under the guidance of producer Alex who went on to record the rest of the content. We then edited and mixed the programme to BBC broadcast standards. 

We also documented the project with photos, both in and out of the water. 

"Beautifully mixed. The underwater recording is absolutely fantastic and the music is widescreen and atmospheric. So much to learn. It’s a fascinating programme. Thank you”

Simon Pitts

Commissioning Editor, BBC World Service