Steve Robinson
What kind of films/projects/ programmes do you make?
Adventure documentaries, often anthropological. As series producer on the BBC's Tribe I've worked with a regular crew in Central Africa, The Amazon and Ethiopia. We made six programmes of Tribe last year and we're making two more series - one in Ethiopia and a one embracing parts of America, Bhutan and the Himalayas. For Indus we're shooting a wildlife programme with Iolo Williams. I'm also making a programme on Everest for BBC 4.
What kind of skills do you need in your job?
You need to be resilient and able to work well with, and value, others. You also, for the particular kind of programmes I make, need to be able to work for long spells in arduous conditions, be prepared to rough it; camp out, eat dodgy local food, wash in rivers, and be adaptable. We did a six-week shoot at Gabon living with a pigmy tribe, for example, and we used lightweight cameras Sony DSRs, DV cam, Sony Z1's. You need to make as little impact, and use as little technology, as possible. You learn not to take a generator - we rely on solar power there, otherwise the noise can destroy the atmosphere. I love making adventure programmes. You need to be fit but in a sense the outdoors is what I do - I love sailing and mountain-walking.
How did you enter the industry?
I'd been a journalist for years - on the Cambrian News, then the Western Morning News then as a sub-editor on the Western Mail. At 28 I was employed as a researcher on S4/C's 'Heno' news programme. It was a great grounding in television: shooting with a crew and a sound man five days a week for months and writing scripts. I'd learnt structure as a journalist and that proved very useful. I then began making outdoor sailing, surfing and climbing programmes for S4/C and took part in, and filmed, the Round Britain yacht race. I made a BBC 1 documentary: 'The Man Who Jumped to Earth', about Eric Jones, who did Base-jumping at Angel Falls, Venezuela.
What advice would you give to those starting their career?
Learn from the people you work alongside. Some people just like to be in control, but you should adopt humility on location and use the experience of others.
