🌿🎥 Into the Wild: My Untamed Filmmaking Journey

Podcast

Mar 10

Lush green tropical rainforest with dense vegetation and misty fog, captured along a narrow jungle trail in early morning light.

Behind the Scenes with Shannon on the Calling All Creatures Podcast

Have you ever wondered what it takes to create a nature documentary in some of the planet’s most remote, unpredictable environments? I recently joined Laurie Fivecoat on the Calling All Creatures podcast to share my untamed journey as a wildlife filmmaker—from deep in the jungle to floating in zero gravity.

In this episode, we dig into the real story behind what it means to work in documentary production, especially when you're out in the field capturing the raw beauty of wildlife and the power of nature-based storytelling.

🌍 Who This Episode Is For

This episode is perfect for:

Aspiring or established nature documentary producers
Students studying environmental media or film
Fans of shows like Planet Earth, Our Planet, or Welcome to Earth
Creatives seeking insight into adventure-based storytelling careers

🎧 What You'll Discover in This Episode:

🐾 What it’s really like filming in extreme and remote locations, from sub-zero temperatures to rainforest humidity
📽️ How to ethically film wild animals in their natural habitat—without disrupting fragile ecosystems
🚀 The wild career leap from wildlife documentaries to space-based media projects (yes, really!)

Whether you're in creative media, filmmaking, or simply obsessed with nature, this episode is a candid look at the challenges and rewards of working in the wild.

🎬 Why This Conversation Matters to Nature Storytellers

Nature storytelling is more than just scenic shots of landscapes and animals. As creators, we’re responsible for:

Building compelling conservation media that sparks awareness and action
Practicing ethical filmmaking techniques in sensitive ecosystems
Developing patience and resilience when everything—weather, wildlife, tech—refuses to cooperate

The work of a documentary filmmaker often happens off-screen: surviving the elements, handling creative isolation, and choosing stories that matter.

✨ Final Thoughts on Filming the Wild

Storytelling in nature demands a different rhythm. There’s no director yelling “Action.” There’s just you, the camera, and the wilderness. As a visual storyteller, I've learned that the best scenes come when you surrender control and let the environment lead.

If you're a creative professional or eco-conscious filmmaker, this episode offers both inspiration and a realistic view of the path less traveled.