Talk:Life in Cold Blood

Script

The script is written by David Attenborough, as are all those for his 'Life' series. He recently stated in a Radio Times interview (just before production started) that he'd finished the script. This should indicate that it is his own work. He collaborates with the Natural History Unit to decide which creatures should be filmed, but once this is agreed, he writes the links and the narration. You may be confusing the 'Life' series with the likes of The Blue Planet and Planet Earth, on which Attenborough served as narrator only, his script being prepared by Alastair Fothergill, the series producer. Chris 42 12:46, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

Alastair Fothergill is a 'series producer', scripts are written, in the first instance by the individual programme producers.

The following is copied from my Talk page:

Hi Chris. It was me that changed the Life in Cold Blood article. I am a producer on Life in Cold Blood working at the NHU so I can be pretty sure that the producers write the scripts for this series ( with David Attenboroughs thoughts of course )

regards —Preceding unsigned comment added by 132.185.144.122 (talk • contribs) 12:59, 16 January 2007

Is this verifible? The JPS^{talk to me} 13:01, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

A look at the vandalism warnings on that anon's talk page would suggest not. Perodicticus 11:32, 17 January 2007 (UTC)

I'm sorry, but until a verifiable quote from DA can be found that demonstrates the extent of his involvement, I would be inclined to go with the original version. LICB is referred to on the BBC's Attenborough biography page as "his latest series". Moreover, every DVD in the 'Life' series does have a prominent 'Written and presented by' credit on the back. I would find it difficult to believe that this one would be different. In addition, the quote in the article re. DA's retirement states, "It would complete the survey for me. I will have given a series to every group of animals..." (Italics mine). Chris 42 16:54, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

Has anyone tried writing to the Beeb for a definitive answer? (They might also be interested to know about the anon making claims on their behalf.) Perodicticus 11:26, 17 January 2007 (UTC)

I've e-mailed them and will post any response here. Chris 42 12:33, 17 January 2007 (UTC)

A passage from this article in last Sunday's Observer suggests that Attenborough is indeed writing at least some of the scripts himself:

I [the reporter] have never understood how you can script a nature programme before you've got the film - can you really say to a camera crew: 'Go and film a polar bear attacking some walruses? 'Yes [says Attenborough] - and they do it. You write the whole thing before you start, because you are pursuing a thesis. At the moment, I'm writing about courtship in rattlesnakes [emphasis added], which, as you know, is very interesting. I know exactly what I want to get, what concept it's got to introduce and how it links to the next sequence.

'It's not that difficult. You look up the research papers and say, "Who's the guy who knows about rattlesnakes?" and you ring him up and he's delighted and says, "Well you'd better come around March 20th because from my records that's when they start their courtship".'

-- Perodicticus 21:03, 17 January 2007 (UTC)

Each of Davids ' Life' series has started with the programme title followed by " by David Attenborough." That convention is used because it allows for the fact that the production team will write the scripts prior to shooting ( as they research the potential sequences ) and then consult with David on the final wording prior to the commentary record. In essence the scripts are actually written by the producers ( as stated by a previous contributor ) but then finalised by David. It goes without saying that David does of course write the books that accompany the series, but they are produced with minimal input from the production team.

Ref: BBC Natural History Unit, Broadcasting House, Whiteladies Rd, Bristol.

In which case, how do you account for the fact that all the Attenborough 'Life' series DVDs explicitly state "Written and presented by" on their back covers? Chris 42 15:39, 2 May 2007 (UTC)

The bottom line here is that Wikipedia must take its information from reliable sources. The official credits on a TV programme or DVD are a reliable source. The word of an anonymous contributor to Wikipedia is not (even if they have taken the trouble to find out what street the Natural History Unit is based on). If a reliable, published source can be found that confirms Attenborough does not actually write the material he is credited with writing, then that can be used in the article; otherwise, we must go with what the official credits say. To do otherwise could actually be considered libellous, AIUI. Perodicticus 09:07, 3 May 2007 (UTC)

BBC Press Office

The BBC Press Office release is to provide the media with information on upcoming programmes. It is not there to be copied wholesale, and should certainly not amount to an an entire Wikipedia article. The David Attenborough 'Life' articles have a consistent style and approach to their content — see Life on Earth for an example. Please do not rewrite articles without discussion first. At least wait until the series is broadcast and allow the article to grow properly. Chris 42 (talk) 23:21, 8 January 2008 (UTC)

If you are in any doubt, please see paragraph four of bbc.co.uk's Terms of Use. Chris 42 (talk) 23:34, 8 January 2008 (UTC)

High-Def or not?

Anyone know for sure if this is going to be in HD or not? Sky News say it is but an anon editing from a BBC IP address claims that's a mistake. I've checked the listings for BBC HD and 'Life...' isn't listed, but it seems a bit strange that they wouldn't have filmed it (or at least more recent scenes) in HD. AlexJ (talk) —Preceding comment was added at 17:12, 26 January 2008 (UTC)

it definately isn't Hi-Def. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 132.185.144.120 (talk) 11:13, 28 January 2008 (UTC)

Reusing scenes

Has LICB been reusing footage shot for planet earth? A quick google [1] search seems to suggest I'm not alone in thinking this but I couldn't find a verifiable or reliable source. If anything's been written about this it should be added 81.96.160.6 (talk) 04:42, 28 February 2008 (UTC)

The link you provided only mentions the fact that footage from the first episode of Planet Earth was reused in later episodes of the same series. I know of no evidence that PE footage is being used in LICB.

What can be stated is that some of the subjects filmed for LICB also appeared in Planet Earth (flat lizards, gliding frogs) but the sequences were very different. What can also be stated is that it's common practice for natural history programmes to make use of some library footage, for example wide-angle/aerial shots to link sequences together. To what extent this is true of LICB I have no idea, though it's hardly something specific to this series and therefore shouldn't be added to the article. Cparsons79 (talk) 20:13, 28 February 2008 (UTC)

Leatherback turtle

From "Episodes", "1. The Cold Blooded Truth": "The largest living reptile is the leatherback turtle." Attenborough does indeed say that, but I believe that the statement is wrong: List of largest reptiles. Axl ¤ [Talk] 12:53, 3 January 2014 (UTC)

I have changed the text. Axl ¤ [Talk] 02:43, 7 January 2014 (UTC)

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