John Downer Productions

Home
United Kingdom
Bristol
John Downer Productions

Award-winning company that makes innovative, emotional and immersive wildlife TV.
(6)

John Downer Productions pioneered many of the spectacular techniques now commonplace in wildlife filmmaking. If you see an eyeball to wingtip shot of a flying bird, a shot from a camera on an animal’s back, a simulated animal viewpoint or a moving track around an animal frozen in time, you can be sure JDP created it first. Producer/director John Downer started his professional life with the world-

renowned BBC Natural History Unit. Here he created many groundbreaking and award-winning programmes such as ‘In-flight Movie’, which for the first time flew cameras alongside birds on the wing and the acclaimed series ‘Supersense’ and ‘Lifesense’ which explored animal perception from the animal’s point of view. As an independent producer, John Downer pushed back the boundaries of filmmaking again to create the series ‘Supernatural’ and the wildlife special ‘Eagle’ which featured in-flight shots from a camera-carrying golden eagle, another first. He also created Lion – Spy in the Den, which introduced the now famous ‘Bouldercam’, a mobile rock containing a camera. As a director John Downer won a ‘Grammy’ for the innovative time-layering techniques in the Peter Gabriel video ‘Digging in the Dirt’. He also made many groundbreaking commercials including those for British Gas, Peugeot and BMW.

24/09/2024

Celebrate 24th September 2024!

24/12/2023

MERRY CHRISTMAS! 🎄🎅

Don't miss 'Spy in the Snow' ❄️ TONIGHT BBC Two 4:40pm

16/11/2023

Game recognise Game

All episodes of Spy in the Ocean are now available to watch on demand on and

15/11/2023

Tag Bae

Spy in the Ocean Finale tonight 8/7c on 🐋 🦀 🌊

14/11/2023

The Spy in the Ocean season finale ends in 'Deep Trouble'

Wednesday 15th Nov 8/7c on

12/11/2023

it's date night!

Marine iguanas are the only lizards on Earth that spends time in the ocean. They live only on the Galapagos Islands, and like many Galapagos species, they have adapted to an island lifestyle.

Don't forget, the conclusion to Spy in the Ocean next Wednesday at 8/7c on PBS

10/11/2023

When the weekend sneaks up on you...

Here we have a Tuna Crab and as it turns out...it is not a Crab at all.... As a matter of fact, this red pelagic crab is actually a type of squat lobster.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Don't forget, the conclusion to Spy in the Ocean next Wednesday at 8/7c on PBS

07/11/2023

We're back!

This week's episode will delve into the deeper meaning of animal relationships with some of our spies on the inside. Catch Spy in the Ocean on Wednesday, November 8th at 8/7c on @ PBS

02/11/2023

Hear what our producers have to say about the most recent John Downer Productions creation Spy in the Ocean 🐙🐋🐡

If you haven't seen the amazing series already you can catchup on all the action on the PBS app and BBC iPlayer.

Get ready to dive under the sea with a brand-new mini-series! Spy in the Ocean takes you on an aquatic adventure through a multi-episodic program. Accordin...

01/11/2023

Are you all ready for round 2?

If you're in the US tune in tonight to watch Spy in the Ocean Episode 2 - Deep Feelings at 8/7c on Nature | PBS 🐙 PBS

31/10/2023

Spy in the Ocean Episode 2 Deep Feelings premieres Wednesday 1st November at 8/7c on PBS!

31/10/2023

"I didn't think my costume was THAT scary!"

Wishing you all a spook-tacular Halloween 👻

Trick or treat... 🎃

26/10/2023

We hope you all enjoyed Spy in the Ocean Episode 1 - Deep Thinkers last night on Nature | PBS 🦀 PBS

Don't forget to tune in to Nature PBS next week and catch Episode 2 - Deep Feelings on Wednesday 1st November at 8/7c 🌊

25/10/2023

Can't wait for tonight's Spy in the Ocean, Episode 1 - Deep Thinkers premiere on Nature | PBS? 🐬 🌊

Then follow the link below and read all about the series now!

https://www.kpbs.org/news/2023/10/24/spy-in-the-ocean-a-nature-miniseries

PBS

Premieres Wednesdays, Oct. 25 - Nov. 15, 2023 at 8 p.m. on KPBS TV / PBS App. The latest installment of the popular SPY IN THE WILD series takes place in the ocean, the largest ecosystem on Earth. This four-part miniseries employs animatronic spy cameras disguised as marine animals to secretly recor...

25/10/2023

Are you all ready?...

If you're in the US tune in tonight to watch Spy in the Ocean Episode 1 - Deep Thinkers at 8/7c on Nature | PBS 🐙 PBS

24/10/2023

Don't forget Spy in the Ocean premieres Wednesday 25th October at 8/7c on Nature | PBS 🐋 🦀 🌊 PBS

05/10/2023

Whale whale whale, look who it is... We're back with another announcement! 🐋 🐬

We are pleased to announce that Spy in the Ocean is on the list for Best Factual Show on this years TV Choice Awards Choice Magazine 🥳

Voting closes on Tuesday 10th October 2023. Awards will be held on Monday 12th February 2024.

Click the link below to vote:
https://www.tvchoicemagazine.co.uk

02/10/2023

NEW TRAILER ALERT!

Spy in the Ocean premieres Wednesdays at 8/7c beginning October 25th on Nature | PBS 🐋 🦀 🌊

Check it out:

Official site: https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/about-spy-in-the-ocean-deep-thinkers/29301/ | creatures reveal an ocean full of startling ways ...

01/09/2023

BIG NEWS!!!

Spy in the Ocean premieres Wednesdays at 8/7c beginning October 25th on Nature | PBS 🐋 🦀 🌊

Take a sneak peak:

/PRNewswire/ -- The WNET Group's Emmy- and Peabody Award-winning series Nature announced its upcoming season with new episodes Wednesdays at 8/7c beginning...

16/07/2023

"Ouch! You're heavy!" 🦭 Beachmaster seems to forget he weighs almost 4 tonnes!

Catch all episodes of Spy in the Ocean on now 🌊

13/07/2023

When The Face Is a 10, But The Body Is a -11 😳

The animal kingdom is all about balance, and if you’re going to survive then you have to adapt. Having a soft, juicy body is an occupational hazard for many animals - including us. Even Chuck Norris wouldn’t stand a chance in a cage match with a grizzly. So adapting your biological strategy is the only way to stay around for the next however many billion years ahead. For us, that’s been adapting our brains (some of us) to outsmart our way out of trouble, and for the hermit crab, it’s hiding their ugly, naked bodies inside someone else’s home and simply waiting out the storm outside. They’ve been doing this for over 150 million years and the strategy works so well that they don’t look all that different from the hermit crabs of eons ago that hid in ammonite shells - before they all went extinct, but I’m pretty sure hermit crabs were not to blame.

The natural world is constantly adapting and that’s how balance is maintained, so this is your reminder - keep adapting in life or you could end up as ammonite dust.

08/07/2023

Not even a Shark can come between this Sea Lion and his lunch 🦈

Spy in the Ocean is available on iPlayer in the UK and will be available on PBS in the US from October.

29/06/2023

When meeting your girlfriend's dad for the first time...

Although sea turtles typically rely on a diet consisting of marine creatures like jellyfish and crabs, certain turtle species like the hawksbill and green turtle have been known to indulge in octopus feasts. These turtles have developed powerful jaws and sharp beaks as part of their evolutionary journey, equipping them to skilfully hunt formidable prey.

Spy Octopus managed to dodge the bullet this time!

28/06/2023

Spy the Spy 🔎👀

Cuttlefish are known for their incredible camouflage, but Spy Cuttlefish is next level

Swipe for answer

Did you get it? Let us know in the comments

Spy in the Ocean

26/06/2023

The incredible resilience of a mother humpback whale.

Spy in the Ocean is now available on iPlayer in the UK and will be available of PBS in the US from October.

Address

Bristol

Telephone

+441179238088

Website

https://www.youtube.com/user/JohnDownerProd

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when John Downer Productions posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to John Downer Productions:

Videos

Celebrate #WorldGorillaDay 24th September 2024! #BwindiImpenetrableNationalPark #MountainGorillas

Happy 98th Birthday Sir David Attenborough! Here he is introducing our very first Spy Camera, Spy BoulderCam, as it entered the lion's den over 20 years ago! #DavidAttenborough #wildlife #nature #BBC

SarcasticFringe2.mp4

Game recognise Game All episodes of Spy in the Ocean are now available to watch on demand on @PBS and @BBCiplayer #spyintheocean #pbs #pbsnature #oceans #nature #wildlife

ElephantSealCollapse.mp4

Tag Bae Spy in the Ocean Finale tonight 8/7c on @pbs @pbsnature 🐋 🦀 🌊 #spyintheocean #johndownerproductions #PBS #nature #PBSNature #pbsnature #ocean

SITO4Promo_SocialTuneIn.mp4

The Spy in the Ocean season finale ends in 'Deep Trouble' Wednesday 15th Nov 8/7c on @pbs #spyintheocean #johndownerproductions #PBS #nature #PBSNature #pbsnature #ocean

MarineIguanas.mp4

it's date night! Marine iguanas are the only lizards on Earth that spends time in the ocean. They live only on the Galapagos Islands, and like many Galapagos species, they have adapted to an island lifestyle. Don't forget, the conclusion to Spy in the Ocean next Wednesday at 8/7c on PBS #spyintheocean #marineiguanas #galapagos #marine #ocean #pbsnature #wildlife #reptiles

When the weekend sneaks up on you... Here we have a Tuna Crab and as it turns out...it is not a Crab at all...this red pelagic crab is actually a type of squat lobster. Have a great weekend everyone! Don't forget, the conclusion to Spy in the Ocean next Wednesday at 8/7c on PBS #spyintheocean #ocean #wildlife #pbsnature #crab #lobster

ChinnerCrab .mp4

When the weekend sneaks up on you... Here we have a Tuna Crab and as it turns out...it is not a Crab at all.... As a matter of fact, this red pelagic crab is actually a type of squat lobster. Have a great weekend everyone! Don't forget, the conclusion to Spy in the Ocean next Wednesday at 8/7c on PBS #spyintheocean #ocean #wildlife #pbsnature #crab #lobster

SITO3PromoSocialTuneIn.mp4

We're back! This week's episode will delve into the deeper meaning of animal relationships with some of our spies on the inside. Catch Spy in the Ocean on Wednesday, November 8th at 8/7c on @ PBS #spyintheocean #pbs #pbsnature #oceans #nature #wildlife

Spy in the Ocean Deep Feelings

Spy in the Ocean Episode 2 Deep Feelings premieres Wednesday 1st November at 8/7c on PBS! #spyintheocean #johndownerproductions #PBS #nature #pbsnature #pbsnature #ocean

We hope you all enjoyed Spy in the Ocean Episode 1 - Deep Thinkers last night on Nature | PBS 🦀 PBS Don't forget to tune in to Nature PBS next week and catch Episode 2 - Deep Feelings on Wednesday 1st November at 8/7c 🌊 #spyintheocean #johndownerproductions #PBS #nature #pbsnature #ocean

Don't forget Spy in the Ocean premieres Wednesday 25th October at 8/7c on Nature | PBS 🐋 🦀 🌊 PBS #spyintheocean #johndownerproductions #PBS #nature #PBSNature #pbsnature #ocean

Well they've had their lunch & our Spy Creatures have a new burst of energy, so come along & visit us @vidcon and don't forget to watch them in action in #SpyInTheOcean showing Wednesday 25th October on @pbs @pbsnature

Day 2 @vidcon Come on over & explore our Spy Creatures, just like this coconut octopus did in the wild with Spy Octopus. Then watch them in action in #SpyInTheOcean on @pbs Wednesday 25th October @pbsnature

Spy Octopus is so excited to be here at @vidcon Come on over and meet Spy Octopus & many other Spy Creatures from #SpyInTheOcean Showing Wednesday October 25th on @pbs @pbsnature