Nature's Most Famous Voice for 'A Perfect Planet'
2021-01-02
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1When it comes to English-language nature programs, perhaps the world's most well-known voice is David Attenborough.
2Sir David Attenborough - as he is known in his native Britain - is a major television star.
3But he is also a tireless explorer and world traveler.
4Attenborough has visited many countries and has presented many animals from across the planet.
5He has been explaining the natural world to TV audiences since the 1950s.
6Like many of us, Attenborough has been in his house for much of 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
7He has only left his home twice -- to have his teeth worked on.
8But that does not mean this lifelong lover of the outdoors has been cut off from nature.
9He told the Associated Press that he has been able to enjoy the natural world in his garden in a new way.
10"I've seen the world go by in the natural world in my garden with a continuity and intensity that I haven't been able to give it for, almost forever, really."
11Attenborough has also found ways to keep working.
12He is the voice of a new BBC and Discovery series called "A Perfect Planet."
13It will air in early January.
14Even at age 94, the famous TV presenter's voice has not lost its most well-known qualities - warmth, calm, and curiosity.
15Making the documentary series during the pandemic, however, required a high level of creativity, technology, and a lot of blankets.
16With blankets hanging off his walls, Attenborough was able to record from his home in West London.
17Blanketing the walls helps to deaden unwanted sounds.
18A technical setup permitted Attenborough to watch the video while his producer Alastair Fothergill advised him, from over 160 kilometers away in Bristol.
19A microphone wire went out the window.
20This way, his voice could be recorded by a crew member in the garden.
21A small outdoor building was built to make recordings in the winter.
22But in the summer, Attenborough said, the crew member "was sitting out in the rain and he was listening to what I was saying and recording it."
23This was not the only remote-controlled success on the series.
24The music used for the program was also recorded at great distance.
25The head of music production is Ilan Ishkeri.
26He was able to stay in Britain, while directing an orchestra in Iceland.
27That orchestra was used, Fothergill said, because Iceland was not under heavy anti-virus restrictions.
28"It's been challenging," Fothergill admits.
29"But I think that the final product is absolutely up to the really high standards we set ourselves."
30The series is a celebration of why Earth is such the ideal environment for many different kinds of animals to live and co-exist.
31The show was shot in 31 countries over four years.
32The video includes river turtles laying eggs in the Amazon's sand bars, brown bears fishing for salmon in Russia and gibbons swinging from the trees in Southeast Asia's tropical forests.
33Different parts of the series look at important parts of nature.
34These include the sun, the ocean, volcanoes, weather events, and, of course, humans.
35Everything Attenborough does looks at how current climate change is greatly affecting our world.
36He also gives suggestions for what people can do, as well as what they should stop doing, to help save the planet.
37As for nature being healing during the pandemic, Attenborough knows it comes at a high cost.
38He told the Associated Press, "People are dying by the thousands. Let's not minimize it. It should cause the rest of us, the survivors as it were to pull ourselves together and see that we can act together."
39He added that we all can think of solutions and find ways to use them.
40It is a message he says he believes people are listening to.
41"If the human race is to survive without major catastrophes," he warns, "now is the time to do so."
42I'm Anna Matteo.
1When it comes to English-language nature programs, perhaps the world's most well-known voice is David Attenborough. 2Sir David Attenborough - as he is known in his native Britain - is a major television star. But he is also a tireless explorer and world traveler. Attenborough has visited many countries and has presented many animals from across the planet. He has been explaining the natural world to TV audiences since the 1950s. 3Enjoying local nature 4Like many of us, Attenborough has been in his house for much of 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. He has only left his home twice -- to have his teeth worked on. 5But that does not mean this lifelong lover of the outdoors has been cut off from nature. He told the Associated Press that he has been able to enjoy the natural world in his garden in a new way. 6"I've seen the world go by in the natural world in my garden with a continuity and intensity that I haven't been able to give it for, almost forever, really." 7Making a nature show during a pandemic 8Attenborough has also found ways to keep working. He is the voice of a new BBC and Discovery series called "A Perfect Planet." It will air in early January. Even at age 94, the famous TV presenter's voice has not lost its most well-known qualities - warmth, calm, and curiosity. 9Making the documentary series during the pandemic, however, required a high level of creativity, technology, and a lot of blankets. With blankets hanging off his walls, Attenborough was able to record from his home in West London. Blanketing the walls helps to deaden unwanted sounds. 10A technical setup permitted Attenborough to watch the video while his producer Alastair Fothergill advised him, from over 160 kilometers away in Bristol. 11A microphone wire went out the window. This way, his voice could be recorded by a crew member in the garden. A small outdoor building was built to make recordings in the winter. 12But in the summer, Attenborough said, the crew member "was sitting out in the rain and he was listening to what I was saying and recording it." 13This was not the only remote-controlled success on the series. The music used for the program was also recorded at great distance. 14The head of music production is Ilan Ishkeri. He was able to stay in Britain, while directing an orchestra in Iceland. That orchestra was used, Fothergill said, because Iceland was not under heavy anti-virus restrictions. 15"It's been challenging," Fothergill admits. "But I think that the final product is absolutely up to the really high standards we set ourselves." 16An environmental activist 17The series is a celebration of why Earth is such the ideal environment for many different kinds of animals to live and co-exist. 18The show was shot in 31 countries over four years. The video includes river turtles laying eggs in the Amazon's sand bars, brown bears fishing for salmon in Russia and gibbons swinging from the trees in Southeast Asia's tropical forests. 19Different parts of the series look at important parts of nature. These include the sun, the ocean, volcanoes, weather events, and, of course, humans. 20From Associated Press YouTube page: Sir David Attenborough talks about "A Perfect Planet" - his new show he voiced from home - as well as life in lockdown and the secret to his long life. 21Everything Attenborough does looks at how current climate change is greatly affecting our world. He also gives suggestions for what people can do, as well as what they should stop doing, to help save the planet. 22As for nature being healing during the pandemic, Attenborough knows it comes at a high cost. 23He told the Associated Press, "People are dying by the thousands. Let's not minimize it. It should cause the rest of us, the survivors as it were to pull ourselves together and see that we can act together." 24He added that we all can think of solutions and find ways to use them. It is a message he says he believes people are listening to. 25"If the human race is to survive without major catastrophes," he warns, "now is the time to do so." 26I'm Anna Matteo. 27Hillary Fox reported this story for the Associated Press. Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA Learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor. 28________________________________________________________ 29Words in This Story 30garden - n. an area of ground where plants (such as flowers or vegetables) are grown 31continuity - n. the quality of something that does not stop or change as time passes : a continuous quality 32curiosity - n. the desire to learn or know more about something or someone 33blanket - n. a covering made of cloth that is used especially on a bed to keep you warm 34remote-controlled - adj. controlled (as by a radio signal) from a distance : operated by means of remote control 35challenging - adj. difficult in a way that is usually interesting or enjoyable 36standard - n. a level of quality, achievement, etc., that is considered acceptable or desirable 37minimize - v. to make (something bad or not wanted) as small as possible 38catastrophe - n. a terrible disaster