THE PROJECT
This year, the Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards, were always going to be a little different.
The event has long been an opportunity for museum patrons and sponsors to celebrate the dedication and skill of a global selection of finalists. However, for the first time in its 56 year history, the award ceremony would be going fully digital.
Host, Chris Packham, would address a global audience, revealing the winners of each category as well as the photographer who would be crowned Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2020.
Flux Broadcast was tasked with making all this happen.
The event had three primary aims: to promote Wildlife Photographer of the Year, whilst inspiring a new generation of talent; to advertise the museum and its work, helping to drive funding in these most difficult times; and finally, to raise awareness of the fragility of our environment and the near irreversible damage mankind has inflicted on the planet.
To meet the challenges for this marquee event, Flux brought on board some fantastic suppliers. Multiple cameras, over 30 crew and well over 160 unique photos were all expertly coordinated by Ben, our in house production manager, and the Natural History Museum team. We even ran a jib through a blue whale skeleton suspended from the ceiling!
With so many incredible photos, VTs and interviews, our biggest challenge was packaging the event into a hard hitting two hour window. We decided to keep the images at the heart of the broadcast, allowing Chris to draw on his extensive experience in the field to weave empowering, thought-provoking narratives into 8 to 10 second reviews of each image.
This, combined with a dedicated gallery crew meant we could hook the audience from the outset and push up viewing figures continuously throughout the live stream.
The impact of this event exceeded all expectations. Viewing figures swelled above 80,000 and continue to grow daily. There was a surge in donations and ecommerce purchases in the museum gift shop during and after the live broadcast. Beyond this, the Natural History Museum team is already looking at ways we can execute next year’s competition, as well as how Flux can help with further digital productions.
We are proud to have played a part in delivering an event that continues to inspire people of all ages to take the steps necessary to save our planet.
If you have an idea that will change people’s lives, don’t hesitate to get in touch.