Producer Scott Wilson Uses Blackmagic to Bring Arctic Vets to Life

Scott Wilson, Producer, Echo Bay Media, worked on Arctic Vets season 1 and 2. The first season was shot with URSA Mini Pro 12K, URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2, Pocket Cinema Camera 6K and Pocket Cinema Camera 4K. Scott used a number of Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pros for the second season.

PH: Can you share a little about your background and how you got into this world of production?

Scott Wilson: At the age of 19, I started a three year film program near Toronto, Canada. While there, I became a good friend and business partner to Andre Dupuis, with whom I started Echo Bay Media in 2000. Right away we focused on travel/documentary programming and have been going strong for 22 years now.

PH: Where do you draw your inspiration from in your craft?

Scott Wilson: The world around us provides infinite inspiration. Travel has always been such an immense and profound source of inspiration: the landscapes, people, history, wildlife etc. Twenty plus years later and the world continues to amaze.

PH: How did you become involved with Arctic Vets? What drew you to the project?

Scott Wilson: This was a project that came to us during the onset of COVID and allowed us to continue to travel but more domestically at home in Canada rather than worldwide. It allowed us to discover and work in some unbelievable places like Churchill and witness the polar bear migration: a bucket list experience.

PH: What were some of the challenges associated with shooting and working on this series?

Scott Wilson: Our work often brings us into harsh environments, and this was no different. Combined with extreme wind and cold, was also the challenge of the world’s largest land carnivore. Trying to predict animal movements without influencing their behavior and battle the relentless climate was a continual challenge and only possible with local help.

PH: What gear did you rely on to get those quick, sharp shots?

Scott Wilson: We’ve had exceptional success in the past few TV productions leaning on Blackmagic Design cameras, specifically the URSA Mini Pro 12K, URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2 and the Pocket Cinema Camera line as well (Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro and Pocket Cinema Camera 4K). Combined with the right lens kit and accessories (tripods, gimbal, for example), we were always thrilled with the results. Having a light, mobile camera capable of its level of RAW image quality, helped earn a Canadian Screen Award for the series this year.

PH: How did you utilize Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pros in the second season?

Scott Wilson: In Season 2, we decided to switch entirely to the Pocket Cinema Camera line, specifically a fleet of Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pros. On the field expeditions to Yukon, Churchill and Alaska we were able to employ three of these cameras all pre-built for different purposes. A hand-held stabilized camera, and two others with varying focal length lenses.

PH: How was the crew able to adapt to all of the different gear you were using?

Scott Wilson: Because we were using a fleet of six Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pros (between Winnipeg and our field expeditions), it was incredibly easy and user friendly to have different camera operators switch between “stations/positions.” Regardless of what the wildlife threw at us or the situation that arose, you could be confident and comfortable with the cameras we had with us at any given time (whether on a gimbal, tripod, or handheld). We could just grab them and get to work if the moment required it. The cameras were intuitive!

PH: What was your favorite part about working on this show?

Scott Wilson: Being able to learn from locals/professionals about the fascinating and often misunderstood arctic species.

PH: Can you share any upcoming projects you have in the works?

We are at varying stages of development with several new travel series and even thinking about revisiting an old fan-favourite series as well!

About Scott Wilson

Gemini Award nominee Scott Wilson is as comfortable in front of the camera as he is behind it. From over 60 hours of documentary TV hosting and producing corporate, commercial and broadcast television productions, Scott has a vast skill set from which to draw. Scott co-founded Echo Bay Media in 2000 and has continually strived to keep it on the leading edge of technology and style.

Recognized as one of the Top Ten to Watch by Playback Magazine, Scott continues to challenge himself professionally, and personally as a commercial diver and pilot.