Virtual Shark Crowdcast
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Virtual Shark Crowdcast
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Original price was: $25.00.$20.00Current price is: $20.00.
Join me for a one-hour virtual Crowdcast experience where I take you deep behind the scenes of some of the most iconic shark documentaries ever made. As a shark scientist and documentary host for Shark Week and SharkFest, I’ll share the untold stories of how these films came to life—from the science that inspired them to the innovative techniques we used to capture rare and risky footage. We’ll dive into the massive challenges, near-impossible shots, and the creative tradeoffs between scientific accuracy and dramatic storytelling. Many of these documentaries sparked global debate about how sharks are portrayed—I’ll talk candidly about the controversy and what really goes on behind the camera. After the presentation, I’ll open the floor to your questions in a live Q&A. Whether you’re a shark fan, filmmaker, student, or critic, this session offers a raw and insightful look into the making of modern shark media.
BOOK VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE
18 in stock
Join me for a one-hour virtual Crowdcast experience where I take you deep behind the scenes of some of the most iconic shark documentaries ever made. As a shark scientist and documentary host for Shark Week and SharkFest, I’ll share the untold stories of how these films came to life—from the science that inspired them to the innovative techniques we used to capture rare and risky footage. We’ll dive into the massive challenges, near-impossible shots, and the creative tradeoffs between scientific accuracy and dramatic storytelling. Many of these documentaries sparked global debate about how sharks are portrayed—I’ll talk candidly about the controversy and what really goes on behind the camera. After the presentation, I’ll open the floor to your questions in a live Q&A. Whether you’re a shark fan, filmmaker, student, or critic, this session offers a raw and insightful look into the making of modern shark media.
Featured documentaries:
- Shark Wranglers (History Channel) – Catching and releasing 50 great white sharks to satellite track their migrations – The largest single white shark research effort in history – captured in raw reality.
- Sharkville (National Geographic) – First documentation of great white shark hunting at night.
- Shark vs. Whale (National Geographic)- First documentation of a great white shark hunting a living humpback whale
- Camo Sharks (National Geographic) – Proving that great white sharks can morph into different colours – a scientific first
Shark Wranglers – History Channel
Shark Wranglers was a high-adrenaline TV series that followed a crew of shark scientists and fishermen on an ambitious mission: to travel thousands of miles by boat to South Africa and tag over 50 great white sharks with satellite transmitters. The series captured the raw intensity of working with one of the ocean’s most powerful predators, showcasing the extreme logistics, danger, and dedication required to unlock the secrets of great white migration and behavior. It was one of the most daring shark research expeditions ever filmed.
As chief scientist on the project, I assembled a team of more than 20 of South Africa’s top shark biologists to maximise the scientific impact of every encounter. With just 15 minutes to work while each great white lay on the cradle, we collected a huge range of data—from blood samples to tracking tags—turning each brief interaction into a burst of scientific discovery. It was a fast, high-stakes, and unforgettable chapter in shark research.
Sharkville – National Geographic Channel
Sharkville was a groundbreaking 2008 documentary special that took viewers into the dark heart of Mossel Bay, South Africa—one of the most active great white shark hunting grounds in the world. I hosted the program, which was inspired by my PhD research tracking great whites in this unique bay and studying their nocturnal hunting behavior on Cape fur seals. Alongside a dedicated team of interns, we logged thousands of hours following these apex predators to document their rarely-seen nighttime attacks.
When producers from Obsessively Creative approached me to turn this research into a documentary, I knew we had something special, but filming a great white predation at night is a completely different beast. Seeing it as a scientist is one thing; capturing it on film with enough clarity and drama for a global audience is an entirely different challenge. What followed was a bold attempt to bridge science and storytelling, and bring the hidden world of Sharkville into the light.
Camo Sharks – National Geographic
Camo Sharks is a bold and curious National Geographic Sharkfest special that dives into one of the strangest shark questions ever asked: can great white sharks change colour? I developed and co-hosted this documentary with Gibbs Kuguru, who had been researching albinism and colour change in smaller reef sharks. Together, we wondered—what if one of the ocean’s most iconic predators also had the ability to camouflage?
We’d both seen what looked like colour shifts in great whites with our own eyes, but proving it scientifically was a whole different challenge. We took live skin samples from great whites, transported them to the University of Cape Town, and placed them under a confocal microscope. Then came the real test: applying a series of hormones to see if the skin cells would respond. They did. For the first time ever, we documented that great whites can indeed change their colour, rewriting what we know about shark biology.
Shark vs. Whale – National Geographic
Shark vs. Whale is one of the rawest and most controversial shark documentaries I’ve ever made. While filming off the South African coast, I witnessed—and captured on drone —an extraordinary event: a living humpback whale being attacked and ultimately drowned by a massive 13-foot great white shark. It was something few believed possible. We turned this once-in-a-lifetime footage into a full investigation, asking whether this was an isolated incident or part of a hidden predatory strategy never before recorded.
But the moment the documentary aired, the backlash hit hard. The whale conservation community was furious that we didn’t intervene. As proud as we were of the scientific value and rarity of the footage, Shark vs. Whale struck a nerve by bringing together two of the most passionately protected animals on the planet—sharks and whales—on opposite sides of a brutal survival story. It forced a conversation not just about predator and prey, but about ethics, empathy, and the nature of documenting wildlife.
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Frequently asked questions
I run two crowdcasts on each presentation day – one is held at 1AM GMT time that is suitable for North and South America and Oceania. The second is held a 9PM GMT time which is suitable for Europe and Africa.
It depends on interest in the topic, but attendance typically ranges from 1 to 25 people. I cap each Crowdcast at 25 participants to make sure there’s time for everyone to ask questions at the end of the presentation.
Yes, they change! Each year, I update the shark case studies featured in my Crowdcast presentations. The topic of the next Crowdcast is always outlined in the event description, so you can check in advance and avoid repeating a session—unless you’d like to join again, of course!
After you have booked your place, I will send you an email with a Zoom link, date and GMT time. You can then use your computer, phone or tablet to join this meeting at the prescribed time.
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