SECRETS OF THE PENGUINS, the highly anticipated new wildlife series from National Geographic, premieres April 20 on National Geographic and will be available to stream on April 21 on Disney+ and Hulu. Produced by Academy Award-winner James Cameron and narrated by Blake Lively, this captivating series takes viewers on an extraordinary journey into penguins’ icy world, revealing their untold stories of survival, resilience, and family.
We had the opportunity to speak with wildlife filmmaker and explorer Bertie Gregory, who takes us behind the scenes of this remarkable project.
SECRETS OF THE PENGUINS takes viewers deep into the world of one of the most beloved species on Earth. What was the most surprising or emotional moment you experienced while filming these incredible creatures in their natural habitat?
The most surprising and emotional moment for me was watching emperor penguin chicks jump off of an enormous 50-foot ice cliff! It was emotional for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it had never been filmed before, so we didn’t know if they could survive such a fall. Another reason is that we had watched these chicks grow up. So, to see them survive the cliff and swim off to eventually become adult penguins was extremely emotional.
James Cameron has produced this, and Blake Lively, the narrator, adds a special touch. How did their involvement shape the storytelling of this project?
Any time we can match pop culture with natural history storytelling, I’m all for it. People who are already interested in these animals will be reached by films such as SECRETS OF THE PENGUINS, so when someone like Blake Lively becomes involved, it introduces what we do to a broader audience, the effect being that more people become excited about wildlife.
Penguins are often seen as charming and playful, but their survival is full of challenges. After watching this series, what message do you hope audiences take away about wildlife conservation?
You know, when people watch this series, I hope they realize that the life of the penguin is full of contrasts. On the one hand, they’re this goofy, slightly clumsy, and comical animal, and on the other, they’re so unbelievably tough. For example, the emperor is the only animal, never mind penguin, capable of raising their young in the deepest, darkest environments of Antarctica – the coldest, windiest place on earth. Hence, they’re already naturally pushed to their limits, and what we humans are doing to the planet pushes them even beyond that. So, we humans need to get our act together so that earth can continue to have penguins.
Filming in extreme environments like Antarctica comes with unique challenges. Can you share a moment when nature pushed you or your team to the limit during production?
The most obvious challenge is that Antarctica is very cold. We were camping about a mile from a 10,000 strong emperor penguin colony, so I was very cold for almost three months. During filming, we were also diving into the water, right after which would be a 20 to 30 kilometer snowmobile ride back to base camp.
Your work beautifully captures the connection between wildlife and the environment. How do you think storytelling through films like Secrets of the Penguins can inspire the next generation of wildlife advocates and explorers
The great thing about SECRETS OF THE PENGUINS is that it is for all ages, for the entire family – kids and adults. Filming it was an emotional rollercoaster, and people will truly see how this comes through on the screen. You will feel every emotion as you’re witness to the incredible lives of penguins.
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