Producer / Director / Aerial Cinematographer

I'm an accomplished Producer-Director with a passion for blending emotion with visual flair to elevate every project I work on. I began my career at the BBC Natural History Unit, where I quickly gained experience across a wide range of genres and formats. Early on, I self-shot projects such as Planet Earth II (BBC One), Deadly Dinosaurs (CBBC), Secrets of Bones (BBC Four), and CBBC’s Nightmares of Nature. My versatility was further sharpened in the fast-paced world of live production, working on BBC’s Wild Alaska Live and CBBC’s Wild. Along the way work, I worked across well know strands such as Countryfile and Natural World.

In 2018, I joined Silverback Films and became part of the Emmy Award-winning Our Planet (Netflix, 2019) production. After spending several months directing and shooting on location, I moved on to A Perfect Planet (BBC One, 2021), where I earned a reputation for delivering in some of the world’s most challenging environments.

With a wealth of Natural History experience behind me, I was excited to take on a new challenge: Netflix’s Life on Our Planet. Over the following years, I directed and shot major sequences while also developing new skills in the world of visual effects (VFX). In 2022, I joined my next project (not yet annouced) as a producer/director, continuing to push creative boundaries in storytelling and visual innovation.

From remote Amazon turtle nesting grounds to CGI-rendered hunting T. rex, from glacial ice caves to sun-baked dunes. Darren is highly experienced in delivering the most ambitious projects, from development through to final delivery.

Skills

• Directing and Producing high-end TV

• Complex and difficult filming enviroments

• Managing large budgets

• Complex VFX

• Aerial Cinematography - Qualified Drone Op GVC, A2 C of C

• Children's TV

• Live Production

• Studio and Macro

• Storyboarding and sequence design

• Leadership and teamwork

• Effective Communication

• Remote Locations

• Fast Turn around

• RYA Powerboat Level 2

• First Aid Remote Location

Darren ‘Diz’ Williams

Bristol, UK

+447971452278