Darren ‘Diz’ Williams

Bristol, UK

+447971452278

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

Education - MA Wildlife Film Making (BBC NHU/University of West England)
BSc Applied Human Physiology (University of Birmingham)

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 with Steve Backshall (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.

Credits

Producer / Director / Aerial Cinematography - Silverback Films - (Untitled Dinosaur Documentary 2026) - Netflix

Assistant Producer / Aerial Cinematography - Silverback Films - Life on Our Planet - Netflix

Aerial Cinematography - Silverback Films - Wild Isles (Ocean) - Netflix

Assistant Producer / Aerial Cinematography - Silverback Films - A Perfect Planet - BBC One 2020

Field Director / Aerial Cinematography - Silverback Films - Our Planet - Netflix 2019

Assistant Director / Aerial Cinematography - BBC Natural History Unit - Deadly Dinosaurs with Steve Backshall - (Researcher) In Production

Researcher - BBC Natural History Unit - Wild Alaska Live  

Researcher - BBC Natural History Unit - Animal Impossible (Pilot) - working title

Researcher - BBC Natural History Unit - Naomi's Nightmares of Nature - Series 4' 

Researcher - BBC Natural History Unit - Naomi's Nightmares of Nature - Series 3'

Researcher - BBC Natural History Unit - 'Natures Weirdest Events - Series 4'

Second Camera / BTS - BBC Natural History Unit - 'Planet Earth 2' - ('Making of' cameraman - Camera Op) 2016

BBC Natural History Unit - 'CBBC Wild' -

BBC Natural History Unit - 'Secrets of Bones' BBC4 -

ZSL London Zoo  - 'Giants on the Edge'  Vimeo - (Self-shoot Producer/Director)