Globe Trekker
Encyclopedia
Globe Trekker is an adventure tourism television series produced by Pilot Productions. The British-based
series was inspired by the Lonely Planet
travelbooks and began airing in 1994. Globe Trekker is broadcast in over 40 countries across six continents.
Each episode features a host, called a traveller, who travels with a camera crew to a country—often, a relatively exotic locale—and experiences the sights, sounds, and culture that the location has to offer. Special episodes feature in-depth city
, beach
, dive
, shopping
, history
, festival
, and food
guides.
The show often goes far beyond popular tourist destinations in order to give viewers a more authentic look at local culture. Presenters usually participate in different aspects of regional life, such as attending a traditional wedding or visiting a mining community. They address the viewer directly, acting as tourists-turned-tour guides, but are also filmed interacting with locals and discovering interesting locations in (mostly) unrehearsed sequences. Globe Trekker also sometimes includes brief interviews with backpackers
who share tips on independent travel in that particular country.
of the show from start to finish, including at least four weeks of research
, three weeks of planning and preparation (speaking to tourist boards, making travel arrangements), two to three weeks of actual filming, and three weeks of editing
and post-production
.
The presenter is often accompanied by five or six members of camera and production crew
, who almost never appear on camera. Specifically, the crew consists of a camera operator
and a sound technician
, plus a producer
and a director
, who scout locations two weeks before filming. A driver
, pilot
, or other type of facilitator is often hired locally. A presenter and crew almost never spend more than three nights in one particular area.
The series is known for its distinctive theme and background music, which consists largely of instrumental, downtempo, electronic dance compositions containing global folk music elements. Most of the music is written for the show by Ian Ritchie, Michael Conn, Colin Winston-Fletcher, Mako Sakamoto, Jesper Mattsson, Stephen Luscombe and Pandit Dinesh.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
series was inspired by the Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet is the largest travel guide book and digital media publisher in the world. The company is owned by BBC Worldwide, which bought a 75% share from the founders Maureen and Tony Wheeler in 2007 and the final 25% in February 2011...
travelbooks and began airing in 1994. Globe Trekker is broadcast in over 40 countries across six continents.
Each episode features a host, called a traveller, who travels with a camera crew to a country—often, a relatively exotic locale—and experiences the sights, sounds, and culture that the location has to offer. Special episodes feature in-depth city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
, beach
Beach
A beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
, dive
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
, shopping
Shopping
Shopping is the examining of goods or services from retailers with the intent to purchase at that time. Shopping is an activity of selection and/or purchase. In some contexts it is considered a leisure activity as well as an economic one....
, history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
, festival
Festival
A festival or gala is an event, usually and ordinarily staged by a local community, which centers on and celebrates some unique aspect of that community and the Festival....
, and food
Food
Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...
guides.
The show often goes far beyond popular tourist destinations in order to give viewers a more authentic look at local culture. Presenters usually participate in different aspects of regional life, such as attending a traditional wedding or visiting a mining community. They address the viewer directly, acting as tourists-turned-tour guides, but are also filmed interacting with locals and discovering interesting locations in (mostly) unrehearsed sequences. Globe Trekker also sometimes includes brief interviews with backpackers
Backpacking (travel)
Backpacking is a term that has historically been used to denote a form of low-cost, independent international travel. Terms such as independent travel and/or budget travel are often used...
who share tips on independent travel in that particular country.
Production details
It usually takes 12 to 15 weeks to complete an episodeEpisode
An episode is a part of a dramatic work such as a serial television or radio program. An episode is a part of a sequence of a body of work, akin to a chapter of a book. The term sometimes applies to works based on other forms of mass media as well, as in Star Wars...
of the show from start to finish, including at least four weeks of research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
, three weeks of planning and preparation (speaking to tourist boards, making travel arrangements), two to three weeks of actual filming, and three weeks of editing
Film editing
Film editing is part of the creative post-production process of filmmaking. It involves the selection and combining of shots into sequences, and ultimately creating a finished motion picture. It is an art of storytelling...
and post-production
Post-production
Post-production is part of filmmaking and the video production process. It occurs in the making of motion pictures, television programs, radio programs, advertising, audio recordings, photography, and digital art...
.
The presenter is often accompanied by five or six members of camera and production crew
Film crew
Television crew positions are derived from those of film crew positions.A film crew is a group of people hired by a production company for the purpose of producing a film or motion picture. Crew are distinguished from cast, the Actors who appear in front of the camera or provide voices for...
, who almost never appear on camera. Specifically, the crew consists of a camera operator
Camera operator
A camera operator or cameraman is a professional operator of a film or video camera. In filmmaking, the leading cameraman is usually called a cinematographer, while a cameraman in a video production may be known as a television camera operator, video camera operator, or videographer, depending on...
and a sound technician
Utility sound technician
A utility sound technician, or simply assistant soundman or cableperson is an assistant to both the production sound mixer and the boom operator on a film set. Although sometimes the utility pulls cable, he or she is more than just a cableperson...
, plus a producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
and a director
Television director
A television director directs the activities involved in making a television program and is part of a television crew.-Duties:The duties of a television director vary depending on whether the production is live or recorded to video tape or video server .In both types of productions, the...
, who scout locations two weeks before filming. A driver
Driving
Driving is the controlled operation and movement of a land vehicle, such as a car, truck or bus.Although direct operation of a bicycle and a mounted animal are commonly referred to as riding, such operators are legally considered drivers and are required to obey the rules of the road...
, pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
, or other type of facilitator is often hired locally. A presenter and crew almost never spend more than three nights in one particular area.
The series is known for its distinctive theme and background music, which consists largely of instrumental, downtempo, electronic dance compositions containing global folk music elements. Most of the music is written for the show by Ian Ritchie, Michael Conn, Colin Winston-Fletcher, Mako Sakamoto, Jesper Mattsson, Stephen Luscombe and Pandit Dinesh.
Presenters
- Christina LaMonica
- Jonathan Atherton
- Danielle Baker
- Brianna Barnes
- Estelle Bingham
- Christina ChangChristina ChangChristina Chang is a Taiwanese American actress.Chang was born in and raised in Taipei, Taiwan. Her father is Chinese Filipino and her mother is American...
- KT Comer
- Bradley CooperBradley CooperBradley Cooper is an American film, theater, and television actor. He is known for his roles in the films The Hangover, The A-Team, and Limitless. In 2011, People magazine named Cooper "Sexiest Man Alive".-Early life:...
- Andrew DaddoAndrew DaddoAndrew Daddo is an Australian actor, author and television personality.Andrew has been a long time presenter on the Seven Network in Australia and has been involved in hosting many Seven specials...
- Tyler FlorenceTyler FlorenceTyler Florence is a chef and television host of several Food Network shows. He graduated from the College of Culinary Arts at the Charleston, South Carolina campus of Johnson & Wales University in 1991...
- Neil GibsonNeil GibsonNeil Gibson may refer to:* Neilly Gibson, Scottish footballer* Neil Gibson , Australian tennis player of the 1950s and 60s* Neil Gibson, a fictional character in The Problem of Thor Bridge, a Sherlock Holmes story by Arthur Conan Doyle...
- Nikki Grosse
- Zay HardingZay HardingZay Harding is a U.S. actor who is best known for his work as one of the hosts of the long-running adventure travel television series Globe Trekker. Harding graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1997.-External links:* *...
- Katy Haswell
- Padma LakshmiPadma LakshmiPadma Parvati Lakshmi also Padma, Lady Rushdie is an American cookbook author, actress, model and television host. She has been the host of the US reality television program Top Chef since season two in 2006, for which she received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Host for...
- Megan McCormickMegan McCormickMegan Leah McCormick is one of the main hosts of the Pilot Productions travel/adventure series Globe Trekker .-Professional work:...
- Holly MorrisHolly Morris (Author, TV Producer-Host)Holly Morris is an American author, television documentary producer and presenter, and the former editorial director of the book publishing company Seal Press.-Biography:Morris was born in Chicago, Illinois, United States, North America...
- Eils Nevitt
- Zoe Palmer
- Shilpa Mehta
- Alex RileyAlex RileyAlex Riley is a TV and radio presenter.Born and brought up in Sheffield, Riley started performing with the city's Crucible Youth Theatre during which time he originated, and appeared in, dozens of sketches and devised pieces, as well as appearing in a number of plays and farces at the Library...
- Sami Sabiti
- Justine ShapiroJustine ShapiroJustine Shapiro is one of several main hosts of the Pilot Productions travel/adventure series Globe Trekker . Shapiro is known for her commentary and critique of countries visited...
- Lavinia Tan
- Adela ÚcarAdela ÚcarAdela Úcar Innerarity is a Spanish journalist.She studied Audiovisual Communication at the University of Navarre with a postgraduate course in Documentary Direction at the University of Melbourne , and she started working for Discovery Networks Asia in Singapore in 2004, after winning the...
- Ian WrightIan Wright (traveller)Ian Douglas Wright is an English television host and comedian. Wright was host of Pilot Productions' travel/adventure television series Globe Trekker...