Off The Fence teams up with Boomsatsuma to shoot "Ocean Wonders"

Off The Fence and Boomsatsuma have entered into a partnership to shoot "Ocean Wonders." Through this partnership, Off The Fence will become the first TV production company to shoot a series in boomsatsuma’s new Bristol-based studio facility. “We specialize in films and content that have sustainability and the natural world at their core," OTF’s Andrew Zikking said. "These values extend to supporting and celebrating our local community, so we’re especially proud to be able to shoot parts of a very global series in our hometown of Bristol. It’s also clear that we’re working with some of the stars of tomorrow — talent that we hope will want to work with OTF again as their careers develop. It’s a win-win.”

Sustainability network EarthxTV has commissioned a second season of the series, "Ocean Wonders," fronted by heavy-metal marine biologist Tom "The Blowfish Hird," is produced for OTF by Luke Lovell and exec produced by managing director Andrew Zikking. The title is set to premiere in early 2024 in the US.

These stunts will take place in The Blowfish’s ‘lab’, which has already been installed in boomsatuma’s new TV, film and game-production studio. This new studio-training facility, which opened its doors in October last year, offers Bristol’s next generation of creative talent access to experiential learning, alongside fully equipped and cost-effective studio space, a games lab, a green room, and post-production and audio/grading suites.

The new series will investigate the survival superpowers of some of the ocean’s wildest and weirdest creatures. Leading the audiences from the shallows of the shoreline to the deepest ocean trench, "The Blowfish" will conduct his signature experiments and stunts to test theories, bust common misconceptions and explain the baffling behaviour of our planet’s most mysterious creatures.

"Ocean Wonders" explores the science behind the intriguing mysteries of the underwater world. The decision to film parts of the series at boomsatsuma’s new studio in the Brislington area of Bristol will enable students to gain invaluable real-world experience of the creative and commercial processes involved in producing a premium documentary series.

“This is the first big booking for the studio and one that we hope will herald a new era of investment in and commitment to studio training for our students," Award-winning TV producer and director Dr Susan McMillan, Executive Dean of boomsatsuma, said. "This first partnership with OTF is exactly what our students need to gain on set experience that’s so essential to their professional development. We all know how hard it is for fresh and diverse talent to break into the creative industries — and how hard it is for the creative industries to access the fresh ideas and talent they need to survive. This collaborative approach to creating opportunity is exactly what we need to ensure that our regional production community is sustainable.”