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A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Day I Spent Filming a TV Episode for an Australian Travel Show (with Video)
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A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Day I Spent Filming a TV Episode for an Australian Travel Show (with Video)

Keith Dotson
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Video: How I Got Invited to Shoot Abandoned Places on an Australian TV Show

This is a behind-the-scenes look at filming an Australian television episode on location in the deep South.

Words I never expected to say: ‘I was invited to film a TV episode for an Australian travel show’

In November, Teena and I made a whirlwind trip to the Mississippi Delta where I appeared in front of the cameras filming an episode for an Australian television travel show focused on the American South.

The show is hosted by Griff Rhys Jones, O.B.E. (Order of the British Empire), a British comedian and television personality who hosts travel shows for Australian television. He was in the U.S. with a Sydney-based crew of four, traveling across the American South from Charleston to New Orleans.

Fine art photographer Keith Dotson on location in the Mississippi Delta with British television host and comedian Griff Rhys Jones, O.B.E.
Fine art photographer Keith Dotson on location in the Mississippi Delta with British television host and comedian Griff Rhys Jones, O.B.E.

About a month prior to filming, I received an email from a researcher for the production company in Sydney asking if I would be willing to meet Griff for a session making photographs of an abandoned location in Mississippi. (AND she also asked if I could recommend any good locations to film!)

Having shot my way all across Mississippi, and especially in the Delta — of course I knew some prime places. Luckily they accepted my top recommendation, and the light was perfect on the day we filmed!

I won’t lie, shooting with a crew and a host was a little weird for me!

Watch the video below to see what the day was like for Teena and I, working with the TV crew on location.

Behind-the-scenes photos from the day of filming in Mississippi

Me with Griff and some of the TV crew in a Mississippi Delta ghost town, discussing photographic composition and light.
Me with Griff and some of the TV crew in a Mississippi Delta ghost town, discussing photographic composition and light.
British comedian and travel show host Griff Rhys Jones closing out the filming with a final talk to the camera.
British comedian and travel show host Griff Rhys Jones closing out the filming with a final talk to the camera.
First time ever riding with a member of the Order of the British Empire in my car! The recording session started with a 20-minute car ride (in my car) where the show's host and I talked to a Go-Pro camera mounted on the windshield. I picked him up at his hotel in Cleveland, Mississippi and took us to the location.
First time ever riding with a member of the Order of the British Empire in my car! The recording session started with a 20-minute car ride (in my car) where the show’s host and I talked to a Go-Pro camera mounted on the windshield. I picked him up at his hotel in Cleveland, Mississippi and took us to the location.
One of the cinematographers recording b-roll while the rest of us were busy elsewhere.
One of the cinematographers recording b-roll while the rest of us were busy elsewhere.
A friendly local walked over to see what all the ruckus was about.
A friendly local walked over to see what all the ruckus was about.
Going low to get the shot.
Going low to get the shot.
It was weird for me to be on an abandoned places site with so many people around! I’m definitely more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it.
Here I was explaining some of the history I have learned about the location, which I had visited several times prior to reurning to film the television episode.
Here I was explaining some of the history I have learned about the location, which I had visited several times prior to reurning to film the television episode.

When will the show be on television?

I don’t have many details about when the show will be broadcast, but here’s a little bit of early information:

  • The show will be called “Griff’s Southern Charm” (still a working title right now).
  • The program will consist of six one-hour episodes.
  • It will air in Australia on ABC Channel 4.

My segment may not even go into the final cut — who knows? But Teena and I had fun spending the day in one of my favorite locations with Griff and the crew.

AND I got further confirmation of something I already knew . . . I am much better behind the camera than I am in front of it.

A new portrait of me on location in the Mississippi Delta, shot on new Polaroid i-type black and white film. Teena made this photo earlier in the day, before the Australian film crew arrived.
A new portrait of me on location in the Mississippi Delta, shot on new Polaroid i-type black and white film. Teena made this photo earlier in the day, before the Australian film crew arrived.

Above, Teena shot this Polaroid portrait in a small ghost town in Mississippi on new Polaroid i-type black and white film. I really like this new film — I think Polaroid is finally getting close to good on their materials. It commemorates our trip to the ghost town for filming of an Australian TV show about the American South.

Some of my black and white photographs taken on location

Many of these photographs are slated to appear in the Australian TV episode filmed in Mississippi.

Black and white photograph of an abandoned storefront from our filming location in Mississippi.
Black and white photograph of an abandoned storefront from our filming location in Mississippi.
A river running alongside the abandoned community where we filmed the episode.
A river running alongside the abandoned community where we filmed the episode.
Some of the historic brick walls are beginning to crumble. Black and white photograph by Keith Dotson.
Some of the historic brick walls are beginning to crumble. Black and white photograph by Keith Dotson.
Black and white photograph of an abandoned house overtaken by the forest in the ghost town where we filmed the abandoned places television episode.
Black and white photograph of an abandoned house overtaken by the forest in the ghost town where we filmed the abandoned places television episode.
Black and white photograph of a tree in a muddy farm field alongside Highway 61 in the Mississippi Delta.
Black and white photograph of a tree in a muddy farm field alongside Highway 61 in the Mississippi Delta.
Black and white photograph of tires left leaning against a utility pole in Mississippi.
Black and white photograph of tires left leaning against a utility pole in Mississippi.

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1 comment

  1. Joe says:

    Very Cool, Keith! Could end up with an invite to Down Under. 🙂

    Reply

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