Filmmakers Spent Four Years Following a Lion On His Journey to Become King
petapixel.com • • entertainment
Key Points:
- National Geographic’s documentary series "Lion," directed by Jon Favreau, follows a lion cub named Kio over four years as he grows to become a leader, premiering August 19 on Nat Geo and streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
- Kenyan aerial cinematographer Anthony Njuguna used advanced drone technology, including DJI Inspire with various lenses, to capture dynamic, close-up, and low-angle shots of lions without disturbing their natural behavior.
- Njuguna worked closely with fellow cinematographers to maintain a consistent visual style and frequently shared footage and advice, emphasizing the importance of trusting instincts during filming.
- The long production allowed an in-depth portrayal of lion behavior and relationships, highlighting their emotional complexity and parallels to human interactions.
- Njuguna hopes viewers will appreciate the beauty and dynamism of lion social life, conveyed through innovative drone cinematography and extensive fieldwork.
