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WHAT IS GLOBE TREKKER?
Pilot Productions have not been using the name Lonely Planet since 1998, although many networks have been using this name with repeats of the show until 2002.
The show is now broadcast under the name Pilot Guides, and under the name Globe Trekker in America for PBS only. The name Lonely Planet was used under licence from Lonely Planet Publications, and we are not connected with the publishing company in any way.
The shows now called 'Globe Trekker' or 'Pilot Guides' are exactly the same programmes with Ian, Justine, Megan etc. as the old Lonely Planet shows, just with different titles.
(Source: Pilot Guides.com: Community - Forums)
HOW THE SHOWS ARE MADE
Most episodes of Pilot Guides (known as Globe Trekker in the USA) are filmed with a team of just five people! These are the Director and Producer (who go along for two weeks before filming to do a 'recce' - this means sussing out the people and stories and seeing what will look good and work) who are later joined by one cameraman, a sound man and the show presenter. There is often a 'fixer' who will be from the country and maybe drive the van as well.
Although there aren't many people, the preparation takes a lot, with around 4 weeks of research then 3 weeks of preparation by a researcher/producer before they even step foot in the country, speaking to tourist boards, people who run attractions, plus setting up hotels and travel arrangements.
After the shoot finishes, there will be another 3 weeks work to edit the program and do 'post production' -
adding the titles, maps, graphics and getting the film ready for tv broadcast.
Altogether there is much time and people involved in the making of each show - just see the long list of credits at the end of each show and you'll see!
ADVANCE
They start preparing their series of around 8 new episodes, and a few 'compilations' of the best bits from old shows. Their researcher decides when the best weather and events are on, and they plan for the next 10 months or so where they are going to go. They then start preparing the best stories in each location.
Week 1:
The first shows starts preparation and a producer is brought in. The producer will try and find out from locals, guides, and the tourist boards, what are the most interesting and adventurous stories they could film, how they get from A to B, and if we can afford to make it! The production co-ordinator arranges the travel for the crew and makes deals with hotels & airlines to keep down our hair curling excess baggage bills (that's for camera & kit - not for Ian Wright's personal shopping!!). The production manager hires a crew to do the shoot. The producer will write a 'pre recce script' based on what they think they will be filming.
Week 6:
The producer goes out on a 'recce' to meet the people & place they've talked to, to see how visual each place is and get a feel for any problems which may arise and meet the people who'll be involved in the production. They then write a 'shoot script' with the lines the presenter will say and a sequence of stories, which is often quite a bit different from the script they wrote in the office.
Week 9:
The crew (presenters, camera man, sound, director) arrive and filming beginnings for around 2 weeks for a city guide, or 3 weeks for a country guide. A lot of what happens is prepared, but of course a lot of conversation and 'voxpops' with travelers is done on the fly. Did you know all their shows are only filmed with one camera? Often they have to film every scene and conversation several times to cut in different camera angles to make it look more interesting.
Week 12:
Either everyone will go back home, but sometimes they will film another show in the same location for one of our other series (Adventure Golf, Bazzar or Planet Food), in which case filming may last another few weeks and the other locations for the other show will be scouted in the 'recce'.
The producer goes back to the office and sorts out their 'wrap' of the show for a couple of days, while the director and an editor go into a studio to cut the show together, which usually lasts around 3 weeks.
Week 15:
The final stage is an 'online' which involves adding in the graphics, voiceover, and getting the show ready for broadcasting.
They take several different camera on location, small proquality digital, larger high quality but they have the old fashioned super 8 camera as well and they record a lot of visual only (Super 8 has no sound) action and movement shots. It's the real thing - no cheap digital effects!