Ellen Husain | Producer/Director

Ellen Husain | Producer/Director

Growing up on the Cornish coast, Ellen has always had an affinity with wildlife and art, but when it came to selecting a degree she felt she had to choose between creativity and science. Unable to see a career which connected both passions, she chose to become a marine biologist. Whilst fascinated by academia, Ellen felt unfulfilled creatively, and when completing her masters on the great barrier reef her thoughts turned to documentary making. She managed to contact an underwater cameraman and, as a qualified diver, offered to assist. Her industry contacts grew and in 2007 she was hired first as a researcher and then as an assistant producer on BBC’s South Pacific.

Ellen notes that in wildlife programming the bar is always being raised, and so each project presents a challenge to do something new, be it by advancing technology or by approaching a subject in a unique way. Ellen’s opportunity to do both those things came when she was hired by the makers of Blue Planet to produce their latest flagship series, The Hunt. As she prepares for her next project, Ellen reflects on the importance of good collaborators, saying "it's important to enjoy the process as well as make great films. Working with good people is absolutely key  – especially when the pressure is on, and schedules are tight."