​​THE BRIEF

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We were asked to film a ground-breaking fixed-rig documentary for Channel 4 following the lives of the Ayke Muko’s of the Hamar tribe in South Omo Valley, Ethiopia.

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​​​​​​​​​Channel 4 needed, “cameras placed in and around the family huts to capture the intricacies of their relationships, their social bonds and attitudes towards parenting and the community”

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THE CHALLENGES

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The Complete Camera Company had to establish a trusted relationship with the tribe,

and evaluate the most unobtrusive ways in which to film their family life.

Following 3 months of kit, crew and logistical preparation, over 2 tonnes of technical equipment was boxed up and transported to Ethiopia.

This equipment was driven over 200 miles of dirt roads to the Omo Valley, a totally remote and little-visited part of Ethiopia. Everything required, from nuts and bolts to miles of cabling and Panasonic PTZ cameras had to be taken, with enough spares to keep filming for just over a month.​​​

We rigged the homestead in torrential rain and temperatures regularly exceeding 35°C. The CCC had specialist camera-housings to protect the cameras from the heat and ensure their reliability. Although roads were washed away and people fell ill, the crew worked tirelessly to rig 24 camera positions and build a gallery from scratch to house the production monitors, sound, camera operators, producers and directors.

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THE RESULTS

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The Tribe was fascinating. The equipment performed brilliantly, and that is testament to not only the technical crew, the engineers and extensive preparation by The CCC but also the manufacturers of The CCC’s equipment.

The final show was a unique and intimate look into true tribal life; a touching yet hilarious series, in which the viewers fell in love with the differences, and similarities between their own families and the Ayke Muko’s.

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FACTS & FIGURES

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Filmed: September 2014
Aired: Summer 2015
Channel: Channel 4
Location: Ethiopia
Viewers: 1.82 million
Cameras: 24

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CRITICAL ACCLAIM

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"A warm, fascinating documentary series"

The Independent

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"It is starting to lead the way in reality-TV-gone-right"

The Guardian

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"A jewel of the current schedules"

The Express

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"The Tribe is such good news because it rather spectacularly moves on from the stereotypes by introducing us to a family in Ethiopia who are, uncannily and hilariously, close to us"

The Herald

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"What is miraculous about this is the way it highlights our shared humanity"

The Times