4 HOUR-LONG EPISODES
Hosted by David Suzuki, this award-winning series presents a new inclusive vision of nature in which we human beings are intimately connected to all life processes on Earth.
The Sacred Balance was based on a best-selling book by David Suzuki and Amanda McConnell and premiered on CBC, and aired on PBS Network (USA), Canal D (Quebec), Vision TV, and networks around the world.
In the series, David Suzuki travels six continents to meet some of the best minds of the age. Philosophers, priests and indigenous elders share with him their visions and perspectives of the universe. And scientists including E.O. Wilson, Ary Goldberger, Brian Goodwin, Wade Davis, Stephen Lansing, Elaine Ingham and James Lovelock reveal the meaning behind their perceptions and discoveries. We hear astonishing tales of the world’s infinite complexity. Through many knowledgeable eyes, guided by many wise hearts, we are reminded of who we are: creatures of the Earth, biological beings totally dependent upon the planet’s life support systems.
INTERACTIVE WEBSITE
The Sacred Balance was supported by an innovative website (online from 2002 to 2010) with interactive features created in collaboration with scientists who appeared on camera in the series.
REVIEWS
“The Sacred Balance is a spiritual, holistic and almost poetic take on the science of the planet…it launch[es] the viewer’s mind into a different space.” – Liane Faulder, The Edmonton Journal
“The Sacred Balance is a challenge to all who watch it, a cornucopia of amazing comments and predictions. It’s TV designed to make you think.” – Jim Bawden, Toronto Star, Starweek Magazine
“Stunning cinematography and state of the art computer graphics” – Andrea Nemetz, Halifax Chronicle Herald
“The Sacred Balance is an enthralling, beautifully shot series…It’s one of the most important and engrossing programs you’ll see on the small screen all year… [it] might very well go down as the crowning achievement in the career of David Suzuki.” – Basem Boshra, The Montreal Gazette
“The Sacred Balance is a timeless piece, brilliantly conceived and executed, and an example of science and environment exposition at its best.” – E.O. Wilson, writer and Professor Emeritus, Harvard University
“Suzuki’s talent has always been to take broad scientific topics and decipher and deliver them to viewers in plain, accessible terms. He’s very good at it…while there’s much to digest in this series, his tone is always patient and pragmatic” – Andrew Ryan, The Globe and Mail
“The Sacred Balance is strikingly beautiful and sometimes even profound…[it] becomes increasingly affecting as it piles up scientific research with remarkable dexterity.” – Tony Atherton, The Ottawa Citizen
AWARDS
2004 Platinum Award- Ecology, Environment, and Conservation (WorldFest Houston)
2003 Science & Society Prize (20th Annual International Television Science Programme Festival, Paris)
2003 Golden Sheaf- Science & Nature (Yorkton Short Film & Video Festival)
2003 Golden Sheaf- Best Sound (Yorkton Short Film & Video Festival)
CREDITS
Hosted By
DAVID SUZUKI
Executive Producer
ROBERT LANG
Creative Producer/Writer
AMANDA MCCONNELL
Supervising Producer
MARIBETH DALEY
Directors
HARVEY CROSSLAND
MICHELLE METIVIER
BARRY GREENWALD
LEN GILDAY
ROBERT LANG
Directors of Photography
BRIAN ROUGEAU
NEVILLE OTTEY
Production Manager
PAULA BUTORAC
Produced by KENSINGTON COMMUNICATIONS in association with SACRED BALANCE PRODUCTIONS
Produced in association with the CANADIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, the PUBLIC BROADCASTING SERVICE, the NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION and VISION TV and CANAL D.
Produced with the participation of the Canadian Television Fund created by the Government of Canada and the Canadian cable industry, CTF: Licence Fee Program, Telefilm Canada: Equity Investment Program.
Produced in cooperation with THE WILDLANDS PROJECT and with the participation of the STEPHEN R. BRONFMAN FOUNDATION, THE DAVID SUZUKI FOUNDATION and with the financial participation of ROGERS TELEFUND, CANADIAN FILM OR VIDEO
PRODUCTION TAX CREDIT, ONTARIO FILM AND TELEVISION TAX CREDIT.
CREDITS: SACRED BALANCE WEBSITE
Producer
ROBERT LANG
Site Manager
ALLEN BOOTH
Creative Producers / Designers
ALLEN BOOTH
PHILIP YAN
Content Specialist
AMANDA MCCONNELL
Forums and Portal Administrator/Animator
KATE LEIGHTON
Associate Producer
LANA LOVELL
Writing/Research
(alphabetical order)
BILL BALFE
HOLLY DRESSEL
SARAH IVES
RICHARD LONGLEY
NANCY QUINLAN
PATRISHA ROBERTSON
HOWARD SZAFER
Additional Graphic Design
(Looking UP, Postcards from Argon)
MARLON LULGJURAJ
Illustration (Pond)
JULIE LA FLESHE
Programming Services
TED LESLIE for TCN
Web Hosting Services
LES HERSHOFF
Production Coordinator
RICHARD JEZ
Administrative Assistant
JENNIFER CLEARY
Produced by Kensington Communications in association with The Canada Millennium Partnership Program, Telefilm: New Media, The Canadian Independent Film and Video Fund, The CBC, the National Science Foundation and The Wildlands Project.