Greater Bristol Area, United Kingdom
Nick Shoolingin-Jordan is an Emmy-nominated Series Director, Creative Lead and Consultant working across premium science, specialist factual and natural history series for global platforms including Netflix, BBC and National Geographic. His latest series, The Dinosaurs (Netflix), which he series directed, is executive produced by Steven Spielberg and presented by Morgan Freeman, with visual effects by Industrial Light & Magic. With over 20 years’ experience at the intersection of cinematic storytelling, science and high-end visual effects, Nick has led complex productions involving large VFX pipelines with studios such as ILM and Framestore, and is now developing new storytelling workflows with generative AI to expand creative possibilities. His credits include Life on Our Planet (Netflix/Amblin), One Strange Rock (National Geographic, with Darren Aronofsky) and A Perfect Planet (BBC, presented by Sir David Attenborough). Nick specialises in shaping ambitious factual series that combine compelling storytelling, cutting-edge VFX and emerging AI tools to bring complex ideas and deep-time worlds to life for global audiences.
The Dinosaurs is a landmark four-part Netflix documentary series charting the complete rise and fall of the dinosaurs across deep time. Executive produced by Steven Spielberg and brought to life with cutting-edge visual effects by Industrial Light & Magic, the series combines cinematic ambition with rigorous science. As SERIES DIRECTOR I led the creative vision across the series, shaping an immersive, character-driven approach that places audiences inside the prehistoric world. Narrated by Morgan Freeman, with an original score by Lorne Balfe, the series represents a major collaboration between Silverback Films, Netflix & Amblin.
Presented by Sir David Attenborough, I helped craft this landmark science-led natural history series, connecting Earth’s powerful natural forces with remarkable wildlife stories—translating complex planetary processes into emotionally engaging global television. The final film in the series, which I also filmed and directed, examines the impact of humans on our once-pristine planet and the solutions needed to help navigate the future of life on Earth, and was critically acclaimed, winning the Deauville Green Palm Trophy.
Presented by Will Smith, One Strange Rock is the most ambitious project in National Geographic’s 130-year history. I helped shape this landmark 10-part series, which celebrates the extraordinary story of life on Earth. The series brings together the creative team behind Earth’s Natural Wonders and America: The Story of Us, in collaboration with Oscar-nominated director Darren Aronofsky. Combining cutting-edge filming technology and CGI with the very best in cosmology, Earth science, natural history, and factual storytelling, One Strange Rock redefines our home planet for a new generation.
Presented by Olivia Colman, this prestigious documentary series tells some of the most incredible stories from the most beautiful places on Earth. Commissioned by the BBC, it is an ambitious international co-production for BBC Worldwide and PBS in the USA. The series reveals the dramatic narratives of the humans and animals whose lives are shaped by the planet’s greatest natural wonders—from Victoria Falls, the Grand Canyon, and the Great Barrier Reef to the Amazon and Mount Everest. Nick was the Senior Writer, Producer and Director on the series, which involved filming in some of the world’s most challenging environments, from the tiger-patrolled mangroves of Bangladesh and the tribal forests of the Amazon to the bat-infested caves of Borneo.
The ambition was to do something ground breaking: show the world how the planets, the solar system, the galaxy and the universe were created. With pioneering VFX woven together with real-life backdrops, we tackled the challenge by building a 2-mile high, virtual sorcerer’s tower in Death Valley. Here, using the latest VFX, our presenter could command the elements on a planetary scale, taking us back to the dawn of time. Presented by Top Gear’s Richard Hammond, and with a little help from the world’s top astronauts, scientists and engineers, we delved into the secrets of dark matter, the wonder of supernovas and searched for life on new Earth-like planets. Besides the VFX green screen shoots, filming on location included NASA’s zero gravity environment at 35,000 feet, the deepest gold mine in the world and the search for new forms of life 2 miles down in Italy’s Frasassi caves. EMMY NOMINATION 2014 - Outstanding Science & Technology Film