Sunrise Earth is a wildlife documentary television series that airs in the United States on HD Theater and Animal Planet. The show is notable among documentaries for its complete lack of human narration. High Definition video images and Dolby 5.1 stereo surround sound are used to present the natural environment in as close to a true-to-life fashion as possible. The show is an example of the genre known as "Experiential HDTV", developed by series creator David Conover. The technique has been described by TV critic Tom Shales as "crazily uneventful and thoroughly wonderful." clips/Shales-TV%20Week.pdf" target="_blank">HD May Be Too Good To Last 2005-07-05
Compass Light, Conover's small production company in _Camden, Maine, started producing the series in 2004. 59 one-hour Sunrise Earth shows have been created in the first four years of production. The crew shoots with High Definition video cameras and the editors cut between multiple perspectives at a leisurely pace. The show is presented in real-time, with each shot lasting an average of 30 seconds. Each episode captures one morning from one location. The effect is to simulate what you would generally see and hear if you were at the shooting location. Captions in the lower third of the screen occasionally give information as to the location and events being viewed.
Compass Light was founded by director David Conover in 1992. Specializing in the creation of non-fiction documentaries, the company's work focuses on the discoveries of people in challenging and value forming situations, primarily outdoors and in a marine context. Work includes productions for PBS Nova, The Science Channel, National Geographic Explorer, Discovery Channel, and HD Theater. Compass Light productions have earned the National Outdoor Production Award, a Blue Ribbon by the National Educational Media Competition, a National Academies Communication Award, and a nomination for an Emmy for Outstanding Director. blank">The origins of Compass Light
Currently, Sunrise Earth airs from 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. Eastern time on HD Theater. The program is also occasionally shown during the evening and at other various times. It is shown weekdays at 7 a.m. on _Animal Planet in high definition and in letterbox format on the standard definition feed.
