The Secrets of His Success: The Late Anthony Bourdain on His Award-Winning ‘Parts Unknown’ Series
In 2018 one of television’s greatest explorers, Anthony Bourdain passed away from suicide. Before his passing, he opened up to audiences at The Paley Center for Media in New York to discuss unconventional philosophies that turned his travels into award-winning programs. In a lively conversation in 2015 with his cast and production crew, Bourdain spoke in depth about his then return to CNN for the fifth season premiere of Parts Unknown, his enthusiasm for cinematography and film-like editing, how to connect with locals, and his proudest moments in making 15 years of travel television. This piece is a recap of Bourdain’s live conversation with Elvis Mitchell.
Anthony Bourdain (Photo: Paley Center via Tumblr)
Here are Bourdain’s Tips to Making Travel TV
1. Bourdain’s storytelling technique was heavily influenced by his favorite books and films. Stories were really important to Bourdain, and he was credited with bringing a place to life on screen like a great fiction writer. With a strong stance against conventional and predictable storytelling, he turned to books like The Quiet American by Graham Greene to evoke a romantic connection with certain places. Ultimately, Bourdain and his Parts Unknown team used film and video to make audiences feel an emotionally and powerful connection as well. The key: good production value, strong editing skills, and original music.
2. Bourdain’s best shows were rooted in a simple formula: “less me, more B [B-roll].” Over the last decade, Bourdain and the team learned that with “time and alcohol,” the people that invited them into their homes and the setting they were in started to come alive and tell the stories themselves. Each cast member was encouraged to relate to the on-air talent, build trust, and let them open up before turning on the cameras. As a result, Bourdain favored maximum B-roll with minimal voice over, even silence if possible, to make a visually-impactful moment on screen. For example, check out the two minute silence break in Parts Unknown’s Season 2 episode, Detroit.
Bourdain, producer Sandra Zweig, and Elvis Mitchell. (Photo: Paley Center via Tumblr)
3. Bourdain’s proudest and most difficult show was the Congo. In the debut season of Parts Unknown, CNN made one of his life-long dreams come true by sending Bourdain to the Congo. Luckily, through CNN’s resources and the right “fixers” (people on the ground that connect and protect the cast and crew), Bourdain recreated Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, and the classic Apocalypse Now through his own lens, despite being located “where all the world’s ills [are].” During their shoot, Bourdain and his crew were extorted, detained, and threatened daily. Miraculously, everyone walked away unharmed and fell in love with the Congo’s complicated beauty.
4. Bourdain stopped taking photos on his trips. Except for pictures of his food on Instagram. He found many places to be “too big, too complex” to capture in a still photograph and leaned on his camera crew to do that. He admitted that social media changed the way he experienced food travel, which he stated was simultaneously “awesome and upsetting.”
5. Bourdain decided the list of places to visit every year. In his 15-plus years of globe-trotting for TV audiences, his approach for choosing regions barely changed. With the support of his producer, Sandra Zweig, and CNN’s minimal interference, Bourdain made a long list of places he wanted to visit for each upcoming season. From there, Zweig edited the list down to what was possible, most diverse, and ultimately best for making television.
Bourdain and his 'Parts Unknown' crew. (Photo: Paley Center via Tumblr)
6. Celebrity guest stars often approached him to be on the show. In season five, Bourdain traveled to Madagascar with film director Darren Aronofsky (Noah, Requiem for a Dream, The Black Swan, Pi), explored Miami with local residents Iggy Pop and Questlove, and revisited Asbury Park with famed musician Southside Johnny. Aronofsky asked Bourdain to “play” as many other guest stars did, to which Bourdain was delighted and obliged.
7. Bourdain never watched a single episode of The Layover. Despite its popularity, the No Reservations spin-off series made him very unhappy.
8. Bourdain believed “the misadventures are just as important as the adventures.” As an appreciator of food and beer, Bourdain was often asked for travel advice but kept his words of wisdom simple. He believed travelers should ingrain themselves in diverse cultural experiences by waking up early and hitting the local markets. Among his (and my) favorites, Mercado de La Boqueria in Barcelona. As for worldly inspiration, he went on to say “presumably, you’re learning something, you’re experiencing something… you’re having misadventures along the way.”
3 More Tips from Bourdain
Fave Way to Cook Eggs: a runny yolk, or soft runny eggs in any form is always good
Best Way for Tourists to Feel Like Locals: wake up early and hit the local markets!
On What Makes Uruguay Special: “because nobody goes there”
You can watch the late Bourdain uncover little-known destinations and diverse cultures on past episodes of Parts Unknown on CNN.
