🏜️❤️MEXICO BEHIND THE SCENES: COCHINEAL🏜️❤️ (Patreon)

Thanks to generous support from YOU, our Patreon patrons, after many pandemic delays we recently packed up our gear and went on a filming expedition to Oaxaca, Mexico! 

Our recent episode about cactus-loving cochineal insects was the direct result of your support! We also have an episode about stingless bees coming out on May 28 that we also produced on the same trip. We can’t THANK YOU enough for helping us fulfill one of our longtime goals of filming Deep Look episodes in Mexico! 🙏🙏

Enjoy this special reflection about filming in Mexico from the producer of our cochineal episode Rosa Tuirán who is originally from Mexico City. 

Rosa Talks About Filming Cochineals

What made filming this episode truly special was the opportunity to return to the country that I grew up in to film this story. 

We filmed in two locations for this episode. The first was in Guadalajara, Jalisco, with Ana Lilia Vigueras, a researcher at the University of Guadalajara. She studies cochineal and its use in the food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and textile industries.

It was incredible to see Ana’s excitement as she observed behaviors she had never seen before, thanks to the macro lenses we use to film our episodes. These lenses allow us to capture tiny details and behaviors that are usually invisible to the naked eye. It was truly wonderful to be able to provide her with such a close up perspective of the animal she has been studying for so long. 

Another special moment was in Teotitlán del Valle, a town outside Oaxaca City. We filmed at a family business that used natural dyes to dye wool. We documented the entire process of using cochineal to create beautiful tapestries, from start to finish. Although our show typically focuses on the story of an animal or plant, we wanted to include the human element in this episode. I believe this approach made it truly special, especially considering the rich history behind this insect.

Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Photos  

Ana Lilia Vigueras inspects cactus pads full of cochineal nymphs and selects which cactus pad would be best for filming. (Gabriela Quirós/KQED ) 

Ana Lilia Vigueras and Rosa Tuirán inspect cactus pads full of cochineal nymphs. (Gabriela Quirós/KQED ) 

Josh Cassidy gets ready to film cochineals as Ana Lilia Vigueras helps to move the cochineals into the right position for filming. Rosa Tuirán, in the background, checks the filming monitor. (Gabriela Quirós/KQED ) 

Marina González uses a metate to grind dried cochineal into a fine powder. (Gabriela Quirós/ KQED ) 

Juan Carlos González takes out wool that’s been dyed with pigment from cochineal insects. He will next clean and dry the wool. (Gabriela Quirós/KQED )