Project Title

One Strange Rock

Summary

Event Number:
V-622-M

Program Manager:
Mr. Peter West

ASC POC/Implementer:

Principal Investigator(s)

Undefined Patricia NMI Ward
patricia.ward@nutopia.com
London, Undefined

Location

Supporting Stations: McMurdo Station
Research Locations:

Description

"One Strange Rock" is a documentary television series for National Geographic focusing on physics, cosmology, and natural history. Hosted by Will Smith, the series tackles complex concepts in an approachable and engaging manner, and brings a new audience to quality science programming.

The second season of the series will focus on the weird phenomena, strange inner workings, and invisible forces that shape and control everything around us. The series will film in Antarctica in the 2019-20 season to capture some of these themes, and will showcase scientists and support personnel working at McMurdo Station.

ASC Communications will serve as the on-ice POC for this group

Field Season Overview

Four participants (producer/director, drone operator/sound recordist, director of photography/drone operator, and camera assistant/drone operator) will deploy to McMurdo on 13 November 2019 and will redeploy on 11 December 2019.

The following goals for filming are listed in order of priority:

AWS site(s) with O-283-M Lazarra: The goal is to tell the story of the AWS project and the team who operate and maintain the stations. Media participants will travel with O-283-M participants to AWS stations in the vicinity of McMurdo Station and the Ross Ice Shelf locations as deemed supportable in real time by ASC Field Safety & Training (FS&T) staff, O-283-M participants, and the media group’s ASC Implementer. The group will not travel to any location that would require Field Safety Coordinator support. Locations may include Alexander Tall Tower, which would be accessed by Twin Otter. The media group may fly a drone to film the AWS stations if approved by NSF.

Mount Erebus Fumaroles and Ice Cave: This story will focus on the relationship between hot and cold on the planet, showcasing the ability of water to shift from gas to solid with beautiful results. Four participants will take up to two helicopter day trips to film surface fumarole ice towers and possibly an ice cave interior at locations to be determined by ASC FS&T staff (i.e. Hut Cave and/or Helo Cave). Ice cave entry is contingent on NSF Environmental approval. An ASC Field Safety Coordinator will accompany the media group on all Mt. Erebus work, and time on the ground during each trip will be at the discretion of the Field Safety Coordinator. The media group may fly a drone to film fumeroles if approved by NSF.

Prior to the media group’s trip to Hut Cave and/or Helo Cave, ASC Field Safety Coordinators and one media participant will make one reconnaissance trip to evaluate conditions and suitability of the caves. If the caves are deemed unsafe or too difficult to access, the media group will not visit any high-elevation Erebus caves.

If caves in the Erebus Glacier Tongue are accessible, the media group may alternatively film in those caves for one day with ASC FS&T approval and Field Safety Coordinator accompaniment. Erebus Glacier Tongue caves may be accessed by snowmobile or PistenBully.

Underwater and aerial (UAV) filming of Emperor Penguins at the ice edge: Up to three helicopter day trips with close support may be made to the sea ice edge to film Emperor Penguins. Two ASC divers and one participant diver (Hugh Miller, deployed under BBC/W-222-M) will conduct underwater filming of swimming penguins. On the same trip, or separately, media participants will conduct topside filming, possibly using a drone and/or pole cameras. Two Field Safety Coordinators will accompany all ice edge work. Trips involving diving will last approximately three hours, and non-diving trips may last up to six hours. Timing will be at the discretion of the divers, helicopter pilot, and Field Safety Coordinators. Any ice edge work will be contingent on proper sea ice conditions and will be at the discretion of ASC FS&T personnel. Furthermore, participants must follow guidance provided by NSF Environmental for filming wildlife.

SPoT Traverse: The media team may film and interview SPoT Traverse personnel as they prepare for departure from McMurdo. When the traverse departs, the media group may follow on snowmobile or Mattrack along the route to film the traverse in motion against the “flat white” backdrop of the Ross Ice shelf. The media group’s ASC Implementer will accompany for any work associated with SPoT traverse. Distance traveled will be at the discretion of the ASC Implementer, with the goal of traveling to a location with optimum “flat white” scenery while maintaining a safe proximity to McMurdo Station and safe distance from the Shear Zone.

McMurdo Dry Valleys with McMurdo LTER: The group may travel to Taylor Valley to collect landscape footage, including footage filmed by drone if approved by NSF. They may work with Michael Gooseff’s C-506-M “stream team”, and/or will be escorted by ASC camp staff. This work would happen in late November to early December, and may be accomplished by a one- to two-night stay at Lake Hoare field camp. Feasibility of an overnight stay will be determined by the ASC Near Field Manager, the media group’s ASC Implementer, and the science team in real time. If the overnight stay cannot be accomplished, the group may make one to two helicopter day trips to Lake Hoare field camp or locations where the stream team is working. ASC field staff and/or the science team will escort the group for all Dry Valleys activities. The media group will not participate in any activities in the McMurdo Dry Valleys that would require Field Safety Coordinator support and will not visit any ASPAs.

Deploying Team Members