Film

POLES APART provides total support to film productions wanting to work in the extreme environments of the Earth.

We provide more than just 'location management'. We know that managing shoots in remote, difficult locations requires an integrated, holistic approach to ensure the greatest chance of success. Problems often arise if issues are dealt with in isolation of one another. We also understand the special constraints that face different types of film-making in adverse conditions, whether it be video, high definition, 16mm, Super 16mm, 35mm or large-format (IMAX®) films.

We'll assess all your filming needs - whether it be transport, accommodation or safety - then apply our experience to all the problems presented by the environment to derive the best possible solution for a successful shoot.

In short, we will get you to your chosen location, build a team to make sure that you have all the support you need whilst you're there and then we'll bring you back home again safely.

Warner Bros Productions Ltd Batman Begins

Warner Bros. specifically requested POLES APART to supervise field safety while filming in a variety of extreme locations near Skaftafell and the Vatnajökull ice cap in Iceland.

Our tasks included:

 Providing expert team to supervise and coordinate safety rigging to protect camera crews filming on the steep cliffs below the Vatnajökull.
 Calculation of load-bearing strength, risk assessments and safety supervision while filming the fight scene between Bruce Wayne and Ducard on the frozen lake.
 Working with the stunt crew on rigging and retrieval systems for the simulated cliff fall.

EON Productions/MGM Die Another Day

Poles Apart provided a team of ice and mountain guides to give the safety necessary to film the car chase and ice dragster sequences on the frozen lake of Jökulsárlon and on the Vatnajökull icecap in South-east Iceland.

Jökulsárlon provided us with several challenges. Nearly 1000 feet deep and covered with ice that was only an inch thick in places, we had to ensure the safety of up to 20 vehicles and 100 people filming two sports cars racing at speeds of up to 60 mph!

EON Productions used Poles Apart for:

 Drilling, analysing, testing and monitoring of the lake ice to ensure that crew and vehicles did not break through
 Day-to-day film crew management on the ice
 Supply and coordination of field guides, ice riggers and emergency response dive teams responsible for the safety of the film crews and vehicles on the ice.
 Liaison with Icelandic search and rescue teams
 Liaison with Iceland meteorological authorities on long-range temperature forecasting - essential for predicting ice safety
 Selection and provision of immersion and cold-weather clothing for the 100-strong crew
 Advice on the emergency flotation systems built into the sports-cars and film vehicles

On the Vatnajökull, we were responsible for mountain safety cover, including avalanche prediction and crevasse testing.

WGBH Nova Shackleton's Voyage of Endurance and Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure

POLES APART were instrumental in the planning and execution of the two filming phases of the Emmy Award-winning television documentary Shackleton's Voyage of Endurance and the highly acclaimed IMAX®-format film Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure, which both included documentary and recreation shots about Shackleton's Endurance expedition to the Antarctic. Locations: In the Weddell Sea, on Elephant Island and on South Georgia.

Poles Apart were responsible for:

 Marine coordination of ice-strengthened ships and camera helicopter, including selection and chartering
 Conducting an environmental assessment of all planned filming activities in Antarctica, as required under US Antarctic law
 Outfitting the 45-man crew and organising the field support equipment
 Arranging the film crew's marine survival and helicopter evacuation training
 Advising the production company on locations and appropriate practices and techniques
 Selection of polar and marine field guides
 Coordinating the field safety whilst filming offshore in small boats, on sea ice and in the mountains of South Georgia

To learn more about Poles Apart's role in the making of this film, please go to the film expedition website at: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/shackletonexped/1999/

IMAX® Corporation/Goldharbour Productions Survival Island

This natural history IMAX®-format film was shot on the harsh, but extremely beautiful, island of South Georgia in the Sub-Antarctic. Poles Apart spent a total of 6 months on the island during the course of two shoots providing total support to the production company who ambitiously set out to record life above and below the waves.

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