Logistics

POLES APART provides comprehensive logistics support to companies operating in remote environments.

We know that managing projects 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 those working in adverse conditions, whether it be transport, accommodation or safety.

We'll assess all your logistical needs then apply our experience to all the problems presented by the environment to derive the best possible solution for a successful outcome.

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.

Below are examples of some of our most high profile assignments.

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.

IMAX® is a registered trademark of Imax Corporation.

Keo Films for BBC2 Blizzard: Race to the Pole

Poles Apart handled the complicated field safety required to safeguard nearly 20 people each spending 100 days on the Greenland icecap filming this recreation of the Scott and Amundsen journeys to the South Pole. Like so many of our projects in Greenland, we worked hand-in-hand with local guides, hunters and sledge-builders in the Tasiilaq area, most of whom we have worked with for several years.

We were responsible for:

 Designing a route of 1500 miles which stretched from the coastal mountains and glaciers up onto the icecap.
 Aerial reconnaissance of crevassed and high risk areas.
 Advice and selection of dog teams.
 Development and implementation of communications and emergency response plans.
 Conducting the permitting required by the Danish authorities.
 Organising the field support equipment for the film crews.
 Arranging the field training programme in Tasiilaq.
 Guiding of film crews accompanying the recreation teams.
 Design of resupply strategy.
 Communication with field teams.

Firstsight Films for Channel 4/A&E Shackleton

This production is one of the biggest dramatic film shoots that has ever been conducted on sea-ice.

Right from the initial stages, Poles Apart worked closely with the Director and Producer of this Emmy Award-winning drama, advising on locations, safety and logistics. The preparations for this ground-breaking production were extensive - we conducted reconnaissance visits to Greenland and Iceland over the course of four seasons prior to the shoot.

Building on our unique experience conducting recreation scenes with small wooden boats in pack-ice, Poles Apart were responsible for:

 Location advice and suitability
 Advising the selection and chartering of the ships and helicopter used on the shoot
 Conducting the permitting required by the Danish authorities
 Outfitting the 95-strong crew and organising the field support equipment
 Arranging the crew's marine survival training
 Design and installation of safety flotation systems in wooden boats used for recreation scenes
 Liaison with the local communities in Angmagssalik and Kulusuk, East Greenland
 Supply of field safety guides
 Coordinating field safety to the film crew and actors whilst filming offshore in small boats, on sea ice and in the mountains of East Greenland
 Provision of all medical back-up

Granada Television Where The Heart Is

A new type of project for us as it took place at home in the UK! POLES APART were specifically requested by Granada to organise and supervise a rock-climbing scene with actors to be filmed in the English Peak District for this popular television drama.

Our teams were responsible for:

 Advising on location choice;
 Training the actors in rock-climbing and abseiling;
 Organising the rigging system which allowed the actors and camera teams to work on ropes in a vertical environment;
 Doubling for the actors in specific scenes;
 Providing location medical services and emergency back-up.

October Films for Channel 4 The Coldest March

This particular project was typical of the work that Poles Apart conducts with small, specialist documentary teams working in remote areas.

Poles Apart advised on mountain safety, logistics and historical reconstruction scenes during the planning and reconnaissance stages. During the shoot, we worked in conjunction with local Norwegian guides, and recommended the choice of locations for the filming schedule. We were responsible for all mountain safety aspects including navigation, technical camera rigging and liaison with local rescue teams.

BBC Blue Planet and Life in the Freezer

POLES APART has a long association with the BBC Natural History Unit and other TV documentary producers. For the award-winning Blue Planet we provided field and diving support to camera teams on the Antarctic Peninsula filming leopard seal predation and whales, and filming breeding turtles on Ascension Island.

We were integral in the planning and filming of all stages of Life in the Freezer, providing field support on land and underwater in Antarctica.

We are registered UK HSE diving contractors and all our diving support meets UK standards. We use divers experienced with both factual and natural history film teams in waters ranging from tropical to polar.