Some of the typical wildlife the 'Antarctic Mission' expect to capture - on film/video. (click to enlarge)
'Sedna IV' a 51-meter steel-hulled sailing ship will be home to the film makers, scientists, and support crew as they travel the world's most southern ocean, complete with High Definition editing suite on-board. Images courtesy of Jean Lemiere/Antarctic Mission (click to enlarge)
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Antarctic Mission - leave behind everything for one year
Posted: Sep 19, 2005 12:56 pm EST
‘Antarctic Mission’ is planning a year-long expedition to the Antarctic continent, with visits to other remote regions such as The Falkland Islands, South Georgia Island, passing around the dreaded Cape Horn. The expedition is comprised of scientists, film makers, and sailors.
Inspired by the ‘great explorers’
From the expeditions promotional brochure ExWeb received: “Inspired by the accounts of the great explorers of the last century, the sailors, film makers, and scientists participating in this mission will leave everything behind to be a part of this unique voyage; a voyage into the heart of our planet’s last virgin continent. In the wake of the great explorers: Cook, de Gerlache, Amundsen, Scott, Shackleton, Bellingshausen and Charcot, we will navigate our three-masted ship, ‘Sedna IV’, through the menacing ice that surrounds the Antarctic Peninsula.”
Isolated, but not alone
The expedition team will travel around the continent of Antarctica, “visiting and exchanging research with scientists of all nationalities, in order to better understand the impact of climate change”.
While most researchers are packing their bags to leave the remote continent as winter approaches, the expedition will settle-in for a long cold winter, to bear witness to Antartica’s “extraordinary life cycles during all four seasons”.
Like Beligica’s crew
The expedition will focus on capturing wildlife and other events in, on, and around Antarctica with their cameras, and the eventual production of a mini-series for broadcast. They expect to produce three 1-hour shows based on their experiences, observations, and research. “Like BELGICA’S crew in the winter of 1898-1899, our scientists, film makers and sailors will experience the dark, cold Antarctic winter – a rare adventure that will push the limits of our individual capabilities”.
Sedna IV, is a one of a kind 51-meter, steel-hulled, three-masted sailing vessel. The ship is completely outfitted with the latest in communications equipment, allowing for ‘virtual visitors’ to experience some of what the expedition will endure. They also have a complete audio/video editing suite onboard, including high definition capability.
The expedition is being led by film maker/biologist Jean Lemire. Biologist Pascale Otis, team psychologist Mariano Lopez, expedition doctor François Prévost, polar explorer Joëlle Proulx, chef Mario Cyr, film maker/anthropologist/explorer Amélie Breton, and expedition logistics/explorer Geoff Green will comprise the main team, with other supporting members on the expedition.
The expedition is working in cooperation with Glacialis Productions, the National Film Board of Canada, and 13 Productions.
Antarctica, roughly the same size as the US and Mexico combined, is a ‘thermometer’ of our earth’s climate, and one of the first areas to show the influence of man on our planet. It has been projected that some species of animals, for instance Adelie penquins, could be extinct within 20 years. The Antarctic Mission hopes to document many of the indigenous wildlife, perform important research on global climate change, at the same time draw awareness to the plights that not only the animals of the Antarctic struggle with, but our entire planet.
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