Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Ice People  (Ice People)

Outline
No one gets to the Antarctic by accident. Conjured out of dreams as a place of the imagination, Antarctica is only arrived at by will – and with what a friend calls “a bit of ice in the head.” So how does the reality measure up to the dream? « Ice People » by Emmy-Award winning filmmaker Anne Aghion, and the multimedia campaign that will accompany it, will take a unique look at the researchers who pursue their scientific investigations in Antarctica – this continent of science that belongs to no one. The human element of science and scientific inquiry cannot be separated from the process of discovery. Antarctica casts scientific drive and determination into high relief and the upcoming International Polar Year 2007-09 (IPY) affords an unparalleled opportunity to link scientific achievement and human adventure in the popular imagination. The feature-length, character-driven film will revolve around how scientific knowledge and Antarctic lore are passed down from old hands to first-time Antarcticans. It will pay the utmost respect to its subjects, and will stand both as a historical record of how Antarctic research is conducted on the eve of IPY, and as a unique tool to lure new generations to polar sciences. Other project elements – shorter film versions for specialized distribution, a companion website, www.LivingAntarctica.org, An innovative distribution and public engagement campaigns – will come together to “leverage polar fascination” in order to engage the public at large and inspire viewers to embrace the continent, the adventure, and ultimately the science. Aghion has secured access to Antarctica through NSF’s Antarctic Artists and Writers Program, and spent the past year on a Guggenheim Fellowship building alliances with the scientists who will be featured in the film, and with other researchers, educators, and outreach and distribution professionals. By using a narrative medium that will put a human face on the science, Ice People will draw in a wide range of viewers. The initial support of core audiences will allow us to cross over to the mainstream. These include people who have experienced the continent firsthand, armchair and adventure travelers, independent film lovers and citizens concerned about climate change. We will also target scientists and other stakeholders through premieres and conferences. Concurrently, we will specifically target youth, with special outreach to girls in small and mid- size communities and on college campuses. We will achieve this combination of wide and targeted impact through partner organizations both at the national and grassroots levels. The film is co-produced by ARTE in France. The film has received support from the European Commission’s DG Research and ITVS (the funding and production arm of PBS) in the United States, as well as from a number of other broadcasters in Europe and elsewhere. In the US the film will air on Sundance Channel.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The film will give a human face to the scientists it will focus on, and so will make this sometimes mysterious field of research more accessible to the public at large. Thus this film will offer a unique opportunity to convey to a wide audience the challenges that researchers who choose to work in the field of polar science face – which is essential to understanding climate change issues. Because several of the main protagonists in the film will be students, and because all the stories in the film will revolve around issues of transmission - of scientific knowledge and Antarctic lore - from old to young, from experienced Antarctican to neophyte and from scientist to layperson, the film will be inspirational and will aim to create vocations among bright youth whose career choices are not yet etched in stone.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The film is being produced with broadcasters from around the world. The US National Science Foundation provided logistical support for the 4 months shooting period, and we received support from the European Commission’s DG Research “Sceince And Society” and the International Polar Foundation. The film will be broadcast and distributed on both sides of the Atlantic. The outreach campaign will cover both sides of the Atlantic.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The shooting took place between august and December 2006, in and around US’s McMurdo station – including a 7-week stay in a deep field camp in the Dry Valleys.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: 08/06 – 12/06            

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
The production of the film was made possible with support from the US National Science Foundation’s Antarctic Artists and Writers Program and various other sources. The distribution and outreach plan, which will include website management, the publication and release of DVD’s, screenings and debates with the filmmakers and the scientists who appear in the film, will require new funding resources.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The tendency in US Antarctic research is to conduct science at bigger camps closer to McMurdo. Every year there are fewer camps of this kind – smaller deep field camps, and this method of conducting research is disappearing. In this respect, Ice People will offer a record on film of how scientists conduct research in a small deep field camp in the Antarctic.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Own national polar operator
National agency
Own support
Other sources of support

The filming has already been done that to NSF’s Antarctic Artists and Writers Program, so there are no more Antarctic logistical requirements at this point. The film is co-produced with Arte France, which will air the film, ITVS (the producing arm of PBS) in the United States, in association with the Sundance Channel, which will air the film. Additional funding was obtained from the European Commission’s DG Research, Media New Talent, The Conseil Régional Rhone Alpes and other European broadcasters. We are currently working with NSF, French IPEV and the International Polar Foundation on the distribution plan.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
No - We did not initally apply for any IPY endorsement, although we have been in touch with the Youth Steering Committee for IPY, with the Young Polar Scientists, with Polar Artists, and a number of other educational groups connected with Polar research in the US and Canada, who have all agreed to support this project once we begin the outreach campaign.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
Yes

The current proposal is an autonomous proposal that has not been previously submitted to any IPY committee.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The two principals collaborating on this project are Benoit Gryspeerdt and Anne Aghion. They formed Dry Valleys Productions together for the purposes of making this film. The film is written and directed by Anne Aghion. It is being produced by Benoit Gryspeerdt and Anne Aghion, and all outreach and distribution matters will be managed jointly between them.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The plan is have a dynamic website to which scientists and viewers can contribute, to have screenings with the participation of the filmmakers and the scientists which generate press and awareness to feed the web audience, and eventually to hold webcasts with the scientists and the filmmakers during screenings around the US and various countries Europe. We have already scheduled an even in Orange during Science Week with excerpts from the film, and a debate that will involve researchers from Grenoble’s laboratory of glaciology.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The funding for the production of the film itself is almost completely secured. Since the production was partially funded by ARTE in France, Sundance Channel in the US and ITVS in the US, the television distribution in France and the US is already secured. Publicity is already covered for these airings. We are looking for additional funding from foundations and private sources in the US, and from the Ministries of Research and of Education in France to cover our deferred producer and director fees, as well as funds to manage the outreach and distribution..

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
Ice People has four main protagonists – two undergraduate students in geology, and two accomplished geologists, one of whom is their professor. The film has a narrative structure that allows for viewers to identify to the characters. It will be a great tool to leverage polar fascination in order to promote scientific research for future generations of scientists.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Benoit Gryspeerdt
Dry Valleys Productions
Bayzan, 07380 PONT DE LABEAUME

France

Tel: 00-33 – 870 71 94 93
Mobile: no
Fax: no
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation