lt;Antarctic Adventure>Which film company made it?

《〈〈Repost〉》》

Let’s first take a look at the real events of "Antarctic Adventure"

The Japanese Antarctic Observation Ship in February 1957 " The "Soya" embarked on an Antarctic journey, accompanied by fifteen birch dogs.

However, during the journey, the "Soya" encountered a once-in-a-century snowstorm, which forced the expedition to be suspended. At that time, they left fifteen dogs behind. Later, due to the rapid deterioration of the weather, they were unable to rescue the fifteen dogs. A year later, the expedition team returned to Antarctica and discovered that two birch dogs had survived.

The incident moved the whole of Japan, and statues of the two birch dogs were created. In 1983, the movie "Antarctic Story" starring Takakura Ken and based on the incident was released and became one of the highest-grossing movies in Japan.

The director of "Antarctic Adventure" Frank was also attracted by the incident and decided to make this film.

Antarctic Adventure

Country: United States

Director: Frank Marshall

Actor: Paul Walker Bruce Greenwood

Length: Unknown

On the inaccessible Antarctic ice sheet, Jerry, a survival expert at a scientific research station, and his eight smart and strong sled dogs will embark on the last action of this season - accompanying Mike Professor Lelan heads to the frozen volcano. However, Professor McClellan was unfortunately injured on the way back and needed to be sent immediately to the rear base for first aid. At the same time, an unprecedented snowstorm is coming, and members of the scientific expedition team, including Jerry, must evacuate quickly by small planes. The space of the plane was too small, so Jerry had to temporarily leave the eight sled dogs that depended on him on the Antarctic ice sheet

Content Introduction

In order to search for a piece of sled dog that crashed on the Antarctic Island A mysterious meteorite, an expedition team composed of three scientists began their Antarctic expedition. The expedition team included Jerry Charlotte (Paul Walker), his best friend Cooper (Jason Biggs) and an eccentric American geologist (Bruce Greenwood). An expedition to Antarctica is of course inseparable from the special tool for walking on the snow - the sled, as well as people's loyal partners, the sled dogs. Moreover, these eight "smart and capable" sled dogs, like their human companions, each have their own titles and titles: the leading "Maya", the loyal "Dwarf", the honest "Old Jack", the powerful " Truman" and the extremely fast "Shadow" and so on.

When they first landed on the snow-covered land of Antarctica, the expedition team members were attracted by the beautiful scenery in front of them. However, they did not expect at all that as they went deeper into the polar region, things would become even worse. The harsh weather and extremely dangerous natural environment will bring them more and more troubles and even great challenges to their survival. Sure enough, after riding a dog sled for several days, they encountered an unprecedented snowstorm, and the temperature naturally dropped sharply. The team members were naturally somewhat unprepared for the situation at hand. In the meantime, a more dangerous scene also happened "at the right time" - one of the team members accidentally stepped on the thin ice and fell into the biting ice water. Fortunately, a brave sled dog came to help and sent the rope in time. into the hands of a team member who fell into the water, and asked his teammates to pull him out of danger. However, the sudden and violent snowstorm in front of us was really unavoidable. Not only blocking their way forward, the lives of several people were also seriously threatened. In desperation, seeing the wind and snow becoming more and more fierce, the team members were forced to give up their partners who helped them along the way - the sled dogs, and let them escape for their own lives.

The abandoned sled dogs desperately took off their ropes to escape from the avalanche. In order to survive, they struggled to rely on each other to withstand the cold snow and at the same time, they also had to fill their stomachs and feed themselves. A giant seal fights. At this time, the eight sled dogs are like good brothers on the line of life and death, supporting each other. The three members of the expedition finally returned to the base safely, but the sight of the sled dogs desperately moving forward in the ice and snow kept haunting them. Finally, unable to withstand the condemnation of conscience, the three people decided at the same time to save their loyal partners from the freezing cold, no matter what dangers they risked.

The icebreaker started up again, the helicopter rumbled, and the all-terrain vehicle raced rapidly across the vast polar landscape. The strong sled dogs spent a long time in the ice and snow with extraordinary perseverance, and finally waited for the rescue of human friends.

Introduction to the main creator

Paul Walker (actor)

Born in the United States on September 12, 1973, he is a new generation of "sunny handsome men" in Hollywood.

Main works: "The Fast and the Furious"

"Into the Blue"

"Continuous Terror" ( Running Scared) (2006 new work)

Bruce Greenwood (supporting actor)

Born on August 12, 1956 in Canada, he was active on the TV screen in his early years.

Main works: "I, Robot"

"The Core"

"13 Days" ( Thirteen Days)

Firehouse Dog (new in 2006)

Frank Marshall (director and executive producer)

—— An outstanding director and the most successful and influential producer in Hollywood.

Director's works:

"Alive" (famous epic adventure film)

"Congo" (based on Michael? Crichton's best-selling novel)

"Apollo 11" (HBO mini-series, Emmy Award-winning)

Heavyweight as producer Works:

"Raiders of the Lost Ark"

"The Bourne Supremacy"

"The Sixth Sense" (The Sixth Sense)

"Who Framed Roger Rabbit"

"Back to the Future" trilogy

"Indiana Jones" trilogy.

"Olympic Glory" is the first official big-screen film of the Olympic Games

Award-winning works: 4 works were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture: "Raiders of the Lost Ark" , "The Color Purple", "The Sixth Sense", "The Age of Fate"

Frank Marshall co-founded Amblin in 1981 with Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy entertainment company. In 1991, Marshall left Amblin Entertainment to start his directing career and co-founded Kennedy & Marshall with Katherine ***.

Don Boghese (photographer)

——One of the top photographers in the film industry and a member of the American Society of Photographers

Don Boghese He has filmed documentaries about extreme sports and mountaineering films, filmed World Cup ski competitions in Europe, and filmed the winter film "Runaway Train" in Alaska. His motto: I'd rather shoot in the mountains all day than shoot on a Hollywood sound stage.

The main works shot independently or in collaboration with others include:

"The Polar Express"

"Terminator 3: Robot Uprising" ( Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

Spider Man

Batman Returns

Psycho (The Rookie)

Back to the Future (Episodes 2 and 3 directed by Zemeckis)

Winner:

"Forrest Gump" was nominated for an Academy Award

"The Court Martial of Jackie Robinson" TV movie won the American Society of Photographers Award nomination.

Dave DiGilio (Screenwriter)

Daph DiGilio wrote the screenplay "One Single Victory" for which he won the 2001 Disney Award of the Year Screenwriting Research Fund. Later, he was hired by Disney Company and began writing the script "Antarctic Adventure" in 2003. DiGilio is currently adapting the Australian children's adventure drama Hover Car Racer for Disney and Beacon Pictures.

Christopher Ross (Editor)

——(Member of the American Society of Editors) His talent for editing action shots and strong storytelling ability have made him one of the most sought-after actors today. editor.

Main works:

"The Bourne Supremacy"

"Paycheck"

"Switching the Sky" "(The Italian Job)

Award-winning work:

"Anne Frank" (Anne Frank) is an Emmy Award-nominated mini-television series;

"From the Earth to the Moon": HBO miniseries produced by Tom Hanks and Ron Howard

"Manito": 2002 Sundance Independent Film Festival Special Jury Prize , serves as assistant editor

Photography background and behind-the-scenes

Starting the Antarctic Adventure: A true and extraordinary survival story inspired the creation of "Antarctic Adventure"

Producer David Hoberman

Screenwriter Dave DiGilio

Director Frank Marshall

Producer David Hoberman for many years I accidentally watched the 1983 Japanese blockbuster "Antarctic Story". The story of the helpless sled dog and its human companions who refused to give up deeply affected him. The film's epic storyline and shocking never-say-die belief in survival made it the highest-grossing film at the time. He felt that the story contained themes that should be seen by a wider audience, so he conceived a family-oriented adventure film that was less scary and more about the indispensable relationship between friendship and survival. Touching relationship. He had been pushing the project for years, and finally a Disney executive who had seen the Japanese film thought the same thing and decided to give it a try.

Young screenwriter Duff DiGilio is a member of Disney’s New Screenwriter Project. He is a person who loves outdoor activities and is also a dog owner. He was commissioned to write the first draft of the script.

DiGilio conducted a painstaking study of the ups and downs of Antarctic expedition history over the past century and moved the story to 1993, the last year that sled dogs were allowed to work in Antarctica (although for many years They were an integral part of many major expeditions, but were eventually banned from Antarctica to prevent Antarctic seals from contracting canine distemper). Based on the true plot of searching for million-year-old meteorites in Antarctica, he arranged a scientific expedition mission for the human characters in the film, which led to the four core characters in the story.

Dikirio also used an unusually bold imagination in the film: allowing eight lovable sled dogs to show friendship, loyalty and courage like their human partners. It has become an important clue for the development of the story.

Hollywood's most adventurous filmmaker Frank Marshall immediately fell in love with the story, and DiGilio's ambitious script for "Antarctic Adventure" fortunately fell into his hands. hands, otherwise it would have become a great idea that would never make it to the screen. Although Marshall didn't know at the time that it was a play based on true events, he did realize that it was an exciting and iconic story about the courage that keeps us going even in the most difficult of times. , friendship and sacrifice.

When Marshall learned about the true story of the Japanese scientific expedition team that took place in 1958 and the famous film related to it, he became even more enthusiastic about the filming project. He met Masaru Kakatani, the producer of the Japanese film "Antarctic Story", and listened to his exciting story about interviewing former scientific expedition members. He also found his good friend Susan Birch, a four-time winner of the Iditarod World Outstanding Sled Dog Race, in order to learn as much as possible about the life and mentality of the Huskies and their efforts to complete their ancient Extraordinary abilities demonstrated during the mission. Marshall learned a lot about authentic representations of sled dog life and the collective strength of sled dogs to survive.

Producing "Antarctic Adventure" was the biggest challenge experienced by director Marshall. He once filmed "Raiders of the Lost Ark" deep in the Sahara Desert; he was once trapped on a 10,000-foot-high glacier while filming "Life." But he felt that the difficulty of this shooting was far greater than the previous two. But what makes him confident is that all the conditions for filming "Antarctic Adventure" are in place: outstanding actors, unparalleled sled dogs, rare locations, and an unforgettable story of people and animals helping each other and fighting against difficulties.

Recreating Antarctica: Scene Design of "Antarctic Adventure"

▲Understanding Antarctica

▲Recreating Antarctica: Three Locations

[Setting] John Willett - Production Designer

How to build a movie set in the inaccessible Antarctic continent? ——This is a major difficulty faced by the film "Antarctic Adventure".

▲Understanding Antarctica

Antarctica is the coldest, driest, and windiest place in the world. It is at the edge of the earth, which is the southernmost point of our planet. It was a completely different primitive zone, with 98% of the land covered with thick snow that never melts all year round, and the other 2% being rocks with no grass growing on it. The natural conditions there are very harsh and there has never been human habitation in history. Therefore, it is the last truly virgin land on earth. Only a few creatures such as seals and penguins and a few human explorers dare to visit there.

Nowadays, only a few thousand people live in Antarctica every year, and most of them are experts on scientific expedition missions. They conduct various curious scientific research in laboratories that fully meet the requirements of nature. , whose fields include extreme climates, polar ice caps, astrophysics, unusually adapted plant and animal life, global warming, glaciers, ocean science, and meteorological phenomena. Since humans first landed in Antarctica in the 19th century, some of the bravest and most determined explorers and scientists have visited the continent from around the world.

▲Recreate Antarctica - 3 locations

In terms of location selection, the director invited Robin Moncey, a world-class expert in mountain safety and a glacier expert. , snow, water and backcountry technical advisor. Monce searched for ideal filming kingdoms around the world and finally selected three locations.

1. Smythe Town, Canada: a high-altitude ski town located 750 miles north of Vancouver, British Columbia. The town of Smythe is located on a very unique tabletop-shaped plateau, surrounded by wilderness with no trees on all sides. It can be said to be an ideal place to recreate the style of the Antarctic wilderness. The main scenes of the film were filmed in camps at scientific research bases in the United States and Italy, frozen volcanoes and the scene in the film where the puppy Dewey falls off an ice cliff.

2. Greenland, Denmark: a magical northern country full of glaciers and coastal ice sheets. The most spectacular natural scenes in the film were shot there.

3. Stuart, British Columbia: Not far from the border with Hyder, Alaska, it is the location for some of the other breathtaking vistas in the film.

▲Building a scientific research base - production designer John Willett

Willett did in-depth research on some actual scientific research bases in Antarctica, especially the famous American At McMurdo Base, the number of people working there can reach thousands in the summer, and 250 people stay there during the dark and long winter. The base consists of dormitories, laboratories and canteens, just like a village. The residents there are composed of explorers and adventurous scientists. They are physically strong and have distinctive personalities, forming their own unique culture.

Willett said, "We have to create a base as real as possible. The climate there is so harsh, and the purpose of building those scenes is to tell the audience how difficult it is to live and survive there, even for architecture. It's the same thing with animals. It's a completely different environment, a lot like being on the moon."

Shooting in Smythe is not going to be as tough as shooting in Antarctica, but it's also very tough. Not easy. Because the weather there can change drastically within 10 minutes, the crew had to be ready to shoot three different scenes every day so that any one of them could be shot randomly depending on the weather conditions. Even so, the crew had to shoot in cold and wet snowy weather. It was very difficult to prevent snowflakes from falling on the lens. Moreover, they also had to constantly worry about visibility and playback issues under milky white skies, including Cable routing issues.

Most of the scenes in this film were shot on location, but there were a few scenes that were too dangerous to shoot outside. In order to take the key shots of those people and dogs facing danger in the freezing water, John Willett built a scene in a large studio, which is called the "ice scene". Building the ‘ice scene’ is not easy, but it is crucial to the performance of the plot.

Building an "ice scene" not only reproduces the frozen fjords in Greenland, but also must be a place where animated model seals can be manipulated and sled dogs can perform. Designer Willett has visited Greenland four times, so he knows what it should look like. Representing the ice layers realistically is a headache. Just making different ice layers requires 13 processes, including transparent ones. Ice, river ice, snow ice and ice on icebergs. ”

Willett concluded: “Whenever you have the opportunity to imitate nature, it requires hard work. Nature is not something that can be used casually to fool an audience. Representing rocks, trees, ice, and rivers is actually one of the biggest challenges for filmmaking. ”

The team of Oscar winner Stan Winston was invited to create a tenacious animated model seal for the battle scene between the sled dog and the seal. Frank Marshall once worked with Winston *** From Jurassic Park, the animated model seal needs to be coated with a thin layer of peanut butter to lure the sled dogs into attacking it.

Add color to life - Yixing Hotline Leisure and Entertainment

Sled dogs: eight core characters of "Antarctic Adventure"

§Sled dogs' " Audition"

▲Qualifications for selection: Have your own unique personality and appearance

Be able to express your actions, courage and emotions when trapped

▲Audition The Process

To select these canine stars who would face extraordinary challenges, Mike Alexander, the head of Birds & Animals, Hollywood's leading animal training company, scoured the world to find A group of extremely intelligent and charismatic sled dogs. He selected his cast largely through a series of impromptu auditions, which ranged from glossy show dogs to homeless canines. This film changed the latter's fortunes. Alexander said: "The sled dogs we were looking for must have unique looks, distinctive personalities, and like to learn, but there are no special requirements for appearance, so we finally selected many rescue dogs. It turned out that they performed quite well in this desperate survival story. Excellent."

▲Training process

There are usually more than a dozen dogs on the shooting scene. These "dog actors" (some dog actors need several dogs to play) and their " The "dog stand-in" (a stand-in who plays the role of a sled puller) must always be prepared to perform the most complex emotional scenes. Sometimes there would be chaos on the set, with the camera rolling and eight trainers giving different instructions to their dogs. Let’s take a look at how these sled dogs have developed their skills:

[Training coach] Mike Alexander, head of the animal training team. He had the most demanding job on this film. Alexander said: "When I first read the script, I was thinking, how can we accomplish this kind of thing? It has too many challenges, and we don't know what difficulties are waiting for us after filming starts."

[Training Venue] Originally in California. Three months before the filming of the film started, in order to adapt to the cold and snowy environment, they and more than 20 trainers were moved to a snow-covered rural farm near the town of Smythe.

[Basic Training Program] Initial training involves expressing emotions, such as barking and baring teeth, as well as lots of head movements.

[Skills Training Project] As the training progresses, the sled dogs begin to undergo skill training. This ranges from leaping to track birds, luring them by dragging a toy tethered to a string and stuffed with food, to crawling on ice and even training them to tolerate being buried in snowdrifts. First, teach them to curl up into a ball and lie down as instructed, then sprinkle a small amount of snow on them and reward them afterwards. Add more snow each time until the sled dog feels very comfortable buried in the snow.

The simplest and most natural-looking movements in the film are actually the most difficult to achieve. For example, let the sled dogs learn to look at the actor Paul. Malamutes and their handlers spend a lot of time together and are very harmonious with each other, so they naturally look at their handlers. Therefore, on the one hand, we need to cultivate the real relationship between the actor and the sled dog, and at the same time, we also have to try to have the trainer make the dog perform actions outside the camera, such as "stretching out his paws", but let the sled dog's eyes look at Paul.

Each dog had two handlers working with them during filming. Even sled pulling is a challenge for these dogs because they instinctively pull the sled very far, but in the film, they are often required to pull 5 feet away and stop suddenly for plot needs.

During the training process, these sled dogs established a unique relationship with each other, and this social hierarchy is basically consistent with the requirements of the characters in the film.

§8 outstanding sled dogs that moved us

The first one - "Maya", the sled dog leader with a strong motherly character

No. 1 Played by Cody Bear: a beautiful 7-year-old silver-gray dog.

She has rich acting experience and has participated in the filming of the movie "Snow Dogs" and the TV series "Malcolm in the Middle".

Because the producers originally wanted to find a white dog, it almost missed the opportunity. She was called "princess" by her trainer on the set because she had to carry a special blanket with her wherever she went.

Moli, the No. 2 actor: an equally beautiful 7-year-old dog.

From a stray dog ??adoption center in Colorado, he has now embarked on the road to stardom. He is currently working as a sled guide dog at the famous Olympic Apartment Hotel in British Columbia, Canada, where he has found the true joy of life.

Stand-in actor Calista: an experienced sled lead dog and an expert in long-distance travel. True to his role, he often helped other dogs out of trouble during filming.

The second one - "Max" who stood out in an incredibly harsh environment

D.J., who plays the role: 6 years old, lively, carefree, born Star dog.

Specialty: D.J. has incredible improvisational abilities. There are often some dramatic performances and emotional expressions when playing Max.

Work experience: Starred in the animal blockbuster "Ice Dog Mission".

Current job: Living a privileged life in Los Angeles, becoming Birds and Animals' biggest star, often strutting around auditions for movies and TV series.

Stand-in actor Tima: 1 year old, a real puppy.

He was just learning to pull a sled when he joined the cast of Antarctica. The deepest impression of Tima on the trainer was her quick and graceful movements and her cuddling nature.

Current job: Serving as a tour guide for those brave travelers in Canada

The third one - the "little one" with well-developed limbs, simple mind and naughty character

Playing Jasper: 3 years old, a white stray dog ??with a naughty temperament.

It was overjoyed to get the chance to star in "Antarctic Adventure" because it soon discovered that snow was its favorite thing in the world.

Stand-in Yukon: a strong character and a professional sled dog. He has the physique of an athlete and never seems tired while pulling a sled.

The fourth one - "Dewey", one of the close twin brothers

Played by Floyd: the most experienced dog actor. He often participates in the filming of animal films, and usually stars in the Universal Animal Show in sunny Florida.

Stand-in actor Ryan: 2 years old. Once a trendy show dog from Texas, he had never seen snow before training for the Antarctic Adventure show, but he quickly fell in love with the ice, snow and cold, and never passed up an opportunity to pull a sled.

The fifth one - "Truman", the twin brother who looks exactly like Dewey

Played by Setka: 3 years old, a stray dog ??from Colorado.

On the first trip to Florida, Setka escaped from his crate, shocking trainer Mike Alexander into a cold sweat. Fortunately, he decided to return to the filming crew and was able to complete his film debut with great grace. At the same time, he also discovered that he had a special liking for delicious Canadian duck.

Stand-in actor Chase: 5 years old, a native California dog. The handler calls it a "big monster." In order to look more like Setka, Chase often needs non-toxic dyeing at the crew's "Dog Beauty Center", which he always manages to do gracefully.

The sixth one - "Shadow"

No. 1 actor Noble: 3 years old, a pampered silver dog, the dog actor who is most devoted to the performance.

Trocca, actor No. 2: 4 years old. A rescuer found the emaciated Trocca on the streets of Tennessee and turned him into a dog star.

Trocca had a beautiful voice when barking on the set of Antarctica.

The nobles and Troca have equal status. They both participate in performances and pull sleighs.

The seventh one - the energetic red-haired dog "Buck"

Conan, the No. 1 actor: is known for his intelligence on the set. It was originally a show dog in Montreal. Now with "Antarctic Adventure" show mate Floyd, he's headed to the warmer Universal Animal Show Center in Florida to star.

Player No. 2 Jianbing: Alaskan native dog Jianbing is a hardworking sled dog. Pancake is the largest dog in the film, weighing over 120 pounds. After the filming of the film was completed, he still stayed in the ice and snow to do his job.

Conan and Pancake perform as well as pull sleighs as Buck.

The eighth one - "Old Jack" who is the oldest and good at playing cards

Played by Sally: a beautiful 4-year-old black and white Huskies from the mainland of British Columbia.

Buck, the stuntman, is all white. Previously starred in the film "Ice Dog Mission". In order to resemble Sally, he has to be dyed with the same black spots as Sally through non-toxic dyeing every day.

Other reference materials

◆ About Husky Dogs - Siberian Husky (Siberian Husky)

Most of the dogs that pull sleds are called sled dogs, such as Huskies ( Eskimo Dog), Alaskan Malamute (Alaskan Malamute), etc., but strictly speaking, the dog breed that is most truly called a sled dog is this dog.

The Siberian Husky is native to Russia and is an original and ancient dog breed. The name comes from the Husky’s unique hoarse bark.

The Chukchi people, a primitive tribe in northeastern Siberia, bred this dog as a means of transportation, guiding reindeer and guarding. Moreover, it can work in the harsh environment of Siberia. Siberian Huskies have been living alone in Siberia for centuries. In the early 20th century, this dog was brought to the United States by fur traders. In a blink of an eye, this dog became a world-famous champion dog in sled racing.

Characteristics: majestic appearance, similar to a wolf. It has an elegant temperament and is full of energy. It is docile and friendly, so it cannot be used as a guard dog.

Coat: thick undercoat, straight and soft topcoat, medium length. The coat color comes in various colors and there are special white spots on the face.

◆ About the film "Antarctic Story"

In 1957, something unexpected happened to the overwintering observation team sent by Japan to the Showa Base in Antarctica. In 1983, based on this true story, the film "Antarctic Story" was filmed, starring Ken Takakura, a screen tough guy familiar to Chinese audiences. The film cost 2.5 billion yen and is a heavyweight work in the Japanese film industry. While showing the magical and magnificent Antarctic scenery and the struggle between man and nature, the film focuses on describing the fate of sled dogs. It is tragic and shocking. It is a very rare animal-themed film. It set a box office record of 5.9 billion yen that year, and It has remained for 15 years and is the second highest-grossing film in Japan's history.

◆ Box Office

After being released in the United States on February 17, 2006, it immediately won the weekend box office championship in the United States that week, surpassing the films "The Pink Panther" and "The Firewall" in the same period. "(Firewall) and many other films.

The film has been released in North America for five weeks, and its cumulative box office has exceeded 70 million US dollars.