Frozen Planet II': Q&A with producer Alex Lanchester

23/01/2023

Frozen Planet II': Q&A with producer Alex Lanchester Frozen Planet II' producer Alex Lanchester revealed what viewers can expect and more in an exclusive interview with The South African.

by Alicia Naidoo

23-01-2023 16:02

in Entertainment

Q&A with Frozen Planet II' producer Alex Lanchester. Image: supplied.

Alex Lanchster, who is the producer of Frozen Planet II chatted to The South African, in an exclusive interview about the upcoming BBC Earth series.

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Frozen Planet II, will premiere on BBC Earth (DStv 184) on Monday 13 February at 20:00. The series scored a 71% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Frozen Planet II'is set to premiere on 13 February 2023 at 20:00 on BBC Earth DStv channel 184. Image: Supplied. ALSO READ: Frozen Planet II': All you need to know about the series

Q&A WITH ALEX LANCHESTER What can viewers expect from Frozen Planet II?

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On Frozen Planet II, what we want to do is demonstrate and bring people to all the Frozen Planet habitats that exists on the planet. In Frozen Planet I we looked at the poles and Frozen Planet II we want viewers to see all the Frozen habitats.

That may be mountains on the equator where there are ice worlds, into the depth of the Mongolian step where there is the fluffiest cat in the world. In each world we visit, we want to show people the amazing wildlife that lives there and how they adapt to the cold.

Tell us more about the structure and story of the series?

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Frozen Planet II is split into 6 programmes, they are based around habitats. In the opening programme, it's a grand-tour of all the frozen habitats, form the south pole to the north pole. We then unpack each of those habitats and delve deeper into the habitats that live there. In programme two we go to the Arctic ocean which is one of the only ocean that freezes entirely. A world that is dictated by the relationship of solid and water and how do the animals adapt and flourish in the environment.

Episode three looks at frozen peaks which allowed us to go to almost every continent on earth and look at frozen environment in some really unexpected places. Then we move on to antarctica, this is the biggest baldest , coldest place on earth. How do animals service there?

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BEHIND-THE-SCENES What was your favourite behind-the-scenes moment while filming Frozen Planet II?

So many! My personal favourite moment was when we first saw an Siberian tiger on a camera trap out in Russia. We spent weeks trying to capture them, they are the biggest cats on the earth but are incredibly illusive. We put this incredible camera trap that was running for weeks at a time and we kept getting failure after failure. This one day we were sitting there, open up the box and look at the camera and there is this totally majestic tiger, walking into frame and looking at the camera.

What technology was used to film the series?

In every series we want to push the technology. In Frozen Planet II we really did again in several areas. We were able to push FBV drones which are super speedy, low weight drones filming avalanches, which was a filming first. These drones are so fast they keep track of an avalanche. What you will see in programme three is that your really flying alongside an av - a million tonnes of snow falling down.

They look like a VR headset, they fulling immerse themselves. Drone technology was a big thing for us, they were able to give remarkable perspective and behaviours including killer whales hunting seals in Antarctica. Suddenly you have that top down view, you can really see how these animals are coordinating their attack.

What are you most passionate about capturing through the lens?

Personal perspective, I am incredible amazed how interesting and marvellous the animal kingdom is. All the things they are doing, as a film-maker I am always looking to push that curiosity of the natural world our to viewers. That always keeps me going whatever I am making.

With Frozen Planet II it's a lot about how the world is changing, lots of people say this has never before. We all got a sense of being on the front-line of climate change.

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LINK:	https://www.thesouthafrican.com/culture/entertainment/frozen-planet-ii...
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