Movies from the Bottom of the World

[ru]

For the past year or so, I've been reading the journal of mananath, a guy who has been working at McMurdo Station in Antarctica. I find it really fascinating, as it gives a glimpse into how people who work there live, and his posts are quite entertaining to boot. One thing I've learned is that during the winter, no planes can fly to the continent, so the folks that stay during the winter to keep things running are essentially physically stranded. In the meantime, they find ways to keep themselves entertained.

One way is with a 48 hr film festival. Teams from stations all over the continent (representing multiple countries) conceive, write, cast, film, and post-produce five minute films over the course of 48 hours, which are then shown and judged. Not only is it entertaining, but it's doubly fascinating due to the ability to not only get a glimpse into one station, but multiple ones.

You can see the winning films here. They're a great way to spend a little less than half an hour. They're all awesomely done and pretty fun to watch. Besides, where else can you see a gender reversal spoof of "Call On Me"? Only on Antarctica! XD

Comments

[teaandfailure.livejournal.com]

I love hearing about what goes on at McMurdo, and frankly I am disappointed I didn't learn about it until I was already set in my ways and my career, because I would have loved to have tried to do a mail shift there or something at least once, just to say I'd done it.

[peppermintberry.livejournal.com]

Amen to that! There's a part of me that would love love LOVE to go and do something there, even just as supporting staff, or something, just to say I've done it. I'm a terrible homebody, though, and with my roots firmly in place where I am, I think it'd be very hard for me to get up and go.