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Bag it


Cuba:The Accidental Eden


Dirt! The movie


El Parque Nacional de Este. Refugio de la naturaleza y cuna de la cultura


Luchando por la vida - una historia del mar


Journey to Planet Earth: Plan B: Mobilizing to Save Civilization


Ocean Voyagers


Once Upon a Tide


Play Again


Plastic Bag


The Economics of Happiness


The Last Lions


The Polar Explorer


The Story of Stuff


Vanishing of the Bees


Where the Whales Sing


Wild Ocean



Film Synopsis

Sought by explorers for centuries as a possible trade route, Canada's Northwest Passage was first navigated by Norwegian Roald Amundsen in 1903-1906, a true polar explorer. Amundsen was the first man to reach the South Pole as well. Until 2009, the Arctic pack ice prevented regular marine passage throughout most of the year, but climate change has reduced the pack ice, and this Arctic shrinkage has made the waterways more navigable. Mark Terry's latest polar adventure explores the Passage on a three-week scientific expedition taking place on the aptly named icebreaker, the Amundsen. Studying the effects of climate change in this Arctic region, in general, and discovering new life on the ocean seabed and other previously inaccessible areas of the Arctic seas, in particular, is the focus of this one-hour HD documentary.

 

This historic journey, featuring the work of many of the world's foremost polar scientists, is the highlight of a film that also compares and contrasts these findings with the latest studies being conducted at the other end of the earth - Antarctica. New scientific discoveries being made related to climate change this year in Antarctica are included to provide a unique comparison of current climate change research at both ends of the earth. In addition to showing how warmer temperatures are affecting the speed of melting glaciers, icebergs, pack ice and floes, an examination of the drastically changing eco-systems in both areas is presented. The film and its findings were invited by the United Nations Environment Programme to present to delegates attending COP16, the Climate Change Conference in Cancun in December, 2010. Will this film influence policy-makers and result in a new resolution being adopted? This question is answered in the film's dramatic conclusion.




Director’s Biography

Mark Terry has been involved in many adventures throughout his career. His projects have taken him across the globe, to many exotic locations. Among them, the one that most caught his attention was the Arctic. It was not his work that led him to the North Pole, but rather a vacation he took to Alaska in 1990. He was captivated by the beauty of the landscape. In future years, he returned to Alaska and also visited the Canadian Arctic, and this passion led to his involvement in research programs on the region. His work on related documentaries allowed him to become a member of the Explorers' Club, a global organization with over 100 years of tradition, of which only the world's greatest explorers, among them 166 Canadians, are members. He is also a member of other prestigious organizations, such as Royal Canadian Geographical Society, the University of Alberta's Northern Research Network and the Canadian Council for Geographic Education.

 

His involvement with polar ventures, along with his knowledge of the challenges facing these isolated but vital regions in the world, led to the production of The Polar Explorer, a profound narration of the problems that confront the Antarctica today.

 

His work in the Poles isn´t his only venture. He has been involved with communications and media for many decades. In 1983, he founded Hollywood Canada Communications, a publishing firm for his magazine, Hollywood Canada Magazine, which circulated nationwide.

In 1988, his company ventured into the theatre industry, purchasing a historic theatre in Toronto called Bayview Playhouse. His live theatre productions were produced not only in Toronto, but also on Broadway, and in London´s West End.

 

His next venture was in film, and his first production, Clive Barker: The Art of Horror, was created along with the National Film Board of Canada and released by Paramount Pictures. That would be the first time Mark worked with Director of Photography, Damir Chytil, CSC.

 

The company’s next location was Hollywood, where Terry worked on feature films for over 5 years. Some of his films are The Man in the Iron Mask, Project Genesis, Replikator, Silent Lies and George B. (first Canadian movie to officially compete in the Sundance Film Festival). After his years in Hollywood, he shifted from film to television, producing documentary series for Canadian television. His first documentary was called We Stand On Guard. In preparation for the film, he served with the Royal Canadian Regiment in Kosovo. We Stand On Guard tells the story of the first 100 years of the Canadian military. He not only directed the film, but also wrote and produced it, and it was so successful, that it was played on Global Television every Remembrance Day for five years.

 

He has also been involved in many other productions while working for other companies. He wrote and directed documentaries such as Earth's Natural Wonders and Mysteries of Sacred Sites for Dan Russell of the Discovery Channel.

 

Mark also worked for EnBlast Productions, a production company in Toronto. There, he created the popular documentary series Shop With Me for Global Television, which featured interesting and unique shops and businesses in Canada.

 

The quality and success of his work in Canada and Hollywood caught the eye of the Government of China, who chose Terry to produce 8 films and documentaries for the Museum of History in Hong Kong, where he lived for one year.

 

 

 







Director: Mark Terry
Executive Producer:
Pino Halili, Mark Romoff, Dianna Schwalm, Jeffrey D. Steiner, David J. Woods
Producers:
John Kelly, Mark Terry
Associate Producer:
Michael Khashmanian, Holly Lee, Shirley Mein-Cox, Sally A. Moore
Cinematography:
Damir I. Chytil
Screenwriter:
Mark Terry
Editor:
Ken Simpson