Vita vargar, vita falkar

SVT Play visar nu för andra gången en naturfilm av världsklass. Vita vargar, vita falkar. Filmad på Ellesmare Island i nordöstra Canada. Ian McCarthy och Mark Smith är välkända filmare, männen bakom en rad av David Attenboroughs, PBS och National Geographic´s naturdokumentärer. Alltid högsta klass.

Mark Smith är t ex mannen bakom BBCs fantastiska material om Pakistans snöleoparder. Det materialet ingick i Planet Earth. För att få dom sekvenserna tillbringade han arton månader i bergen ovanför Chitral. På Ellesmere Island var han åtta veckor. Filmen finns här på SVT Play. Nedan en intervju med producenten. Och här mer för den som känner för saken.

FERGUS BEELEY: The greatest difficulty with regard to the development of the film was being certain about any facts. Yes, people had studied the wolves on Ellesmere — in previous years. Yes, people had seen gyrfalcons on Ellesmere — in previous visits. But NOTHING in the Arctic remains certain, and for that reason, whatever anyone ever said, my stomach would always turn with the fear that we would neither find a nest nor a den.

Pre-production difficulties were confirming the logistic needs. The teams were going to require training in safety aspects, as well as huge consideration being given to tents, camping food, and keeping both the latter free from the curiosities of wolves or even polar bears. Safety expert Jim McNeil was an expert in the area, and knowing the particular area well, he was able to give us specific training in the issues that might ensue.

Regrettably, in April of that year, just a month ahead of when we were due to depart, I was making another film high in the Andes (at 5,000m) and had a fall. The result was a very badly fractured ankle. After a 12-hour journey on stretcher off the mountain they flew me back to UK by Air Ambulance to be operated on. It was fate. I was not going to be able to be on location in the Arctic with the wolf team. I would have to remain in hospital and co-ordinate editorial from my bed side.

IRENE: How long did each crew film on Ellesmere Island?

FERGUS BEELEY: The two crews were on location for eight weeks, one team on the gyrfalcons, and the other team at the wolves. Knowing when the best time would be to go was a concern, as each year is different in the Arctic. Some years the sea ice melts early; other years it melts late. To get up there and find that the sea ice had melted would mean that we would not be able to land the aircraft at the desired spot. That, of course, would be a disaster.

IRENE: How large was the crew?

FERGUS BEELEY: The wolf crew comprised Jim McNeil, safety and logistic expert, Jonny Keeling, Director (who replaced me, but did much better than I ever would have done), Harry Hoskyns-Abrahall, a really good field naturalist and an Assistant Producer, and the cameraman, Mark Smith. There were three people at Alexandra Fiord with the gyrs; Mike Dilger, a director, cameraman Ian McCarthy, and a field expert and safety advisor.