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kodak.com
presents
Nancy Aulenbach
Journey Into Amazing Caves
April 5, 2001
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Page 3 of 7
Okeeffe:
The movie was incredible. How long did it take to film?
Nancy Aulenbach:
The three locations were filmed over a period of three years, about one place a year. So it wasn't constant work; Hazel could go back to her lab and I could go back to the kids in the class. We spent slightly over two weeks in Greenland on the ice caps, 22 days in the Yucatan, and About 8 days in Arizona, as well as multiple trips to California to work in the sound booth and other stuff.
Gigglegirl:
The IMAX format with "Everest" and "To Fly" has wide open spaces. Do the confined spaces of caves show off the potential of the wide format?
Nancy Aulenbach:
Have you seen the movie yet? As you'll notice in the movie, these cave locations have spectacular vistas leading to the entrances, as well as large cave chambers. Strangely enough, the IMAX format worked beautifully
for this movie, especially in the dome theatres, where you feel like you're actually in the cave.
Cornpoppy:
You mentioned a 5-day and 7-day trip. Do you stay right in the cave or go in and out every day?
Nancy Aulenbach:
We stay in the cave. And we are very careful to take out everything we bring in. (Think about that one.)
Frahnk1:
Where do you plan on caving next?
Nancy Aulenbach:
In Georgia on Saturday. My husband and I are working on some caves, doing full comprehensive studies of the hydrology and geology of particular caves in a particular area.
Amanda:
Have you ever discovered anything whilst exploring caves?
Nancy Aulenbach:
Sure! Virgin passage. Because I'm small, I can fit through small places in caves where most people can't reach. And so I get the opportunity to be the first person ever to see certain places in caves. It's a really cool feeling. Also, we can find Indian pictographs, very old bones from humans or animals, fossils, creatures, and all sorts of interesting things. So it's very important that we always move very softly through the caves when we visit them and have the proper training so that we know where to walk and what to touch so that we don't cause irreparable damage to the cave environment.
Kyres:
How does climate (temperature, humidity) effect cave filming? Are there any special procedures you have to follow for each climate type?
Nancy Aulenbach:
Fortunately the IMAX camera that was used for the filming of this movie was the camera that was created especially to take up on Mount Everest. So it was well-designed for the extreme conditions that we took it to.
However, while we were in Greenland, heat packs had to be used on the camera so that it wouldn't freeze the film, I think - like the emulsion (emulsion = gloopy stuff). (smile)
Amanda:
How do you compare filming these type of shoots now with the technology and the advancement of cameras compared to a few years ago? Would the effects of still been the same?
Nancy Aulenbach:
I'm a caver, not a photographer!
Caver Bob:
Hi, Nancy. Greetings from the 'Left Coast'! Have you heard any early word from grottos (caving clubs) on the numbers of movie viewers that have contacted their organizations and expressed an interest in caving?
Nancy Aulenbach:
I have not, but I'm not expecting it to be an overwhelming number of people after watching the movie. The extreme caves that we visited are nearly impossible to access without having to go through a lot of channels
and expense. We did not focus on traditional caves (earth caves) because there has been a lot of focus in the past, and this was not the goal of the movie, which is to promote caving, but also to show that there is significance science being done in the caves. Also, I think all cavers are pleased that the movie was
done responsibly so as not to make a high adventure, sport-type movie.
Spelunking Star:
Caving can be very dangerous. If you have kids, do you want them to cave as well?
Nancy Aulenbach:
My parents took all three of us caving from the time we were born on up. As long as you have the proper training and make wise choices as to which caves you take your children, then it can be a great family activity.
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