BOS400

PRODUCTION COMPANY

BROADCASTER

PROGRAMME

WHAT

Mysteries Of The Abandoned’ is a factual historical documentary series produced for Discovery Channel that identifies and investigates significant historical/engineering locations that have been abandoned or forgotten in time. It is an intensive 24-48 hour shoot on location. The story of the location is told through beautiful footage, through the eyes of a contributor that has a connection to the location – assisted by in-studio specialists. The show is drone-intensive, coupled with lingering long shots and close-ups and cutaways.

In all cases (Film Fixers has produced 8 shows for the Discovery Series), the shooting is managed and done by ourselves – with a comprehensive brief from Discovery / Likeashot.

WHERE

In this instance, the location was an abandoned shipwreck of the coast near Cape Town – a massive French barge that broke anchor and ran aground before rescue/salvage work could commence. The seas off the Southern African coast are rough and notorious, with little successful salvage prospects. The story was told through the eyes of Nick Sloane, a world-renowned salvage expert (think Italian Costa Concordia) who winched down onto the platform – and got off pretty quickly.

HIGHLIGHTS

It was tricky getting even close to the wreck, which is located at an extremely isolated stretch of coat called ‘Dungeons’ (where the Red Bull big wave surfing happens). The weather report lied – what was supposed to be a calm day with 1-2 m swell ended up a lot bigger – We initially approached from the sea, but it was very tricky – launching drones was an adrenaline rush – with the cameraman throwing up overboard. We eventually retreated, bush-bashed from land-side to get to the wreck and got the job done.