Filming The "Ice People"

Antarctica is the coldest, driest, and windiest continent on earth. Penguins and seals are its only permanent residents. But every year, a few thousand scientists set up camp on this barren land mass. Working in small groups, they brave frigid temperatures and high winds to uncover truths about Antarctica’s ancient past.

Filmmaker Anne Aghion spent four months following a team of researchers as they chipped away at frozen ground, looking for clues to better understand when and how quickly Antarctica froze. These scenes of scientific discovery are woven together with majestic shots of Antarctica’s landscape in the new film Ice People. It airs tonight on the Sundance Channel. Aghion joins Word of Mouth on the line from New York to discuss how she prepared for her trip to the South Pole, and how she convinced the researchers to let her and her crew come along.

(Photo by Peter Rejcek, The Antarctic Sun)