IMAX Production

In 2002-2003 Neil  provided underwater cinematography services for the IMAX production The Sacred Planet. Released in May 2004, this 45-minute giant format film is visually stunning, with spectacular images from around the world.  

Produced by Jon Long, The Sacred Planet was shot in several of the most remote places on earth. Underwater sequences were filmed near Port Hardy in British Columbia, at Sipidan Island, Malaysia and in the Similan Islands of Thailand.  

Shooting in the IMAX format underwater is a tremendous challenge. For starters, the camera is massive, fitted with a large magazine in order to hold a 1,000-ft roll of film. Then there is the underwater housing, a cylinder the size of a trash can. Altogether the camera and housing weigh over 400 pounds and a winch is required just to get it in and out of the water. Underwater, thankfully, the system is nearly neutrally buoyant, but due to its size, if there is any current or swell, it’s like hanging on to a wayward whale.  

In IMAX the 70 mm-wide film passes through the camera sideways, 15 perforations per frame. This means that at the normal rate of 24 frames per second, the entire 1,000 feet of film can be exposed in about three minutes! In practical terms this means that the IMAX underwater cameraman gets to shoot about six “takes” of about 20 seconds each before the film is all gone! And that means heading back to the surface for a reload, which takes valuable time. The film stock is very costly, so you have to be quite sure when you pull the trigger.

It’s expensive, unforgiving, time-consuming and challenging. But if you’ve ever seen an IMAX production, you’ll agree the results are superb, the kind of images that truly blow you away. Check your local theatre listings for play dates of The Sacred Planet. And for more information about this remarkable film format, check out the IMAX website.