Ben Fogle to present 4 x 60’ series explaining the impact of natural disasters

Featuring first 3D simulations of extreme weather conditions such as earthquakes and tsunamis

Filming currently taking place in Canada for TX in Summer 2012

Sky Atlantic HD and Sky 3D have commissioned a spectacular four-part series from Pioneer Productions, capturing the effects that the Earth’s natural forces can have on the human environment. In order to try and understand the natural disasters which can dominate our news, this series will look at the science behind the destructive forces and hear witness accounts of what it feels like to be caught in the midst of nature’s fury.

Fronted by Ben Fogle, STORM CITY is centred on an ultimate man versus nature experiment. Using advanced engineering technology and science, a team of experts set out to recreate the impact of natural forces to investigate what the effects are.

Filmed on a mix of real-world locations and sets in both Canada and the UK, the team simulate what happens during earthquakes, extreme winds, avalanches and floods. Cameras were fitted to a purpose built two-storey house as weather conditions are reconstructed and tests carried out to fully demonstrate the catastrophic damage that extreme natural forces can cause.

Using 3D cameras, every move is captured, blow-by-blow for Sky 3D and 2D for Sky Atlantic HD. Viewers are able to visualise the impact on everything including people, buildings and the infrastructure of a city.

Presenter Ben Fogle, along with experts in structural engineering, will explain how each spectacular orchestrated natural disaster relates to real events. Archive footage will also remind viewers of the actuality of some recent occurrences and interviews with survivors will bring to life the legacy these extreme natural forces can leave. Stories from people who have witnessed and been at the centre of some of the most prolific and well documented natural disasters, including Hurricane Katrina, the Haiti earthquake, the Boxing Day Tsunami in South East Asia, and those closer to home, including the Boscastle Flash Floods and the 1987 hurricane which took the South of England by surprise, will talk openly about their traumatising experiences.

Ben Fogle said, “This is an extraordinary series to work on and it will look incredible too. I’ve been staggered by the scale and how much I’ve learned about the effects that nature can have on our environment. I hope people enjoy watching it as much as I’ve enjoyed making it.”

Celia Taylor, Commissioning Editor for Sky said “We all knew that there was an incredible 3D film to be made about natural disasters but Storm City has gone beyond that to deliver incredible science, massive stunts and highly emotive human stories that makes it compelling, breath-taking and fascinating in equal measures”.

Commissioning Editor for Sky is Celia Taylor. Martin Mortimore is Series Producer and Chris Kelly Executive Producer.

STORM CITY will TX in Summer 2012 on Sky Atlantic HD and Sky 3D

Notes to editor

For more information contact:

 

Luke Morrison

Publicity Manager, Sky Atlantic HD

0207 032 1479 / 07584 580026

Luke.morrison@bskyb.com

 

Hannah Smith

Consumer PR Manager, Sky 3D

0207 032 6791 / 07585909251

Hannah.smith@bskyb.com