In the inaugural episode of National Geographic's Pole to Pole with Will Smith, Richard Parks, a polar athlete renowned for skiing solo and unsupported from Antarctica to the South Pole, emphasizes his role in ensuring Will's safety during their expedition.
Antarctica, with winds surpassing 70 mph and temperatures plummeting to minus 52 degrees Celsius, is regarded as the harshest desert on Earth. Conducting a filmed journey from the South Pole to the North Pole with a Hollywood star presents significant logistical challenges.
Parks elaborates on the difficulties of navigating in one of the planet's most isolated and regulated environments. In the first episode, he assists Smith in skiing approximately 700 miles from the Polar Plateau to the South Pole's geographical center. This extreme setting poses challenges even for the most advanced technology.
“Antarctica has never been filmed this way before. The cinematic lenses and camera quality are unparalleled,” Parks stated. “Being part of such an ambitious project was incredible.”
While this isn't the first time ARRI cameras have been used in Antarctica—cinematographer Ben Joiner filmed Secrets of the Penguins in 2023—Pole to Pole stands out as one of the few TV shows to achieve this feat. For a glimpse into the technology employed in filming Pole to Pole, check out camera operator Robert Taylor's Instagram post showcasing the ARRI ALEXA Mini LF.
Parks, who typically uses Sony cameras, has spent 15 years trying to convey his expedition experiences to family, friends, and clients. “Through Pole to Pole, we can truly immerse audiences in that world, which is incredibly special,” he remarked.
‘I snapped three headphones on my last solo expedition’
Pole to Pole with Will Smith is just one of Parks' many extreme adventures. He previously completed the Explorer’s Grand Slam, reaching all seven summits and both poles in under seven months.
Parks shared insights on maintaining morale in harsh conditions, highlighting the importance of music. “There’s a memorable moment in episode one where music becomes part of the narrative,” he recalled. “I found myself dancing with my hero on the ice—completely surreal.”
His Antarctic playlist includes tracks like The Supremes' 'Where Did Love Go', which served as an unexpected icebreaker for him and Smith. However, incorporating music into the expedition is challenging due to space and weight constraints, especially considering power requirements.
Parks explained, “Where feasible, I bring tech, but it’s not just about the devices' weight. The size of solar panels needed for charging also matters.”
Additionally, extreme temperatures can quickly degrade materials, particularly plastics. “In Antarctica, the cold affects everything, making materials brittle. Managing cables is one of my biggest challenges,” he noted, emphasizing the necessity of duct tape.
Battery life is another ongoing concern. Parks avoids Bluetooth due to its power consumption, opting for wired headphones and multiple backups. “On my last solo expedition, I broke all three sets of wired headphones due to the environment—it’s brutal,” he added.
Alongside consumer-grade gear like Garmin GPS devices, Antarctic expeditions heavily rely on satellite communications, particularly the Iridium system. A significant milestone for this project was the team's use of Starlink in Antarctica.
“There were numerous genuine firsts on this project,” Parks stated. The series documents the discovery of a new giant anaconda species and a world-first microbe sample that could enhance understanding of climate change responses.
Parks hopes the series will ignite discussions about climate and our planet. “What I took from the project was a sense of connectivity,” he explained. “The scale and ambition allow us to view these environments as interconnected systems.”
The first two episodes of Pole to Pole with Will Smith are now available for streaming on Hulu and Disney+.