WHEN we talk about exploration, often the passage is paved by those that are curious enough to uncover what the general populace consciously keep themselves clear from.
Those that are courageous in pushing frontiers to answer questions are the very reason why we understand our planet more and more each day.
Having said that, the age of exploration is certainly far from over, and if we care to take a closer look, we will be able to learn about the Earth in various new ways.
Disney+ original series from National Geographic, ‘Welcome to Earth’ presents just this. From volcanoes that roar in silence to deserts that move beyond our perception and the swarm behaviour of our planet’s precious creatures that move accordingly to nature.
The six-part adventure programme follows actor Will Smith on an extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime adventure around the world to explore Earth’s greatest wonders and reveal its most hidden secrets.
Guiding him throughout the limited series are explorers Albert Lin (engineer), Cristina Mittermeier (marine biologist), Diva Amon (marine biologist), Dwayne Fields (Polar expeditionist) and Erik Weihenmayer (mountaineer).
Boundless curiosity and enthusiasm
Thrilling tales of human exploration of the 21st century have been predominantly looking at interstellar pursuits, but we often forget that our planet’s (surface) is not necessarily mapped thoroughly that we can expect every turn and corner.
To celebrate the release of the series, the team of explorers that had made Smith’s trip more worthwhile with their tenacity had a panel discussion to talk about what moves them.
One, in particular, is mountaineer Erik Weihenmayer who was able to poetically explain that exploring the world means exploring the senses.
“There is a symbiotic relationship of how everything fits together bordering on peace and connection,” he said at the ‘Welcome to Earth' from National Geographic screening, live from Los Angeles recently.
“Navigating my other senses, I understand the world more and this series plays well in encouraging us all to give homage to all our senses justly.”
Weihenmayer was the first blind person to reach the summit of Mount Everest on May 25, 2001. In this Disney+ original, we get to witness him in his element – including bravely journeying through and taking in the rawness of the earth on the mouth of an active volcano.
“I lost my sight at the age of 14, and I remembered then sitting at the cafeteria, I desperately wanted to be part of the fights.
“I suppose you could say that I was Fomo (fear of missing out) to a lot of the experiences kids get to have growing up. And that is when I decided that I was going to say yes to everything, changing the trajectory of my life,” he said.
“Blind people navigate by echo-location. In the series, while at Mount Yasur, where the volcano is in the South Pacific, the experience really made me want to camp on the edge because it was so beautiful.
“We could hear the insane soundscape in front of us that came from the lava. Behind us, was just silent and about hundreds of yards back in the distance, life was buzzing thanks to the jungle habitat – the juxtaposition was just incredible,” added the experienced adventurer, highlighting that such experience is among those that continuously motivate him to think the opposite of what blindness is.
Getting up close and personal
Produced by visionary Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Darren Aronofsky, Protozoa Pictures, Jane Root’s Nutopia and Westbrook Studios, ‘Welcome to Earth’ presents episodes of awe-inspiring journeys as the cast get up close and personal with some of the most thrilling spectacles on the planet.
With the combination of breathtaking cinematography with Smith’s boundless curiosity and enthusiasm, viewers are invited to join in on an exciting, multisensory ride through Earth’s most mind-bending portals.
The docuseries’ producer Jane Root shared: “The show is – ultimately – about exploring the sensory elements, too.”
“Basically, just revelling into that awe-inspiring moment because being in awe is the best possible feeling to experience”.
“We had amazing visuals completely delivered by the crew, and having Will there was great in injecting lightness to the series – the emotional and funny side of things. And in this case, he is sharing it with the explorers,” said Root.
"It’s really not just about having to show the beautiful things our planet holds, but also provide a sense of what its beauty means.
"The spirit and resolve that Will had throughout is immensely incredible to watch. We know him as this big Hollywood actor, yet he was not afraid to experience such a human thing – not be afraid of being afraid on camera.
“This emotional portrayal is a tribute to all of the explorers in the complex science that they seek to understand,” she added. – The Vibes, December 12, 2012
*Watch ‘Welcome to Earth’ streaming now on Disney+ featuring fearless adventurers alongside two-time Academy Award nominee Will Smith as they embark on extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime adventures around the world to explore Earth’s greatest wonders and reveal its most hidden secrets.
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