BBC Planet Earth III's Extreme Episode Featuring Sơn Đoòng Receives 2 Emmy Nominations

Emmy Awards: The Oscars of Television

The Emmy Awards, often called the Emmys, are among the most prestigious honors in television. Similar to the Oscars in film, the Emmys recognize excellence in TV programs across genres, including entertainment, news, documentaries, and sports. These awards play a significant role in celebrating and advancing the television industry.

BBC Planet Earth III “Extreme”: A Closer Look

BBC's nature documentaries consistently captivate global audiences with their stunning visuals and large viewership. For the first time, BBC’s special on natural wonders has featured Asia's most spectacular landscapes.

Planet Earth III series, which aired at the end of October 2023, invites viewers to explore pristine regions across the planet. The series showcases the wonders of nature, featuring incredible animals and their extraordinary stories. Notably, Episode 6, titled "Extreme," aired on November 26, 2023, highlights Sơn Đoòng Cave with breathtaking footage captured by top documentary filmmakers.

Filming took place from January 27 to February 19, 2022. The BBC crew, led by producer Theo Webb, included six members and production teams from the US and UK. They brought over one ton of filming equipment to capture Vietnam's natural beauty.

The crew's main focus was to explore and film the diverse ecosystem of Son Doong Cave

Filming inside the caves, including Sơn Đoòng, Hang Én, Hang Va, and Hang Nước Nứt, presented challenges due to complete darkness. The team used advanced lighting systems and modern filming equipment to achieve outstanding visuals. They worked tirelessly for over 20 days in Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park to capture these spectacular scenes.

See more about: The BBC returns to film Son Doong Cave for Planet Earth III

Two Emmy Nominations for BBC Planet Earth III: Extreme Featuring Hang Sơn Đoòng

BBC's Planet Earth III has earned an impressive five nominations at the Emmy Awards. Among these, the series' "Extreme", featuring the majestic Sơn Đoòng Cave, received nominations in two categories:

1. Outstanding Cinematography For A Nonfiction Program

BBC Planet Earth III: Extreme has been nominated for Outstanding Cinematography For A Nonfiction Program at the Emmys. This recognition highlights the exceptional work of cinematographers Luke Nelson and John Shier, along with their dedicated teams.

John Shier and his team spent 55 days camping on Ellesmere Island, Canada, enduring harsh weather conditions ranging from continuous daylight to blizzards. Meanwhile, Luke Nelson devoted 17 days living 700 feet underground in Vietnam to film the world’s largest cave, Sơn Đoòng.

The team is filming the breathtaking scenery at Doline 1.

According to Luke Nelson on Variety, lighting the cave was a major challenge. The crew used specialized cameras and lenses to showcase the cave’s stunning features and its subterranean river. The team employed a range of equipment, including drones, DSLRs, and large cinema cameras. They spent a week filming from the cave entrance to the mysterious underground river and Doline 1. Using advanced technology and various camera angles, they meticulously captured every moment and movement within the cave’s ecosystem.

‘Planet Earth III’ Cinematographer Lived Underground for 17 Days to Shoot the World’s Largest Cave (youtube.com)

In addition, the team was captivated by the breathtaking sight at Doline 1, where sunlight streamed through the cave’s mouth, creating a magical and unique scene. They set up 5 to 6 cameras to capture different angles and filmed a timelapse over the course of a day to ensure they didn't miss any of the spectacular moments.

Luke Nelson (on the right) and his team has prepared a variety of modern filming equipment for this project

From February 11 to 16, 2022, the crew moved on to Doline 2 of Sơn Đoòng Cave, spending 6 days filming in this area. They focused on the diverse ecosystem within Sơn Đoòng and explored the mysterious Garden of Edam - an exceptional tropical forest that thrives beneath Doline 2. The team also filmed adventurous activities, including high-rope traverses performed by cave expert Martin Holroyd and footage of the impressive 90-meter-high Great Wall of Vietnam, a massive stalactite formation at the end of the cave.

Unveiling the Marvels of Son Doong Cave | BBC's Planet Earth III Exclusive Clip #extremes #sondoong (youtube.com)

The nomination highlights the team's exceptional skill in overcoming formidable challenges to create breathtaking and impactful cinematography.

2. Outstanding Music Composition For A Documentary Series Or Special (Original Dramatic Score)

In addition, the series has been nominated for Outstanding Music Composition For A Documentary Series Or Special (Original Dramatic Score). This award recognizes excellence in creating original and powerful music that enhances the storytelling in documentaries.

Bleeding Fingers Music composers Hans Zimmer, Jacob Shea, and Sara Barone have received a nomination for their work on the Planet Earth III episode "Extremes." Their music brings the series to life, crafting a vivid and captivating soundscape that draws viewers deeper into the breathtaking natural world depicted on screen.

You can listen to the full soundtrack at: Planet Earth III (Original Television Soundtrack) - Album by Hans Zimmer, Jacob Shea, Sara Barone

76th Emmy Awards Winners Announced

Winners of the 76th Emmy Awards 2024 will be announced September 15th 2024 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on ABC.

Oxalis Adventure is thrilled to congratulate the BBC team on their double Emmy nominations for the "Extremes" episode in Planet Earth III. It was a true honor to collaborate with such a talented team to capture the stunning beauty of Hang Sơn Đoòng, Hang Én, Hang Va, and Hang Nước Nứt. Together, we brought the magic of these incredible underground worlds to life on screen.

As the local partner, Oxalis Adventure is proud to have supported the BBC crew in Viet Nam, managing logistics with a dedicated team of over 100 staff members who worked tirelessly for nearly a month. By showcasing the unique beauty of Hang Sơn Đoòng and other caves on BBC's Planet Earth III, we hope to attract more visitors, especially international travelers, to Quảng Bình. This effort is a significant step toward reviving Vietnam's tourism industry. We believe our passion and hard work will not only promote Quảng Bình and Vietnam as top travel destinations but also open doors to new opportunities for large-scale projects from global media giants.

The Oxalis Experience.