Factual indie Blink Films is producing a new documentary for PBS’s NOVA strand, based on new revelations about the giant stone heads of Easter Island.
Easter Island Origins is a coproduction with France Télévisions and PBS International has secured additional coproduction funding with broadcasters including NHK (Japan), SBS (Australia), and WELT (Germany).
Easter Island Origins (1×60’) examines the story behind some of the most remarkable monuments on the planet. Rapa Nui, or Easter Island, is one of the most remote places on Earth. In the middle of the South Pacific, and more than 2000 miles from South America, it attracts thousands of visitors every year from all over the world. They are there to see and experience the Moai: great stone heads that stare unblinking into the distance. Now, new research is challenging everything Western archaeologists thought they knew about the Easter Island statues and the lives of those who created them. Why were these figures created and what drove the islanders to make them? And can they tell us anything about how those who created these figures survived on this apparently barren island and where they originally came from?
Easter Island Origins includes interviews with archaeologists, architects, geneticists, and other experts who challenge existing theories about the creation and the purpose of the Moai, their builders’ heritage and the origin of their statue construction skills, as well as what led to devastating deforestation of the island and its dramatic decrease in population.
Dan Chambers, Creative Director, Blink Films said: “The Easter Island stone heads have captured the imagination of generations around the world, not just due to their immense size and location but also the theories around who created them and why, and what happened to the population on the island. Easter Island Origins sets out to answer these questions by unpacking a host of new revelations.”
Tracy Beckett, Commissioning Editor, Content for PBS International said: “We are delighted to announce our continued collaboration with Blink Films as we embark on an exciting new film. Easter Island Origins offers fresh insights into the Island’s history, shedding light on the origins of its iconic ancient statues and uncovering new revelations.”
Easter Island Origins is a NOVA Production by Blink Films for GBH in association with France Télévisions, NHK, and SBS TV Australia. It is written and directed by Mike Ibeji and produced by Leonore Raab. The line producer is Renate Brown, and the executive producers for Blink Films are Tom Adams and Dan Chambers. Julia Cort and Chris Schmidt are executive producers for NOVA, and PBS International is the worldwide distribution partner. Blink Films is a Tin Roof Media company. NOVA is a production of GBH.
Jon Creamer
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