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INSIDE THE MEGA TWISTER

Film Info

48 minutes
National Geographic Studios for National Geographic Channel
Available for Free screenings ONLY
Synopsis:
The tornado that struck El Reno, Oklahoma, on May 31, 2013, defined superlatives. It was the largest, one of the fastest, and—for storm chasers—the most lethal twister ever recorded on Earth. Among those it claimed was Tim Samaras, revered as one of the most experienced and cautious scientists studying tornadoes. But this storm was unlike any he had witnessed before. In this National Geographic Special, we unravel the tornado and tell its story.

Action Items 

  • Educate yourself about twisters, tornadoes, and other life threatening weather events here: http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/
  • Educate your kids by visiting the Science Kids website http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/weather/tornado.html
  • Stay up to date on the latest news and science behind this extreme weather http://esciencenews.com/dictionary/twisters
  • Research how to stay safe from severe weather by visiting the red cross website at, http://www.redcross.org/get-help/prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/tornado#About
  • Interested in becoming a storm chaser? Visit the storm tracker forum page at https://stormtrack.org/
  • Understand that scientists risk their lives to learn more about these severe weather incidents in order to better prepare you and your family.

Filmmaker Q & A

What inspired this story? 

We’ve had a relationship with Tim Samaras that goes back years, and his death was profoundly felt across National Geographic.  So finding out what really happened that day was all the inspiration we needed.
 
Describe some of the challenges faced while making this film?
There is a mountain of footage, and it all connects in the timeline of events, but figuring out exactly where in that timeline was most challenging.  We had to look for landmarks, characteristics of the twister itself, road signs, etc.  Was quite a feat, considering the amount of material.
How do you approach science storytelling? 

We didn’t want to make a typical storm-chasers show, we wanted science to lead the story.  The investigation, seeking the truth, comes from science so we let that guide our way.

What impact do you hope this film will have? 

We want what Tim wanted.  He dedicated much of his life to the study of tornadoes, in order to learn from them, better predict them, and save lives.  We hope this film inspires more research that can one day save lives.

Did the film team use any unusual techniques or unique imaging technology?
We wanted to re-create the events of that day, including the tornado, but in order to dissect what’s going on had to “stop” the storm as well.  The 3D technique we chose allowed for that pause, in order to analyze and discuss.
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  • Home
  • About
    • Board of Directors
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    • News Room
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    • Contact Us
  • Collective
    • Action Coalitions
  • Get Involved
    • Donate
    • Become a Partner
    • Mentorships
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  • Summits
    • 2020 Virtual Summit >
      • 2020 Session Recordings
      • Program & Schedule
      • Speakers
      • 2020 Partners
    • 2020 Summer Live Sessions
    • Jackson Wild: Austria >
      • About Burgenland
    • 2019 Summit >
      • 2019 Session Recordings
      • Programming
      • Exhibitors >
        • Exhibitor Workshops
        • XR Demos
      • 2019 Partners
    • Archive >
      • 2017 Festival & Summit
      • 2015 Festival & Summit
      • 2013 Festival & Summit
      • 2011 Film Competition
  • Awards
    • Media Awards >
      • 2020 Media Awards
      • 2019 Media Awards >
        • 2019 Judges
    • Legacy Awards >
      • 2020 Legacy Awards
    • Rising Star Award
  • New Frontiers
    • 2020 Media Lab >
      • 2020 Media Lab Fellows
      • 2020 Media Lab Contributors
    • 2020 Summit Fellows
    • 2020 Wild Women Media Lab: Africa
    • 2020 Virtual Kenya
    • 2019 Media Lab >
      • 2019 Media Lab Fellows
    • 2019 Summit Fellows
  • Global
    • On Tour >
      • Films
      • Schedule
      • Host an Event
      • Tour FAQ
      • Host Resources
    • World Wildlife Day Film Showcase >
      • Forests >
        • WWD Judge Application
      • Biodiversity >
        • Biodiversity: Final Jury
      • Living Oceans >
        • Ocean Finalists & Winners
        • Living Oceans Final Jury
      • Big Cats
      • Elephants