Hidden Earth 2023

Otter Hole Cave Film Project

90 minute Lecture|Paul Taylor

Abstract

In 2010 Paul Taylor with the assistance of Nicky Bayley filmed the late Dave Parker visiting the Hall of Thirty in Otter Hole for the first time. Although others including Sid Perou have filmed in the cave as well Paul felt that there were many aspects of the cave that had either not been covered before or in fact been recorded on film. So, he set up the Otter Hole Film Project and invited Gary Cullen and Paul Fretwell (Footleg) to join him on what he said would be a 1 year project. Surface filming got underway in 2013 to record a Timelapse of the River Wye going from High tide to High Tide again and then underground filming was due to start in June 2014. Paul had a heart attack, so this put him out of action, but filming commenced. at quite a pace. But 2014 ran into 2015 and then 2016. As the project became more complex the completion date was pushed back. Some even suggested that the film would never be completed and that the filming team had lost the plot. In reality they were actually in no rush and making a film that met their requirements Of course no one predicted Covid but actually this had a positive impact on the film as lots of editing was completed and another new aspect was added to the film that would not have been and in reality, greatly enhanced the final end result. Which had its "World Premier" in October 2022. Many trips were made into the cave involving many thousands of man hours.
This presentation gives the opportunity to go behind the scenes and see some of the work that was involved, how equipment has developed over the years, meet the film makers and also see the short version of the film. Many have marveled over the formations in Otter Hole Cave which are spectacular but what the water does in the cave is almost beyond belief.