A Collaborative Documentary and Photography Project Captures the Last Frontier
In a world where natural wonders are increasingly under threat, few places on Earth remain as enigmatic as Antarctica. Topanga resident and filmmaker James Douglas Cooper and Texas based photographer Rodney Bursiel are embarking on an ambitious journey to document the diverse wildlife, stunning landscapes, and environmental challenges facing Antarctica. But more than just a visual exploration of the continent, True South: An Antarctica Story is an invitation to revel in its beauty, a first step towards preserving the planet’s last great wilderness.
Director James Cooper’s career has spanned more than two decades, and his clients include Apple, Headspace, Visit California Tourism, Hulu and Volvo. James’ has worked in London on projects for David Bowie and Paul McCartney, and he has delivered guest lectures at USC School of Cinematic Arts. James grew up on the Australian East Coast, an avid surfer, the ocean is in his DNA. When asked about living in Topanga Canyon he says, “There’s a majesty and mystery about it; a sense of space mentally and physically where one can really go deep with ideas, creativity, and also ‘do the work’ if one desires. There’s a storied history here artistically which I believe can be felt on the wind some days. I’ve lived all over the world, and there’s nowhere like it.”
For this documentary film he found motivation through the work of Dr Sylvia Earle, first female chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “A few years ago I realized I wanted to do more photography on, and in, the ocean. I was making a documentary project in Wimberley, just out of Austin, Texas, and it was at a recording studio there that I met and then hired Rodney Bursiel to shoot portraits of our subject. Rodney is a National Geographic award-winning photographer, well known for his photography of both iconic rock legends and wildlife.”
In the studio they talked about their shared passion for nature and the oceans and stayed in touch. A year later the ‘call to adventure’ to Antarctica came directly from Rodney, who had managed to save one spot on a purpose built yacht sailing to Antarctica in February 2025. James and Rodney were vetted by the craft’s crew and accepted for the trip.
Rodney Bursiel’s breathtaking wildlife photography includes striking images of great white sharks, and 30-ton humpbacks. His expertise in global travel, as well as working in extreme environments made him the perfect collaborator for this project. “We’re documenting Antarctica — something that we’re losing,” Rodney explains. “It’s changing by the day, and we want to go capture this and see it, because it could be gone in our lifetime.”
The duo’s partnership is built on a shared goal: to showcase the fragile beauty of the continent and raise awareness about the environmental threats it faces. James and Rodney will travel to Antarctica on a purpose built yacht, The Vinson of Antarctica, for 12 people for 27 days including crossing the very dangerous Drake’s passage. “It’s going to be a journey like no other.”
Filming in Antarctica presents a unique set of challenges. The extreme cold, unpredictable weather, and isolated location make logistics incredibly difficult. The team will have to contend with 18-20 hours of daylight during the Antarctic summer, high winds, and subzero temperatures. In addition, getting equipment to such a remote location is a logistical issue, requiring months of careful planning and coordination.
For this project they will have no film crew. “It’s just us. We have no camera rental houses nearby in case something goes wrong. We will be completely out of range for around a month, save an emergency satellite phone. We’ll be shooting during the summer down there which is a help but when diving we’ll be in dry suits and the water will be just above freezing so we’ll have limited time in the water. Our pre-production is absolutely vital and we’ll be ready to pivot on a minute by minute basis I expect.”
The technical challenges will be demanding. In cold environments cameras can malfunction or batteries can freeze. They’ll have to bring specialized equipment that can handle the conditions and test their ability to think on their feet. The team will also need to work carefully around the sensitive wildlife of Antarctica. Species such as emperor penguins (chicks hatch in summer), seals haul themselves onto ice to rest and give birth, while orcas and humpback whales roam the Southern Ocean, hunting for krill, the crew’s presence must be unobtrusive.
James is undeterred by these obstacles. “I think of Antarctica as [the] heartbeat of the world. In so many ways without a beautifully functioning Antarctic system our planet doesn’t work properly. It’s a vital region for our Mother Earth. For Rodney and I it will be an honor to witness first hand up close and personal what’s going on within this precious system and how we can honor Antarctica in our photography, storytelling and our presence there for 27 days.
One of the project’s documentary fundraising strategies was to host two fundraisers in Rodney’s hometown of Wimberley, Texas, 8,500 miles from Antarctica. At the first one they raised 33k with performances by artists Jimmie Vaughan, Ruthie Foster, Donavan Frankenreiter and Doc Carter. It was such a success they did a second one, where Billy Gibbons (who attended church with Rodney’s grandmother) offered the duo a show to raise money for the film’s expenses. Austin filmmakers like Robert Rodriguez and Wimberly’s community alike supported the cause. The tight knit feel there, the acres of oaks, reminiscent of Topanga. Neighbors and fans of ZZ Top showed up early to line up and support the cause, all contributors to the film.
At its core, True South is not just about exploration—it is about responsibility. Antarctica is a bellwether for the planet. The duo hopes that audiences will come away with a new appreciation for the beauty and vulnerability of Antarctica. “We set forth as citizen reporters with no political agenda or expertise in the field of environmental sciences. In fact there is trepidation about what we will discover on this journey. We travel along as two imperfect humans to the Earth’s most delicate ecosystem. Just like we photographers can pick up a different camera lens, so can one shift to a new perspective, one imbued with optimism and cooperation, one which Rodney and I will dutifully preserve in the film.”
