Andrew Wight (14 November 1959 – 4 February 2012) was an Australian screenwriter and producer best known for his 2011 film ''Sanctum''. He produced over 45 films including television documentaries, live television specials and 3D IMAX films. His credits include ''

Ghosts of the Abyss ''Ghosts of the Abyss'' is a 2003 American documentary film produced by Walden Media and released in most countries by Walt Disney Pictures. It was directed by James Cameron after his 1997 film ''Titanic''. During August and September 2001, Camer ...

'', ''

Aliens of the Deep ''Aliens of the Deep'' is a 2005 American documentary film directed in part by James Cameron alongside fellow cameraman and friend Steven Quale, and filmed in the IMAX 3D format. It was produced by Walden Media and Walt Disney Pictures. Came ...

'' and '' Expedition: Bismarck''. Wight was honoured with the

Australian Geographic Australian Geographic is a media business that produces the ''Australian Geographic'' magazine, ''DMag'' magazine, specialist book titles, travel guides, diaries and calendars and online media. It published editions of the Australian Encyclopa ...

Society Spirit of Adventure Awards in 1989. Wight grew up on the family farm "Tarqua" near Harrow in western-

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

, and attended

Hamilton College Hamilton College is a private liberal arts college in Clinton, Oneida County, New York. It was founded as Hamilton-Oneida Academy in 1793 and was chartered as Hamilton College in 1812 in honor of inaugural trustee Alexander Hamilton, following ...

as a boarder between 1972 and 1977. It was here that he developed a taste for caving, exploring the nearby Byaduk Caves network of

lava cave A lava cave is any cave formed in volcanic rock, though it typically means caves formed by volcanic processes, which are more properly termed volcanic caves. Sea caves, and other sorts of erosional and crevice caves, may be formed in volcanic roc ...

s, under the direction of his Chemistry teacher, accompanied by a few other close school friends. In 1988, he eventually went on to attempt a record cave dive in ''Pannikin Plains Cave'' on the

Nullarbor Plain The Nullarbor Plain ( ; Latin: feminine of , 'no', and , 'tree') is part of the area of flat, almost treeless, arid or semi-arid country of southern Australia, located on the Great Australian Bight coast with the Great Victoria Desert to its ...

, where flash floods turned the expedition into a life-or-death adventure. This was captured on film by his support team, and eventually published as ''Nullarbor Dreaming''. This short film launched his career as an international film-maker and culminated in him becoming James Cameron's right-hand man on many 3D and other film projects. ''Sanctum'' was inspired by his Nullarbor experience. On 4 February 2012, Wight was killed in a helicopter crash at Jaspers Brush near the town of Berry,

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

. The crash also claimed the life of American filmmaker

Mike deGruy Michael V. deGruy (December 29, 1951 – February 4, 2012) was an American documentary filmmaker specializing in underwater cinematography. His credits include ''Life in the Freezer'', '' Trials of Life'', ''The Blue Planet'' and ''Pacific Abyss ...

.Top filmmakers Mike deGruy and Andrew Wight have died in a NSW chopper crash
''The Australian,'' 5 February 2012

References

External links

* 1959 births 2012 deaths Accidental deaths in New South Wales Australian screenwriters Australian film producers Australian underwater divers Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in Australia People from Victoria (Australia) Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 2012 Victims of helicopter accidents or incidents in Australia {{Australia-film-bio-stub

See also

References

External links