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Clip description
Jack Thompson introduces us to two Melbourne businessmen passionate about their hang-gliding. They’re out to break the world record recently set by an American.
Curator’s notes
The terrifying cliffs along the Great Australian Bight plunge hundreds of metres into the Great Southern Ocean, renowned for its Great Whites – the terrifying sharks that patrol the coastline. All of this is set up to explain the utter madness of these wild adventurers, practising what is these days called an extreme sport.
What’s been lost in these shortened versions of the earlier documentary-paced programs is the psychology of the participants. The original might have had time to capture their single-minded ambition or their moments of doubt, or even their rivalry, but this is lost within the constraints of the five to seven minute magazine format. Jack Thompson’s commentary is after the event and, although his on camera narration is filmed to give the impression that he’s on site with the adventurers, he’s not. While his appeal and professionalism make up a lot for this, the lack of immediacy is still an emotionally distancing factor.
