THE WORLD GOLD COUNCIL
The Golden Thread
01. info
The Golden Thread is a collection of stories about gold - a metal most people recognise, many possess, yet few grasp how diverse and empowering it has proven for humanity. From clean-tech innovators using gold to convert carbon dioxide to biofuel, to NASA engineers relying upon the metal in space instrumentation, the series saw us document the stories of 10 leading thinkers from around the world whose use of gold is varied and surprising.
Presented by Dr Hannah Fry, the core episodes are complemented by a suite of additional edits, animations and 360 stills and video, all hosted on a dedicated microsite.
THE GOLDEN THREAD
5 x 12" DOCUMENTARY SERIES
2021
MARYLAND, USA
TORONTO, CANADA
PUNJAB, INDIA
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND
31.6199° N, 74.8764° E04. notes
02. credits
DIRECTOR: Matt Hopkins
PRODUCER: Charlotte King
DP: Charlie Herranz
COMPOSITION: Dan Graves
EDITOR: John Jeanes
PRODUCTION : The Progress Film Company
AGENCY: AKQA
03. Press/Awards
LITTLE BLACK BOOK
SHOTS
IMDB
2022 WEBBY AWARDS: Official Honoree - Documentary (Branded) Long Form
2022 CANNES LIONS: Official Shortlist
“The Next Frontier”, Episode 1 of The Golden Thread documentary series, traces gold’s presence in historical and current events of space exploration. We learn of gold’s protective qualities against solar radiation, its role in today’s cosmic exploration via satellites and Mars rovers, its striking use in the James Webb Space Telescope, and the confirmation of gold’s origins in the cosmos. Presented by Dr. Hannah Fry, Episode 1 features commentary from Dr. Georg Fischer of Austria’s Space Research Institute and MIT’s Dr. Michael Hecht, Principal Investigator of MOXIE.
Episode 3 of The Golden Thread documentary series, “Making Meaning”, explains the auspicious value of gold and its role in Eastern and Western culture; from the financial independence it represents to its use in elevating meaning in art. We also learn about gold’s use in the technology that will help us to solve otherwise insurmountable challenges and unlock some of the greatest mysteries to humankind. Presented by Dr. Hannah Fry, Episode 3 features commentary from Ancient Indian Culture expert Dr. Radha Kumar and photography-based artist Tawny Chatmon.