CHERNOBYL DIARIES Production Notes - Visual Hollywood

CHERNOBYL DIARIES (2012)
PRODUCTION NOTES
About the Production
Ukrainian SSR, April 26, 1986: Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant reactor number four explodes,
releasing radioactive contamination into the atmosphere greater than that of 400 atomic bombs.
It is a nuclear meltdown of catastrophic proportions, the worst of its kind in history, a Level 7
event on the International Nuclear Event Scale.
Neighboring Pripyat, the city that houses the plant's workers and their families, is evacuated
overnight, with most possessions left behind in the homes, factories, amusement park, schools
and stores that serve its nearly 50,000 residents. It is initially thought to be a temporary
situation.
It was not. Pripyat has remained uninhabited to this day...
"Welcome to Uri's Extreme Travel"
Eastern Europe, present day: six twentysomethings on vacation sign on for an "extreme" tour of
the abandoned Ukraine town of Pripyat, a place secured by national guards and forbidden entry
to anyone. Despite the warning not to enter, their guide, with Geiger counter in hand, leads them
into the deserted area, warning them to stay close.
"Chernobyl Diaries" is the brainchild of writer/producer Oren Peli, who first found success in the
horror genre with the incredibly popular "Paranormal Activity." Just as that subject was the
result of a commonplace occurrence—hearing strange noises in his new house—he was again
inspired while performing an everyday activity: surfing the internet. "The idea came to me when
I saw a photo blog posted by a girl traveling through Pripyat on a motorcycle," Peli recalls. "That
was the first time I'd heard about Pripyat, and that it had been evacuated overnight, then left asis,
sort of like a ghost town imprinted in time and history, basically unchanged except for the
effects of nature and wild animals. I thought the place looked eerie and beautiful and captivating,
and a little sad. And that it could be the perfect setting for a very creepy movie."
He discussed the idea with fellow producer Brian Witten, who remembers, "After Oren
mentioned the idea to me, I immediately went home and scoured the internet for info on Pripyat.
I was overwhelmed by the history and visuals, and enthusiastically encouraged Oren to flesh it
out."
"My research uncovered rumors that a few people had refused to leave, and had stayed behind
despite the risks from the high radiation," Peli says. "So that thought, along with evidence of
wildlife that roamed freely without human interference, made me wonder just what could happen
during an 'extreme' tour of Pripyat."
Extreme tourism, also known as shock tourism, is a niche industry that involves travel to such
treacherous locations as mountains, deserts or caves. It can also include participation in risky
activities, like swimming with sharks or bungee jumping over a waterfall. The greater the risk,
the bigger the adrenaline rush.
© 2012 Warner Bros. Pictures 3