USC graduate Brittany Wang has been recognized by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation three times since for her project THIN ICE. In 2024, she earned the USC Sloan Screenwriting Grant, and won the Sloan Student Grand Jury Prize before kicking 2025 off with the Sundance Institute Commissioning Grant. We caught up with WANG to discuss THIN ICE, the brilliant scientist Jane Willenbring whose true story inspired it, and the impact of her multiple Sloan grants.
Sloan Science & Film: What first drew you to Jane Willenbring’s story, and how did you approach adapting such a personal and powerful narrative for the screen?
Brittany Wang: I first learned about Jane’s story through the documentary PICTURE A SCIENTIST, where she recounts her experiences as a woman in science. There’s a quote I wrote down from that first viewing, where she said: ‘I look back at my life and think, did I make the right choices? I couldn’t have lived without science, but I wouldn’t have chosen to endure the same treatment again. The years of insidious abuse, and the utter waste of time and energy, when all I wanted to do was to be a scientist.’ I vividly remember feeling a mixture horror and awe when she spoke about her experiences, and thinking to myself, audiences need to see this on a big screen.
With this script, I had the overarching goal to capture Jane’s character in full: a brilliant scientist, a resilient survivor, and an unexpected public figure. I started the writing process by leaning heavily on real-life details, because honestly, the things that actually happened are far more unbelievable than anything fictional I could have come up with. As the script progressed, I focused on finding the thematic throughlines to tie those real-life moments together. My goal as a storyteller is always to portray characters in a way that feels human and emotionally truthful, and I feel that responsibility now more than ever as I adapt her story.
SS&F: THIN ICE explores both scientific discovery and systemic abuse—how did you balance these themes in your storytelling?
BW: Despite containing big themes, THIN ICE is still a character-driven story to me. Balancing scientific discovery and systemic abuse meant filtering both through the lens of Jane’s lived experience. Her career is filled with extraordinary research and momentous achievements, which she accomplished despite the systemic barriers that threatened to derail her work. Over the course of her life, she has been forced to weigh her passion for science against the personal cost of enduring and confronting abuse. That tension and balance is something that she has grappled at length, so the storytelling arises naturally from her complicated personal journey.
SS&F: You collaborated with Jane Willenbring during development. What was that process like, and how did it shape the script?
BW: Jane’s perspective was essential in grounding the script in authenticity and making sure key moments reflected factual accuracy as well as emotional truth. She’s been incredibly generous in sharing her time, insights, and memories as I work through multiple drafts of the script. I check in with her regularly, though in terms of how the actual writing comes out in scenes, she’s quite hands-off – which is both freeing and daunting! A lot of the time as I’m writing, I think to myself ‘How would Jane react, reading this scene? Would she feel seen and heard?’
SS&F: The Antarctic setting is both physically and emotionally isolating. How did you use the environment to reflect Jane’s internal journey?
BW: The setting of Antarctica easily makes everything in the script feel cinematic, simply by nature of it being Antarctica. I view Jane’s story as one of survival and resilience, and the setting perfectly underscores that. The beauty and vast scale of untouched tundra highlight the grandeur of the natural world Jane has devoted her life to studying, while the isolated and unforgiving conditions emphasize the impossible solitude and vulnerability that she experienced. Plus, the remote camping and cramped tent situation in field expeditions serve as a great contrast, to underscore the claustrophobic and oppressive abuse she endured.
2024 Sloan Student Discovery Prize Winner Yoel Gebremariam, Vice President and Program Director at the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Doron Weber and Brittany Wang at MoMI's 2025 First Look Festival. Photo Credit: Thanassi Karageorgiou
SS&F: What kind of research did you undertake to accurately portray glaciology and the scientific expedition?
BW: Google Scholar has been my best friend for the past year. I have reviewed a lot of research papers, particularly Jane’s history of published research, as well as the academic papers that arose from her 1999 field expedition. I supplemented this with various articles, blogs, and documentaries. Above all though, my scientific advisor Dr. Ryan Venturelli has been an absolute life saver in helping me distill a wide array of complex scientific papers and abstract concepts into accessible details that I can understand and craft narrative around.
SS&F: What do you hope audiences—especially those in the scientific community—take away from this film?
BW: Jane’s geomorphology research exploring climate change topics is intricately tied to questions I believe to be urgent today: What world are we comfortable leaving to our children? How can we ensure that the environment we pass on to future generations will be livable? Simultaneously, her personal journey encapsulates similar critical conversations around gender equality: How do we reckon with systemic failings? How can we foster academic equity for future generations of women? Telling this story not only honors Jane’s contributions to her field of study, but also invites audiences to reflect on the complicated realities of these questions. I hope that this story serves as a catalyst for discussion about necessary improvements in both academia and climate policy.
By shedding light to Jane’s story, the challenges she faced may validate the experiences of individuals, particularly young women, who have been marginalized in academic science or any other hostile career path. I hope that it gives strength to anyone going through similar experiences, and of course, that it inspires the next generation to take an interest in geological sciences!
SS&F: How has winning the Sloan Prize and receiving mentorship impacted your path as a filmmaker?
BW: At the MoMI First Look Festival, Sharon Shattuck (co-director of PICTURE A SCIENTIST, also a Sloan-supported project) presented me with the Grand Jury Prize. It was such an incredible full circle moment to celebrate THIN ICE with the person whose documentary introduced me to Jane’s story in the first place, and I feel so honored to join a community of creatives dedicated to science-forward storytelling.
The support from the Sloan Foundation and their partners have been an incredible validation that others find Jane’s story as compelling as I do, and gives me invaluable encouragement to keep developing this project. Being able to lean on the expertise of my scientific and industry mentors and having their support has undoubtedly helped bring this project to its fullest potential.
Brittany Wang and Sharon Shattuck at MoMI's 2025 First Look Festival. Photo Credit: Thanassi Karageorgiou
SS&F: Are there other filmmakers or films you’re particularly inspired by?
BW: During the writing process, I drew inspiration from ERIN BROCKOVICH, OPPENHEIMER, and THE SOCIAL NETWORK – films that explore complex individuals navigating personal ambition and powerful institutions, set against the backdrop of scientific discovery and courtroom justice. They are smartly written, visually compelling, and filled with sharp dialogue. What unites these films, and what I hope to capture in THIN ICE is an emotional complexity within characters. I think that some of the best films are sweeping in scope and socially resonant, but still driven by imperfect characters.
SS&F: What’s next for THIN ICE?
BW: THIN ICE began as a pilot for a limited series, and I am currently adapting the script into a feature for a more focused narrative arc and expanded opportunities for independent production. I’m wrapping up the latest draft to refine the structure, tone, and character nuances – shaped by ongoing creative dialogue with both Jane and my advisors at MoMI and Sundance. Once that is complete, I hope to assemble a creative team and partner with producers who share my vision for THIN ICE, to ultimately ensure that Jane’s story reaches the screen with authenticity and care.
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