2002 assignments
2002 was a very busy year with two cinema productions and a number of TV documentaries. Locations include Iceland, Peru, Himalayas and the European Alps.
"DIE ANOTHER DAY" 007 BOND - ION PRODUCTIONS
Working on the second (action) unit directed by Vic Armstrong in the SW corner of Iceland. In conjunction and organised by David Rootes of Poles Apart the 100 plus crew safety was the prime concern.
The main location was Jokulsarlon, a frozen sea level lake filled with a maze of incredible icebergs. The main car chase scene between a Jaguar and Aston Martin was filmed here. When we first arrived the ice barely held the weight of the cars and the focus was to measure ice thickness and identify safe areas to film then escort and manage the crew during filming. Also providing rescue facilities and monitoring crew well-being and clothing in the bitter cold.
Brian Hall of Film & Mountain also spent a considerable time rigging on the ice bergs - camera positions, locations and fixing wires for SFX and helping on stunt rigging.
The second location was on the edge of the Vatnajokull ice cap. Glaciers can be dangerous places and the large crew had to be transported by snow cats and snow mobiles and their safety managed very carefully.
TOUCHING THE VOID
DARLOW SMITHSON PRODUCTION FOR FILM FOUR
The award winning book "Touching the Void" by Joe Simpson is finally been made into film directed by Kevin MacDonald. The first part of this epic drama documentary was filmed over a month in the Huayhuash region of the Peruvian Andes. Joe and his climbing partner, Simon Yates revisited the base camp, glaciers and Siula Grand mountain which was the scene of their accident and epic survival story in 1985. Footage was shot on 16 & 35 mm film.
The shoot was organised as a mountaineering expedition with a base camp 3 days walk from the road head and at an altitude of 4400 m. A team of 6 from production had to be equipped, trained and then guided safely up to heights of over 5000 m by 5 guides and a doctor from Film & Mountain and a team of Peruvian camp staff and porters.
The second part of the shoot used actors to recreate the tale. A variety of locations in the Alps were used. In the Swiss alps around the Monch and Jungfrau above Grigelwald and in the French and Italian Alps around Mont Blanc above Chamonix and Courmayeur.
The crew was much bigger and the shooting very adventurous using locations down crevasses and on precipitous ice cliffs. Much of the month was bad weather and several night shoots were required. The team was often based at high mountain huts and careful location finding was vital. Up to 10 guides and porters from Film & Mountain provided the security and logistics. Film & Mountain guides Cubby Cuthbertson and Rory Gregory doubled on the climbing sequences and performed several stunts.
"THE RACE FOR EVEREST" BBC 2
Dir / prod Mick Conefery
This documentary follows the early attempts and then the first ascent of Everest in 1953. The first part of the shoot took place in Nepal. Film & Mountain were involved more in the filming of recreations and interviews with Stephen Venables in the Swiss Alps above Verbier.
"DIE ANOTHER DAY" 007 BOND - ION PRODUCTIONS
Working on the second (action) unit directed by Vic Armstrong in the SW corner of Iceland. In conjunction and organised by David Rootes of Poles Apart the 100 plus crew safety was the prime concern.
The main location was Jokulsarlon, a frozen sea level lake filled with a maze of incredible icebergs. The main car chase scene between a Jaguar and Aston Martin was filmed here. When we first arrived the ice barely held the weight of the cars and the focus was to measure ice thickness and identify safe areas to film then escort and manage the crew during filming. Also providing rescue facilities and monitoring crew well-being and clothing in the bitter cold.
Brian Hall of Film & Mountain also spent a considerable time rigging on the ice bergs - camera positions, locations and fixing wires for SFX and helping on stunt rigging.
The second location was on the edge of the Vatnajokull ice cap. Glaciers can be dangerous places and the large crew had to be transported by snow cats and snow mobiles and their safety managed very carefully.
TOUCHING THE VOID
DARLOW SMITHSON PRODUCTION FOR FILM FOUR
The award winning book "Touching the Void" by Joe Simpson is finally been made into film directed by Kevin MacDonald. The first part of this epic drama documentary was filmed over a month in the Huayhuash region of the Peruvian Andes. Joe and his climbing partner, Simon Yates revisited the base camp, glaciers and Siula Grand mountain which was the scene of their accident and epic survival story in 1985. Footage was shot on 16 & 35 mm film.
The shoot was organised as a mountaineering expedition with a base camp 3 days walk from the road head and at an altitude of 4400 m. A team of 6 from production had to be equipped, trained and then guided safely up to heights of over 5000 m by 5 guides and a doctor from Film & Mountain and a team of Peruvian camp staff and porters.
The second part of the shoot used actors to recreate the tale. A variety of locations in the Alps were used. In the Swiss alps around the Monch and Jungfrau above Grigelwald and in the French and Italian Alps around Mont Blanc above Chamonix and Courmayeur.
The crew was much bigger and the shooting very adventurous using locations down crevasses and on precipitous ice cliffs. Much of the month was bad weather and several night shoots were required. The team was often based at high mountain huts and careful location finding was vital. Up to 10 guides and porters from Film & Mountain provided the security and logistics. Film & Mountain guides Cubby Cuthbertson and Rory Gregory doubled on the climbing sequences and performed several stunts.
"THE RACE FOR EVEREST" BBC 2
Dir / prod Mick Conefery
This documentary follows the early attempts and then the first ascent of Everest in 1953. The first part of the shoot took place in Nepal. Film & Mountain were involved more in the filming of recreations and interviews with Stephen Venables in the Swiss Alps above Verbier.
2001 assignments
Two years of reconnaissance in the mountains of south and east Greenland finally came to fruition with the Arctic Challenge in the summer. Coincidentally some of the same locations were used in the major drama production "Shackleton" Earlier in the year BBC Wales commissioned two half hour films following a disabled climber on Mount Kenya.
"SHACKLETON" FIRSTSIGHT FILMS FOR CHANNEL 4
Starring Kenneth Branagh this major 4 hour drama started location filming in Iceland, then using the three masted sailing ship the "Kaskalot" and based on a large ice breaker the "Polar Bird" we sailed to the east coast of Greenland. Several exciting weeks were spent filming on the very unstable (and melting!) pack ice before finishing in the mountains of east Greenland.
Working as part of Poles Apart (headed by David Rootes) the safety, logistics and rigging was very complex for the 120 + crew and 20+ group of actors. Rigging and safety on the Kaskalot then finding and assessing suitable ice to build film sets to replicate Shackleton's camps took a 12 man safety team long hours of hard work. More than once the ice started to break up during filming causing the abandoning of the set and the implication of emergency safety measures.
The final week of filming was on the glaciers and mountains above Ammassalik. Helicopter support positioned the crew and actors in several remote locations prone to bad weather. Detailed survival and emergency cover had to be planned together with the usual glacial and mountain safety. Members of Film & Mountain were used as doubles for Branagh and other actors when in the more dangerous mountain locations.
"THE LONGEST JOURNEY"
TRIPLE ECHO FOR BBC WALES
Winner of the "Best Mountain Adventure Award" at the Kendal Mountain Film Festival 2001 Paul Pritchard was badly injured in an accident in 1997 which resulted in him being partially paralysed (subject of the BBC doc "Wild Climbs - The Totem Pole" - see Recent Assignments).
Film & Mountain helped to organise the logistics and provided all the safety for Paul's attempt to climb Point Lenana (4985m) on Mount Kenya with his partner Jane Boucher. This was the first time Paul had ventured into big mountains since his accident and self doubt, altitude sickness, snow storms, blisters on his paralysed leg and vulnerability of the large hole in his head all led to an intense month in Africa.
"ARCTIC CHALLENGE" BBC SCOTLAND
After two years of searching by Film & Mountain and the production company Triple Echo, the best location was finally chosen on the mountainous island of Ammassalik in the fjord land of east Greenland. The series first followed the gruelling selection from hundreds of applicants in the Cairngorms of Scotland then the actual adventure race against international teams across mountains, glaciers and down fjords - running, mountain biking and kayaking. We provided the logistics and safety for the camera teams following the event.
"SHACKLETON" FIRSTSIGHT FILMS FOR CHANNEL 4
Starring Kenneth Branagh this major 4 hour drama started location filming in Iceland, then using the three masted sailing ship the "Kaskalot" and based on a large ice breaker the "Polar Bird" we sailed to the east coast of Greenland. Several exciting weeks were spent filming on the very unstable (and melting!) pack ice before finishing in the mountains of east Greenland.
Working as part of Poles Apart (headed by David Rootes) the safety, logistics and rigging was very complex for the 120 + crew and 20+ group of actors. Rigging and safety on the Kaskalot then finding and assessing suitable ice to build film sets to replicate Shackleton's camps took a 12 man safety team long hours of hard work. More than once the ice started to break up during filming causing the abandoning of the set and the implication of emergency safety measures.
The final week of filming was on the glaciers and mountains above Ammassalik. Helicopter support positioned the crew and actors in several remote locations prone to bad weather. Detailed survival and emergency cover had to be planned together with the usual glacial and mountain safety. Members of Film & Mountain were used as doubles for Branagh and other actors when in the more dangerous mountain locations.
"THE LONGEST JOURNEY"
TRIPLE ECHO FOR BBC WALES
Winner of the "Best Mountain Adventure Award" at the Kendal Mountain Film Festival 2001 Paul Pritchard was badly injured in an accident in 1997 which resulted in him being partially paralysed (subject of the BBC doc "Wild Climbs - The Totem Pole" - see Recent Assignments).
Film & Mountain helped to organise the logistics and provided all the safety for Paul's attempt to climb Point Lenana (4985m) on Mount Kenya with his partner Jane Boucher. This was the first time Paul had ventured into big mountains since his accident and self doubt, altitude sickness, snow storms, blisters on his paralysed leg and vulnerability of the large hole in his head all led to an intense month in Africa.
"ARCTIC CHALLENGE" BBC SCOTLAND
After two years of searching by Film & Mountain and the production company Triple Echo, the best location was finally chosen on the mountainous island of Ammassalik in the fjord land of east Greenland. The series first followed the gruelling selection from hundreds of applicants in the Cairngorms of Scotland then the actual adventure race against international teams across mountains, glaciers and down fjords - running, mountain biking and kayaking. We provided the logistics and safety for the camera teams following the event.
2000 assignments
A busy year with a challenging a IMAX film in Antarctic & BBC documentaries in Pakistan & the European Alps
IMAX & TV DOC "SHACKLETON" FOR WGBH (USA)
The incredible survival story of Shackleton's legendary Antarctic Expedition, across the Weddell sea ice to Elephant Island then across the ocean to South Georgia. The filming was a two year project with Poles Apart organising the logistics and safety. Film & Mountain were particularly involved in filming the crossing glaciers and mountains of the remote and beautiful island of South Georgia in the second year.
Particular challenges were posed by the weight and bulk of the IMAX camera especially rigging for one scene inside a crevasse on a remote glacier accessed by a long Zodiac trip through a maze of sea ice, brash and impressive icebergs.
"MOUNTAIN MEN" BBC2 DOCUMENTARIES
Dir/ prod Mick Conefrey
The three programs have won many awards for best mountain films at Banff, Trento and Kendal Film Festivals.
Three, one hour documentaries on the first ascents of K2 (Pakistan), Matterhorn (Switzerland) and Denali (Alaska). Film & Mountain helped organise logistics, mountain safety, rigging and acting and stages dramatic reconstructions for all three programs.
A month long expedition to K2 (2nd highest mountain in the world) in the Karakorum mountains of Pakistan was both eventful and rewarding. Impressive views of K2, Gasherbrums, Trango and Broad Peak were hard won with nightmare bureaucracy, dodgy curries, poor hygiene, long high altitude days on the Baltoro glacier, jeep trips with engine fires and flash flood mudslides.
The first ascent of the Matterhorn by Edward Whymper was one of the defining moments of mountaineering. Stephen Venables played Whymper and Cubby Cuthbertson his modern day partner as we filmed an ascent of the Hornli Ridge. It is a popular climb so on the 12 hour ascent day we had to get up at 3 am so as to get the helicopter shots of the summit before other climbers arrived and well before afternoon thunderstorms. We spent a week in Zermatt recreating the story - falls in period dress, freezing cold for 2 hours on the knife edge summit, repeating sections of the climb and interviews.
There is little or no film of these ascents so Mick planned a series of dramatic reconstructions, so successful that several leading historians were fooled into commenting "where did you get all that old footage?" Most of these were filmed around the Mont Blanc region of the alps with Film & Mountain involved in every aspect of the shoot from location finding, safety and acting.
IMAX & TV DOC "SHACKLETON" FOR WGBH (USA)
The incredible survival story of Shackleton's legendary Antarctic Expedition, across the Weddell sea ice to Elephant Island then across the ocean to South Georgia. The filming was a two year project with Poles Apart organising the logistics and safety. Film & Mountain were particularly involved in filming the crossing glaciers and mountains of the remote and beautiful island of South Georgia in the second year.
Particular challenges were posed by the weight and bulk of the IMAX camera especially rigging for one scene inside a crevasse on a remote glacier accessed by a long Zodiac trip through a maze of sea ice, brash and impressive icebergs.
"MOUNTAIN MEN" BBC2 DOCUMENTARIES
Dir/ prod Mick Conefrey
The three programs have won many awards for best mountain films at Banff, Trento and Kendal Film Festivals.
Three, one hour documentaries on the first ascents of K2 (Pakistan), Matterhorn (Switzerland) and Denali (Alaska). Film & Mountain helped organise logistics, mountain safety, rigging and acting and stages dramatic reconstructions for all three programs.
A month long expedition to K2 (2nd highest mountain in the world) in the Karakorum mountains of Pakistan was both eventful and rewarding. Impressive views of K2, Gasherbrums, Trango and Broad Peak were hard won with nightmare bureaucracy, dodgy curries, poor hygiene, long high altitude days on the Baltoro glacier, jeep trips with engine fires and flash flood mudslides.
The first ascent of the Matterhorn by Edward Whymper was one of the defining moments of mountaineering. Stephen Venables played Whymper and Cubby Cuthbertson his modern day partner as we filmed an ascent of the Hornli Ridge. It is a popular climb so on the 12 hour ascent day we had to get up at 3 am so as to get the helicopter shots of the summit before other climbers arrived and well before afternoon thunderstorms. We spent a week in Zermatt recreating the story - falls in period dress, freezing cold for 2 hours on the knife edge summit, repeating sections of the climb and interviews.
There is little or no film of these ascents so Mick planned a series of dramatic reconstructions, so successful that several leading historians were fooled into commenting "where did you get all that old footage?" Most of these were filmed around the Mont Blanc region of the alps with Film & Mountain involved in every aspect of the shoot from location finding, safety and acting.
1999 assignments
"Coronation Street" - Granada. The street goes river crossing in the Peak District
"IMAX Rheged film" - Westmorland Films Cliff climbing sequence
"Wild Climbs" BBC2 -
Award winning 6 part series
Colorado Ice climbing
The Totem Pole Tasmania with Paul Pritchard
Saxony Sandstone towers, Czech Republic
Ski Touring, St Elias, Yukon, Canada
California granite, Yosemite, USA
Lofoten Island, Norway
"Jungle Run"
- Yorkshire TV Indoor children's fantasy game series"
Grimleys
Granada Antics with Noddy Holder in precipitous park, Manchester
Don't Try this at Home
LWT Climb impressive sea stack Old Man of Stoer, Scotland
Rope tricks, climbs and action in Vivian Quarry, N. Wales
London Dockland crane climb
London lift shaft abseil
Twister
Scottish TV Indoor children's game with climbing in Glasgow
"IMAX Rheged film" - Westmorland Films Cliff climbing sequence
"Wild Climbs" BBC2 -
Award winning 6 part series
Colorado Ice climbing
The Totem Pole Tasmania with Paul Pritchard
Saxony Sandstone towers, Czech Republic
Ski Touring, St Elias, Yukon, Canada
California granite, Yosemite, USA
Lofoten Island, Norway
"Jungle Run"
- Yorkshire TV Indoor children's fantasy game series"
Grimleys
Granada Antics with Noddy Holder in precipitous park, Manchester
Don't Try this at Home
LWT Climb impressive sea stack Old Man of Stoer, Scotland
Rope tricks, climbs and action in Vivian Quarry, N. Wales
London Dockland crane climb
London lift shaft abseil
Twister
Scottish TV Indoor children's game with climbing in Glasgow
1998 assignments
The Abyss
Ch4/Cicada Films Month long expedition to descend Lowes Gully, Borneo
Don't Try This At Home
LWT Emotional girl's ascent of Kilimanjaro
Impressive climb up Emosson dam wall, France
Base jump with bicycle from Beachy Head
Wilderness Walks 2
Triple Echo for BBC2 Second series of 6
Red Cuillin, Skye, Scotland
Ordesa Gorge, Pyrenees, Spain
Cranstackie, Sutherland, Scotland
Atlas Mountains, Morocco
Sheeffry Hills, Co Mayo, Ireland
Three Sisters, Oregon, USA
Gladiators
LWT Long running battle game show. Film & Mountain worked on every series!
Ch4/Cicada Films Month long expedition to descend Lowes Gully, Borneo
Don't Try This At Home
LWT Emotional girl's ascent of Kilimanjaro
Impressive climb up Emosson dam wall, France
Base jump with bicycle from Beachy Head
Wilderness Walks 2
Triple Echo for BBC2 Second series of 6
Red Cuillin, Skye, Scotland
Ordesa Gorge, Pyrenees, Spain
Cranstackie, Sutherland, Scotland
Atlas Mountains, Morocco
Sheeffry Hills, Co Mayo, Ireland
Three Sisters, Oregon, USA
Gladiators
LWT Long running battle game show. Film & Mountain worked on every series!