ASSIGNMENTS 2001

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.
 

A Although the ice was measured carefully, changes in wind or current compacted or pulled the ice apart. On one occasion a whole camp, which had taken many days to build, had to be abandoned before shooting even started! All Shackleton personnel including actors had to wear full immersion suits whenever on the ice!

 

"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.

B The shoot was based on the ice breaker “Polar Bird”. This was sailed into the ice pack and secured with huge ice stakes. Film sets were then built on the ice. On more than one occasion the ice started to break up and emergency procedures started to evacuate the crew back to the ship.

C Much of the action on “Shackleton” took place on or around the 3 masted brig “Kaskalot” which sailed from Iceland right to the edge of the pack ice of E Greenland.



"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.

D Unusually for the equator snow fell on day 4 of Paul Pritchard's successful attempt to climb Mt Kenya. Paul was severely paralysed in a climbing accident in Tasmania. A lightweight crew followed his emotional ascent.

"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.