ASSIGNMENTS 2002

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.
A Wire cables were rigged between huge icebergs so that SFX could string explosives to be set off during the Bond car chases.

 

"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.

 

B Numerous measurements of ice thickness had to be made before dawn to ensure "Die another Day" crew safety.

C Six specially converted 4-wheel drive Jaguars and Aston Martins were used on the Bond ice car chase in Iceland. They were very heavy and careful measurement of the ice had to be made to identify areas where we could film to ensure safety.





"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.

D Actor Brendan Mackay hanging over an ice cliff during a night shoot on "Touching the Void". Particular care had to be taken with the authenticity of the gear and action in these close up shots.

E considerable time was spent in the depths of impressive crevasses during the filming of "Void". Some were over 60 m deep and the rigging and safety within this environment was a very challenging.

F Director Kevin MacDonald and D.O.P. Mike Eley filming at 5000 m in the remote Huayhuash region of the Andes in Peru. The mountain opposite is where Joe Simpson and Simon Yates had their epic accident which forms the hear of "Touching the Void".



"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.

G 2003 is the 50th anniversary of the first ascent of Everest. We have been involved in a number of documentaries on Everest. During "The race for Everest" the crew not only visited Base Camp but reconstructed action in the alps.