ASSIGNMENTS 2003

This year has continued to be a challenging one with further shooting for the 'Touching The Void' project plus an exciting shoot in Mexico for the BBC's 'Extreme Lives' series. 

"TOUCHING THE VOID"      CHANNEL 4 FILMS - CONTINUED...

Director Kevin Macdonald

Producer John Smithson

The shooting finished in the late winter with more spectacular footage of ice climbing shot in the Mont Blanc region of the Alps. (see 2002 assignment for further details) Alpine temperatures dropped to -20C with strong winds and plenty of spindrift. 

Film & Mountain were involved throughout the filming and were key in staging the climbing and mountain sequences for this film and the realism of the storm conditions and the climbing are one of the reasons why the film has received so much acclaim. Released on December 12 th , the film has now won many awards including

  • BAFTA for Outstanding British Film - 2004
  • The Evening Standard Best film of the year - 2004
  • "Best Feature Film" Banff Mountain film festival - 2003
  • Prix Special du Jury Festival International du film d'Autrans Montagne & Aventure. - 2003
  • "The Grand Prize" Kendal Mountain Film Festival - 2003
  • "Peoples Choice" Kendal Mountain Film Festival - 2003

It has also overtaken "Bowling for Columbine" and is now the most successful documentary in British cinema history.




A After the main shooting of Touching the Void which took place in Peru , Switzerland , France and Italy we returned to film more spectacular ice climbing in the French Alps in the middle of winter.

B Joe Simpson was filmed in Peru and was also intimately involved in the making of the film. The Film & Mountain team are all expert climbers and knew Joe well before the filming.


"MY RIGHT FOOT" EXTREME LIVES, BBC1.

Produced & directed by Ed Stobart, Ginger Productions

After a career threatening accident on Cerro Torre in Patagonia, Brian Hall and Paul Moores accompanied Leo Holding & Tim O'Neil to Potrero Chico in Mexico. Rigging & safety was challenging on huge limestone cliffs. This enabled cameraman Keith Partridge &director Ed Stobart to take spectacular & intimate footage on Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path), the climb Leo tried as his come-back.

A The climb and cliffs of Potrero Chico can be clearly seen from the centre of Hidalgo

B Leo Houlding and Tim O'Neil preparing for their big climb outside the cement works in Hidalgo , Mexico

C Leo and Tim spent two days climbing the 500m long Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path) which ascends the most impressive cliff in the area.

D To get the best shooting angles for the film the difficult climbing rigging platforms were positioned on the vertical limestone walls.

          

 

" BATTLE OF THE BORGS"    FOR ITV CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMES

Prism Entertainment

Producer - Sam Rogerson

Director - Patrick Titley

Indoor challenge game on a set in an old aircraft hanger. Teams of children control individual athletes and acrobats, gymnasts etc to complete tasks. Film & Mountain was involved in rigging, design and safety on a number of these games including a climbing wall game and one involving bungee jumping.