ASSIGNMENTS 2004

Skiing logistics and safety in Austria for Bridget Jones, ice climbing for AvP in Chamonix then glacier safety and rigging for the Dragons fantasy filled the first half of the year. Producing and directing a film on disabled climber Jamie Andrew took up much of the autumn.

BRIDGET JONES   "ON THE EDGE"

TE Films (Working Title Films)
Feature Film - 35 mm
Producers - Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner & Jonathan Cavendish
Director - Beeban Kidron
D.O.P. - Adrian Biddle

Ski Unit Management
Working on Ski Unit Management and Safety for both 1 st and 2 nd Unit in Lech , Austria in January 2004.
A three man team from Film & Mountain included Brian Hall, John Whittle and John Falkiner.
Safety, logistics and training for the first unit filming Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth, Jacinda Barrett, David Verry and Mark Tangy
Safety and logistics whilst second unit filming with Didier Lafond (2nd Unit Director) and Jean Pierre Bassin (Ski Cameraman).
Assisting location finding and planning in the Autumn of 2003
Safety, clothing and equipment advice for crew and cast.
Choosing and training ski doubles.
Choreography and practising of ski sequences together with stunt co-ordinator Julian Spencer.
Working with Heath & Safety to complete risk assessments.

A The ski unit on Bridget Jones was based in the exclusive resort of Lech in the Arlberg region of Austria

B The area provided a great backdrop for both first and second unit ski action with stars such as Renee Zellweger and Colin Firth

 

 



A v P (Alien vs. Predator)

Lonlink Productions Ltd
Feature Film 35mm
Producers - John Davis Chris Symes
Co- Producer - Chris Symes
Director - Paul Anderson
DOP - David Johnson
Actors - Sanna Lathan & Colin Salmon

Mountain / Ice Climbing Unit

Filming a spectacular Ice climbing sequence in the Mont Blanc Range - on the flanks of the Argentiere Glacier near Chamonix , France and Point Hellbronner, near Courmayeur , Italy . February 2004.
A 10 person team included Paul Moores, Brian Hall, John Whittle, Dave Cuthbertson, Rory Gregory, Ollie Allen and assisted by Harry Taylor, Dr Jon Morgan, John Falkiner and Chrissie Barnes
First Unit filming - safety, rigging and logistics at 3400 m on alpine glacial terrain in temperatures on occasions below minus 20 C with winds of over 50 km/hr.
Location finding.
Mountain film planning including construction of an artificial ice wall.
Training ice climbing double Debbie Birch.
All logistics, rigging and safety whilst second unit filming spectacular ice climbing with second unit cameraman and director Keith Partridge.
Helicopter logistics.
Mountain medical backup

A The mountain filming of Alien Vs Predator was shot in the Mont Blanc Range of the Alps

B Keith Partridge, the Second Unit DOP filming whilst hanging from ropes on a spectacular ice climb.

C The A v P mountain unit preparing to film on the edge of the Argentiere Glacier , France in February.

D Cameraman Keith Partridge hanging out in space on a special rigging platform to get the most amazing shots.

E Actors and doubles have to be trained to portray difficult climbing action. Debbie Birch doubled for the lead actress in A vs P and she was trained by Brian Hall to improve her ice climbing skills required in the film. This took place on the worlds biggest artificial ice wall at Champagny la Vanoise , France .

 

DRAGONS

TV Documentary Drama 35 mm
For Channel 4 - Animal Planets / Discovery USA
Production Company - Darlow Smithson
Producer - Ceri Barnes
Director - Justin Hardy
DOP - John Howarth

A 3 man crew from Film & Mountain of Brian Hall, Dave Cuthbertson and Harry Taylor with support from Ollie Ryall over a 2 week period in the Mt Blanc area of the Alps.
Location finding in the European Alps
Location logistics and safety on glaciers and snow covered ground.
Rigging and camera, and crew safety
Transport of equipment on glaciers.
Health & Safety assessments and adherence
Climbing and action stunts
Acting on snow and ice
Supply of specialist equipment and advice on clothing.
Training of crew for work on snow and ice.


A Filming "Dragons" inside the ice caverns on the Mer du Glace, Mt Blanc

B Filming Dragons on the Mer du Glace, Mt Blanc

 

 

ONE ACCOUNT

Advert 35 mm and DV
For Royal Bank of Scotland – One Account
Agency / Production Company - Clemmon Hornby Inge / Rogue Films
Location – Chamonix , French Alps.
Director Kevin Macdonald
D.O.P. Mike Eley
September

Mountain Filming
Replicate Himalayan High altitude mountaineering for advert.
Location finding, mountain safety and helicopter access. Safety clothing and equipment.
Acting as one of the mountaineers.

A To film climbing at 8000m requires a large budget and a lot of time so we replicated climbing at a lower altitude in the Alps. We used our experience to find locations and provided altitude clothing and equipment

B To gain dramatic locations we used a helicopter to gain access to remote glacier locations. Here Director Kevin MacDonald and D.O.P. Mike Eley film on the Tour Glacier, France.

 

BALANCE OF RISK

Short film shot on DV
Producer – Brian Hall, Keith Partridge & Jamie Andrew
Director – Brian Hall
D.O.P. Keith Partridge
Location - Ardnamurchan, Scotish Highlands, June

Produce and direct climbing film
A 10 minute short on quadruple amputee Jamie Andrew rock climbing. Finalist at Banff and other mountain film festivals. Production, location hunting, camera work, safety and film directing.

A Filming the disabled is an extra challenge for logistics and safety. Jamie Andrew lost his hands and feet to frostbite. We filmed him rock climbing on the cliffs of Ardnamurchin in the Scottish Highlands.


MY PARENTS ARE ALIENS

YTV Light entertainment / Children’s comedy series
Studio Leeds, UK
Abseil stunt in studio with Stunt coordinator Stuart St Paul



EMMERDALE

YTV light entertainment / popular soap
Nr Leeds, Yorkshire.
July - Safety and Rigging on roof top action.
September - Safety on quarry edge action.

 

WORLD INDOOR CLIMBING COMPETITION

Documentary for BBC Scotland - digi beta
Production Company – Triple Echo
Producer / Director – Richard Else
Location – Ratho Climbing Centre, nr Edinburgh, Scotland
September

Safety & rigging filming indoor climbing. Risk assessments.

A Indoor rock climbing is increasingly popular for both boys and girls. We filmed the World Youth Championships in the largest indoor wall in the world, Ratho, near Edinburgh, Scotland. Ropes are rigged for cameraman Keith Partridge to hang and film the action.