Assignments 2007

 

Joe Simpson with the impressive north face of the Eiger

BECKONING SILENCE

TV 90 minute feature film – following on from the success of “Touching the Void” Darlow Smithson Productions and C4 joined forces and produced a film based on Joe Simpson's book “Beckoning Silence”. The film is substantially about the dramatic North Face of the Eiger and the action follows a particular harrowing accident in 1936 involving the tragic death of Kurz, Hinterstoisser, Angerer and Rainer

Starring Joe Simpson plus Swiss guides: Roger Schali, Andreas Abegglen, Simon Anthamatten, Cyrille Berthod
Made by Darlow Smithson Production, London
Shot in HDV

Filmed around and on the Eiger above Grindelwald , Switzerland during March and April 2007

Director / Producer - Louise Osmond
Exec Producer - John Smithson
DOP - Jeremy Hewson
Climbing Camera – Keith Partridge
1st - Olly Robinson
Line Producer - Emma Parsons
Location – Ady Ryf
Production Designer - Erica Okvist
Sound – Olly Astles-Jones

 

Film & Mountain provided:
Glacier & Climbing safety logistics
N face of Eiger logistics and helicopter operations
Period climbing action & rigging including fall sequences
Cast & Crew safety on glaciers and around cliffs
Action / Script advice
Crew training
Risk Assessment
Location finding
Climbing stunt coordination
Clothing and props advice and sourcing
Location still photography
Hire of Equipment
Organizing personnel -

Swiss guides – Roger Schali, Andreas Abegglen, Simon Anthamatten, Cyrille Berthod & Hansreuedi Gertsch

UK guides – Brian Hall, Paul Moores, Dave Cuthbertson & Rory Gregory

A Keith Partridge filming in extreme conditions near the Eiger

B Joe Simpson climbing difficult vertical ice for the film Beckoning Silence

 

 

JACK OSBOURNE – ADRENALINE JUNKIE

Jack mentors a 5-person team whilst Leo Houlding tries to teach them Slacklining in spectacular locations. Based in the adrenaline capital of the world, Queenstown , New Zealand .

Starring Jack Osbourne and Leo Houlding

Made by Ginger Productions, London for C4

Filmed around Queenstown , New Zealand in March 2007

Exec Prod – Ed Stobart
Series Prod – Craig Pickles
Prod / Dir – Jon Turner
Producer - Amber Ronowicz
Dop – Daniel Bishop
Sound Dan Clarke
NZ guides / mountain logistics: Dave McLeod & Geoff Hunt
UK guide: Brian Hall

Film and Mountain provided:
Rigging expertise for slacklining
Location safety
Crew and team training
Risk Assessments
Liaison with NZ guides
Advise on clothing and equipment.
Location still photography


 

A Jack Osbourne slack lining with a safety line 100 ft above the ground

B Leo Houlding slacklining with Queenstown below

 

 

 

ULTIMATE ROCK CLIMB

A Filming from the sea cliffs opposite the Old Man of Stoer

B Climbing Crackstone Rib - Llanberis Pass - Wales

C Climbers Tim Emmett & Julia Bradbury on Stoer

Elite and extrovert climber Tim Emmett takes novice and “Watchdog” presenter Julia Bradbury on a journey to climb three iconic rock climbs in England, Wales and Scotland between mid April and mid May. Filmed for a BBC 1 hour special. Julia starts a complete beginner on “Commando Ridge” on the north coast of Cornwall then gains experience on “Crackstone Rib” in Llanberis Pass , Snowdonia before the ultimate challenge, reaching the summit of the impressive sea stack, “The Old Man of Stoer” off the NW coast of Scotland .

Starring Julia Bradbury and Tim Emmett
Made by Darlow Smithson Productions for BBC 1
On location in Cornwall , Llanberis Pass and NW Highlands

Exec Prod – Sarah Swingler
Prod / Dir – Paul Copeland (Amelia Hann in Cornwall )
AP - Gemma Chapman
Dop – Mike Carling
Climbing Camera – Ben Pritchard
Sound – Geoff Price
UK guide: Brian Hall, Paul Moores, Rory Gregory and Dave Cuthbertson

Film and Mountain provided:
Rigging and logistics on the cliffs
Action and program advice
Location safety for crew and cast
Crew and team training
Risk Assessments
Advise on clothing and equipment.
Equipment Hire

 

SITUATION CRITICAL – MT HOOD

A National Geographic doc on an accident that occurred on Mt Hood in 2002. Three separate parties were attempting to climb the peak. The first team reached the summit but then whilst descending slipped. They slid out of control on the steep snow and hit the second and third parties. Bodies and ropes entangled and most fell into a crevasse at the bottom of the slope. 3 were killed the rest survived but during the rescue one of the emergency helicopters crashed.

Made by Darlow Smithson for National Geographic

On location on the dormant volcano Mt Hood (3429 m), Oregon , USA in May 07

Shot on Sony HDW 750p

Director / Producer – Russell Eatough
DOP Michael Timney
AP Kathryn Johnson
Prod Coord Kate Bullions
UK guide & mountain expert Brian Hall
Various members of the Portland Mountain Rescue Team and Fire service

Film and Mountain provided:
Glacier & Climbing safety logistics
Rigging including fall and crevasse sequences
Cast & Crew safety on glaciers and around cliffs
Action advice
Risk Assessment
Location finding
Climbing & stunt coordination
Clothing and props advice and sourcing
Liaison with US mountain personnel

A Climbers collide during a Nat Geo film on Mt Hood

B Filming in a deep crevasse on the side of Mt Hood - Oregon - USA


Working at the height on the "train crash set".

THE ROYAL

Popular Sunday night ITV 1960's para-medic drama centered round a hospital called the Royal. This dramatic episode follows the aftermath of a train crash.

Shot near Pudsey, Yorkshire in early July by ITV Yorkshire.
Producer Ken Horn
Director Ian Barber
1st AD Ken Cumberland
DOP Geoff Healey
Stunt Coordinator Jim Ryan

F & M provided safety and rigging crew - Brian Hall, Dave Cuthbertson and Rory Gregory.
Safeguarding crew and cast on the upturned sloping carriages sometimes up to 12 m above ground and in the confines inside the carriages. Staging rescues from the top of the carriage. Risk Assessments. Equipment.
Assisting & rigging for Stunt Coordinator.

 

THE GREAT CLIMB

A hugely ambitious project to make the first live HD outdoor broadcast of 4 climbs in the centre of the remote Cairngorms of Scotland.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/greatclimb/
index.shtml

Seven Km of HD optical cable had to be rigged on Shelter Stone and Hell's Lum cliffs to film 4 climbs, "Citatdel", "The Steeple", "Stone Bastion" and a new hard climb (graded E10).

Over a dozen cameras, 8 climbers, a full BBC OB unit and a team of 12 of safety / riggers Plus a full production team with presenters and commentators, base camp managers and environmental officers.

After months of planning and over a week
of prep, torrential rain and poor
visibility over the weekend of the OB
(18th / 19th August) resulted in the
OB being called off. A huge disappointment to all concerned!

Mid August in the Loch A'an Basin of the Cairngorms, Scotland .

A Triple Echo Production for BBC2 Scotland - to be broadcast on BBC 2 Scotland, BBc2 network and the web.

Exec Producer BBC David Harron

Producers Richard Else & Meg Else

Production Manager Laura Hill

Head of Safety and Logistics Mark Diggins

OB Director Nick Loader

A Helicopters slinging loads into the Base camp below Shelter Stone Crag

B Cameraman Dave Brown recces the Hell"s Lum climb

C The remote and beautiful Loch A'an basin in the Cairngorms.

 

WILDERNESS: ST KILDA

A five part series of the life, history, fauna, flora and environment of the world heritage archipelago of St Kida - one of the UK 's remotest locations 40 miles west of the Outer Hebrides .

Filming presenter Steve Backshall climb an exciting 3 pitch new climb on the sea cliffs, reenact the way the St Kildans used to lower themselves down the cliffs to collect sea birds and explore the remote and spectacular island of Boreray.

Filmed in mid July by IWC Media, Glasgow for the BBC.

Presenters Kate Humble, Dan Snow & Steve Backshall

Producer John Lonsdale

Directors Craig Hunter & Ishbel Hall

Prod Manager Caroline Simpson

Camera Mike Carling & Mike Robinson

For F & M - Brian Hall & Dave Cuthbertson

Remote location and climbing safety and logistics

Climbing expertise and advice

Risk assessment

Hire of climbing and rigging equipment

A Early morning view of Boreray, Stac Lee and Stac Armin - part of the St Kildaarchipelago

B Steve Backshall climbs a new route on the Ruaval cliffs, Hirta, St Kilda filmed by Mike Carling.

C Steve Backshall films the world's largest colony of gannets on top of the huge cliffs of Boreray