Over the years, as a director I have been privileged to film all over the world in some of the most incredible locations. However, having exclusive access to the top of Mont Blanc certainly ranks amongst one of my most memorable experiences.
Summit Fever is the latest film by Julian Gilbey; a climbing movie like no other. Rather than shooting the film against green screens in the comfort of a London studio, Julian’s vision was to have the actors and crew actually experience the hostile beauty of some of the world’s most challenging mountains in order to create a film that was steeped in authenticity. As a filmmaking exercise, this was no mean feat. Shooting at 3500 metres in thin air with temperatures that exceeded -10 pushed both the onscreen talent and crew to the limit. However with some of the greatest climbers and off-piste skiers on board the project, we were never in harms way.
This film was not my first rodeo as a 2nd unit director but from a filmmaking perspective it was completely unique. Firstly, due to Covid-19 restrictions in France, we were the only people able to travel up Mont Blanc, this gave us a once-in-a-lifetime view of the mountain; an unblemished landscape, untouched by the thousands of visitors that would usually take to the slopes. Secondly, the ambitious vision of the film was to reinforce authenticity. Julian, a keen and accomplished climber was insistent that every aspect of the climbing was carefully choreographed to ensure that it felt completely real. With the support of climbing legends, Will Sim, John McCunn and Paul Swail, every detail was meticulously scrutinised, every stunt fall shot in camera. This was a climbing movie that was to appeal to both the mass audience and the mountaineering community. When we see actors at the summit of Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn or the Eiger, they are really there - the angles captured by the magnificent main unit DOP, Adam Hall and 2nd Unit DOP Bruce Jackson, as they hung off rock faces to frame the perfect shot.
This was a movie that could only be made by everyone pulling together as one, and that is exactly what happened. The crew, from top to bottom committed to push the boundaries, enabling the wonderful cast including - Ryan Phillippe, Freddie Thorp, Hannah New, Michel Biel and Mathilde Warnier - to deliver the emotional punch that the film’s setting and story deserved.
Summit Fever is certainly a film that I will never forget being a part of.
Photographs by Bruce Jackson.
