This week on BEHIND THE LENS it’s all about the great outdoors and survival as we take a look at two wonderful films with two fantastic filmmakers as director GEORGE NOLFI discusses ELEVATION and ANDREW KIGHTLINGER talks about LOST ON A MOUNTAIN IN MAINE.
First up, is my exclusive interview with director George Nolfi talking about his thrilling action film – ELEVATION. Set in the post-apocalyptic Rocky Mountains, a single father and two women venture from the safety of their homes to face monstrous creatures to save the life of a young boy. Written by John Glenn, Jacob Roman, and Kenny Ryan, ELEVATION stars Anthony Mackie, Morena Baccarin, Maddie Hasson, and Danny Boyd Jr. Shot entirely on location at elevations above 8200 feet and as high as 11500 feet above sea level, this is a nail-biter. Take a listen as George and I discuss the film’s structure, visuals, thematic elements, and the importance of shooting in real locations to create an authentic, naturalistic world. And how about the logistic challenges shooting at those altitudes with some mighty thin air. Diving in further, George talks about the minimal visual “creature element” and the importance of the sound design in enhancing suspense, not to mention the all-important editing aspect of the film.
ELEVATION is exclusively in theatres.
Another thrilling adventure comes to us courtesy of Andrew Kightlinger and his latest film, LOST ON A MOUNTAIN IN MAINE. Written by Luke Paradise and based on the book by the same name, the film tells the inspiring story of 12-year-old Donn Fendler, who, while climbing to the top of a famed local mountain, separated from his family by a fast-moving storm, and then had to fight to stay alive during his nine-day adventure lost in the backwoods of Maine. A true story based on the events of 1939, this marked the largest manhunt in the history of Maine up to this point. The local community and state mobilized, with media jumping in as well, to find young Donn. When he finally made it down from the mountain top he was 80 miles from where the family trek had started.
On every level, LOST ON A MOUNTAIN IN MAINE soars thanks to gorgeous visual storytelling, score, and Luke David Blum’s award-worthy performance as Donn Fendler. In this exclusive interview, Andrew talks about the casting process to find Donn, the themes of the film, the location and production process combining upstate New York locations with actual portions of the 1939 Maine hikes, using practical effects and sound design to enhance the immersive experience, and let’s not forget the film’s score, by Garth Stevenson, incorporates natural elements, and its archival footage adds historical authenticity. It’s a powerful and inspirational movie that should not be missed.
LOST ON A MOUNTAIN IN MAINE is in select theatres now.
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