Axis Films Reaches New Heights

Supplying hardware for filming in the air above Mount Everest might be the ultimate test of any production and broadcast company''s resources. That is exactly the challenge for the Hire department of United Kingdom-based Axis Films, after the firm was asked to provide equipment for the making of a new documentary to be broadcast on Britain's Channel 4 later this year.

Simon Reay, a lighting cameraman who specialises in filming in extreme locations and who is working as DOP on the project for programme-maker Diverse Productions in Bristol, takes up the story. “Having spent the last year working with Bear Grylls on Channel 4's Born Survivor series, I was invited to film Bear's latest expedition to set the world altitude record in a paramotor that was entirely designed and built by Gilo Cardozo," Reay says. "Bear and Gilo have decided that a flight over the Himalayas, and notably Mount Everest, would provide the benchmark for this record, with the flight going up to 30,000ft.

“The ultimate challenge for me—and for the equipment from Axis Hire—is to film their world record flights from a helicopter at 24,000 feet.”

All camera equipment for the project has been supplied by Axis Hire, with whom Reay worked on Born Survivor. “I had no doubt that they would meet the challenge,” Reay says. “The camera package is two HDCAM 750s, Z1 HDV and A1 HDV, plus two Sanyo Xacta HD720P solid-state mini cams fitted to the helmet of each pilot. Axis Hire also provided a lens package consisting of HJ22, HJ11, and HJ40, along with custom-built adaptors to fit Century fisheye lenses to the two headcams. The set up of the cameras used in the project was aided by specialist camera operator, Andy Milk.”

The headcam design is critical to the success of the project. “Axis Hire helped to design and build a releasable headcam unit recording on solid state SD cards that are key to shots during Bear and Gilo's flight at extreme altitude," Reay says. "It will enable them to ‘snap'' the camera on and off their helmets during the flight to give not only POV angle but also handheld variations, including shots of themselves. The helicopter from which I''m filming their flight can only go to 24,000ft., so the headcams are the only way of recording the rest of their ascent to 30,000ft.”

The production team has now left for its base camp in the foothills of the Himalayas, but not before a rigorous testing programme was undergone by personnel and equipment alike.

The world-record attempt is currently taking place and has a three-week weather window being built into the filming schedule. “We did a month of filming Bear and Gilo''s preparations for their expedition in the UK,” says Rob McIver of Diverse Productions. “This included filming in RAF Henlow''s decompression chamber simulating an altitude of 25,000ft., and MIRA''s wind and temperature chamber which enables you to experience temperatures down to minus 65 Celsius.”

Reflecting on the nature of this unusual but rewarding project, Axis Films MD Paul Carter says: “Our Hire department excels at supplying demanding productions such as this one. Not only do we carry a wide variety of accessories to meet any eventuality, but we are also able to customise equipment for use in just about any application.”

The final word must go to Simon Reay: “Whatever the challenge of my next job, I can always rely on the expertise and attention to detail of the team at Axis Films.”
For further information about GKN Mission Everest, please visit www.gknmissioneverest.com