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Fighting the Odds with Film

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Posted on June 12, 2001

The Film

By Carl Levine

American Public Television (APTV), in association with San Francisco public television station KQED, aired one of the most compelling and inspirational stories of female courage, hope and survival in the face of breast cancer entitled, Climb Against The Odds, a story documenting the 1998 expedition of 12 women, 5 of whom are breast cancer survivors, attempting to climb Alaska's Mount McKinley. At 20,320 feet it is the highest peak in North America. This international award -winning feature is a call to arms to join the struggle and to help conquer a disease that is the number one killer of women between the ages of 25 and 55.

Climb Against the Odds is a project of the California-based Breast Cancer Fund, a progressive national non-profit organization founded in 1992 to innovate and accelerate the response to the breast cancer crisis. The Breast Cancer Fund raises money from individuals, businesses and foundations to fund significant and high visibility activities such as the momentous McKinley climb.

Each woman participating in Climb Against The Odds has, in one way or another, been faced with the tragedy of breast cancer. Five of the woman who prepared for the climb were breast cancer survivors, only one with any climbing experience. Seven young, healthy women, five from Princeton University, made the journey alongside them to create an intergenerational awareness of this life threatening disease; climbing with the hopes of changing the odds they all face every day.

The documentary follows the story of Marcy Ely Wilson who had survived breast cancer once and trained for McKinley for 2 1/2 years. Marcy's breast cancer returned for the second time in the form of a brain tumor that at the last moment kept her from climbing. She accompanied the team to the mountain and while they battled the elements, Marcy fought breast cancer one last time.

The team dedicated the climb to Marcy and carried 1200 prayer flags with them on the journey representing the millions of women who have fought breast cancer worldwide.

Climb Against the Odds serves as a metaphor, not only for women, but also for any human being faced with a difficult challenge in life. These courageous women battled their fears and proved that strength, will and determination love and support prevail above all. Despite the physical trauma of chemotherapy and surgery, these women are very much alive, whole human beings capable of any feat. This documentary reveals the endurance and resilience of the human spirit. As Marcy Ely Wilson so eloquently stated,"McKinley is a walk in the park...Cancer is the BIG mountain."

A Climb Against The Odds companion soundtrack CD has been released on PBS Records (Warner Bros. Special Projects) along with the television broadcast. k.d. lang, Paula Cole, Celine Dion and Beth Nielson Chapman are some artists who have lent their words and voices to this magnificent documentary. An original theme song for the film was written and recorded by Karen Pernick and the original score was written by Emmy-winning composer Laura Karpman. The documentary is also narrated by Oscar, Emmy and Tony winning actress Olympia Dukakis.

Produced by Michelson-Carlson Productions in association with KQED Inc. and The Breast Cancer Fund, with international distribution by GRB Entertainment and home video distribution through New Video Group, Climb Against the Odds will touch the hearts of millions.

The Production

Producing the documentary, The Climb Against the Odds, had its own unique set of challenges. Alaska's 19,320 ft. Mt. McKinley is one of the most difficult mountains in the world to climb due its constantly changing conditions and sub-zero temperatures.

In addition to the documentary production the crew provided ABC's 20/20 with exclusive footage from the expedition a two-segment newsmagazine piece that aired in December of 1998. This required a very specialized production plan.

A camera crew experienced in climbing Mt. Mc Kinley was essential. Lex Fletcher, director of photography led the crew of three which included Marty and Miles Raney, native Alaskans with extensive climbing and guiding experience on McKinley. All three had previously climbed and summited McKinley.

Four cameras were placed on the mountain to provide backup and extended coverage should the team be forced to split up. Select members of the climbing team were also trained to get shots in emergency situations. The Sony DV format VX1000 and PC-10 were chosen for their size, weight and quality but special precautions were required to protect the sensitive electronics from the ever present moisture and harsh conditions.

The VX1000's were outfitted with external, extended play expedition batteries. Cables were from the camera, up the sleeve of the cameraman's jacket and into a pocket close to the body to prevent them from freezing. To protect the camera from moisture and temperature, custom warming covers were designed and constructed especially for the expedition. Desakin, a moisture absorbing substance was also used to reduce the nightly buildup of water in and around the electronics.

Off Line editing was done on two Avid 400 editing systems in a live-work setting at Michelson-Carlson Productions in Half Moon Bay, CA. Three editors, writer/producers, script consultants, production assistants and a video engineer worked together for seven weeks of intensive post production. The on-line finish was done direct from DV on an Avid Media Composer 8000 at the Michelson-Carlson facility in San Francisco. The final audio post was mixed at Skywalker Sound (Lucas Films) in Marin County, CA.

Republished from VideoSystems.com

For more information about the documentary please visit www.breastcancerfund.org/climb.html

Originally titled Behind The Scenes of "Climb Against The Odds"

Summary of Project Notes

Programs completed: 85 minute feature documentary, 58 minute domestic television and 52 minute international television

Ten Months In Production

Six Months of Post Production

"I am making this climb a personal assault against breast cancer. I will climb to fight a disease for which we are at unreasonable risk just by virtue of being women in America." --Cathy Ann Taylor

16 Weeks Editing

47 Days total days of shooting

9 days of background material and interviews

11 training days- various locations

26 days in Alaska including 19 days on Mt. McKinley

Digital Video and Beta SP Format

68 hours of Digital Video

15 hours Beta SP Video

Crew On The Mountain

1 Director of Photography

1 Second Cameraman

1 Assistant

Gear On The Mountain

2 Sony VX 1000

8 lithium expedition batteries (5hrs.ea.)

8 Sony battery packs (2hrs.ea.)

2 custom sub - zero camera jackets

2 Sony PC-10 with 6 Sony battery packs (2 hrs. ea.)

2 Sony VCT-R630RM tripods, 2 mono pods

1 shotgun microphone, 2 mini shotgun mics

2 radio mics

1 flex fill reflector

2 TalkAbout walkie talkies

40 hours of Sony DV Premium Tape

4 battery to camera cables

Editorial Crew

1 Supervising Editor

2 Off line Editors

2 Sound Editors

Editing Equipment

2 off-line Avid 400 at Michelson-Carlson Productions in Half Moon Bay, CA

1 Sony DSR-20

1 on-line Avid Media Composer 8000 at MichelsonoCarlson Prod. In S.F., CA

1 Sony DSR-80

* All digital format tapes direct to Avid

Audio Post

8 days of music recording and mixing at Skywalker Sound

4 hours narration recording Sony Music Studios, NY

8 hours or narration editing at Music Annex SF

3 days of mix prep at Michelson-Carlson Productions in S. F., CA

4 days of mix prep at Skywalker Sound

3 days of mixing to picture at Skywalker Sound

Produced by: Michelson-Carlson Productions in assoc. with The Breast Cancer

Fund Producers: Karen Carlson, Steve Michelson, Jeanne Rizzo Against the Odds Associates

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