From the July/December 1998 issue of the Operating Cameraman

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At 29,028 feet above sea level, Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world. At 15 perforations per 65 MM frame, IMAX™ is the largest motion picture film format in the world. These two superlatives seemed like a natural combination for long time IMAX™ Producer/Director Greg MacGillivray.

"For the past ten years I have been fascinated by the spectacular beauty and nature of the Himalayan mountain range and felt that this would make an outstanding subject for the large IMAX™ screens," says MacGillivray.

His Laguna Beach-based company has produced over 20 large format IMAX™ films and has spent the last four years working on this risky venture.

"I felt that I could get people excited about my dream--the challenge of getting 15 perf/65 MM film footage from the top of Mount Everest. It's now ten years later, and we did it!"

Though the film would center itself around the story of Jamling Norgay, who wanted to climb Mt. Everest as a tribute to his climbing legend father, the three minutes of shooting to be done at the summit was critical to the story. Finding the right person to take the IMAX™ camera to the top of the world required some searching.

As MacGillivray points out, "It is a specialized skill to be able to operate a camera in low oxygen conditions, particularly when the wind is blowing and wind chill brings the temperature down to 40 degrees below zero."

Some of the experienced climber/shooters that Greg talked to responded with the same two words--"That's impossible!" David Breashears listened to the idea and didn't flinch. Ultimately, he was chosen for the job.

"He was particularly impressive to me because he had done some of the more challenging filmic events on Mt. Everest including broadcasting the first live video signals transmitted from the top of the mountain," said MacGillivray.

David was excited about the project. He laid out some guidelines for a successful expedition including the design and weight requirements for the camera that would go to the summit.

Then a team of international filmmakers and mountaineers was assembled which included Robert Schauer, a noted Austrian climber/filmmaker who would serve as the high altitude assistant cameraman and understudy to Breashears. The latter precaution was taken in case David was to become incapacitated during the expedition.

To round out the camera team, Brad Ohlund, who has more than 25 years experience in the IMAX™ format, traveled as high as Base Camp to serve as technical advisor and camera technician.

>>Go to part II: The Camera