Now playing in theaters is director Baltasar Kormakur’s survival pic Everest. Inspired by real events and written by Mark Medoff (Children of a Lesser God) and Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog MIllionaire), the movie focuses on two different expeditions that struggle to survive while climbing the world’s tallest mountain. The many attempts to summit Everest have been captured on film a few times before, but with this movie Kormakur aims to put the audience smack dab in the middle of the event with a visceral approach to the story. The film stars Josh BrolinJason ClarkeJake GyllenhaalJohn Hawkes, Sam WorthingtonRobin WrightEmily Watson, and Keira Knightley.

Recently I landed an extended video interview with Baltasar Kormakur. He talked about the chaotic shoot and focus on practical effects, what the insurance company would allow them to do, the second unit crew he sent to Mount Everest to shoot, deleted scenes, how he wanted to make a movie with the intimacy of an indie and the scale of a blockbuster, future projects, and a lot more.


Finally, before getting to the interview, if you can see Everest in 3D I recommend doing it. The format (which is sometimes crap) works extremely well for this film and is definitely worth the extra money.

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Baltasar Kormakur Time Index:

  • :19 – Was this made as a promotional video of why not to climb Everest?
  • 1:09 – Talks about the chaotic shoot and focus on practical effects. Says the insurance company would only allow them to go 15,000-16,000 feet.
  • 3:30 – Discusses the second unit crew he sent to Everest to shoot.
  • 4:40 – The IMAX 3D. Says he would recommend people see it in 3D and talks about how Gravity influenced his decision to use 3D.
  • 7:42 – Fact vs. fiction. He wanted to make a movie with the intimacy of an indie and the scale of a blockbuster.
  • 10:05 – Are there many deleted scenes?
  • 11:15 – Future projects

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