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Great Day For Climbing is Willis Wall's entry into the 2007 Banff Mountain Film Festival and the UK's Kendal Mountain Film Festival. Being selected as a finalist from the hundreds of entries to these two prestigious events is a huge honor. Read more on the background for the production of this bizarre short, and watch a 4 minute clip providing a glimpse into the making of the movie......
Banff Mountain Film Festival
October 27 ‐ November 4
Great Day For Climbing kicked off opening night at the 2007 Banff Mountain Film Festival. The film was included in Banff's World Tour, with an overall audience exceeding 200,000 in over 30 countries!
Kendal Mountain Film Festival
This Years Festival 9 – 18 November 2007
It’s the world’s biggest Mountain Film Festival if you count bottoms on seats. Every autumn,
Kendal, on the edge of the English Lake District, hosts one
of the most prestigious Mountain Festivals in the world -
an extravaganza of films, books, art and photography, debates,
presentations, film making, entertainment, humour and drama
from the mountain communities of the world.
Tell a story and know your audience. The "no-budget" project Great Day For Climbing was a spoof on musicals. In spite of resistance from many sources, I had confidence that this 7 minute short would be appropriate for the audiences that might be viewing this film in concert with serious high budget films on human drama, environmentalism, and adrenaline. It was created as an emotional break, a chance to relax and revel in some silliness for a few minutes between more serious films. This was exactly how it was received, although feedback from Banff indicated that it was more a hit with the older crowd and a bit of a headshaker for the younger set. Considering that everyone involved was over 50, maybe this was not surprising. In any event, it is a testament that content rules and if your story and idea are sound, you don't have to spend a fortune to produce a film. I am always delighted to see that Banff and Kendal allow for the "little guy" in their festivals along with the famous, well funded and connected.
In staying with the no budget requirement, I called upon friends to play the parts. Everyone exhibited good humor and patience as we filmed various scenes. The use of standard DV allowed for minimal green screening of certain parts that had to be added later or faked.
Darrell Dodge provided the lead and some background vocals. Darrell and I have known each other since the 7th grade and played in bands together in high school and college. Darrell and his family reside in Tampa and he continues his music career as a performer, writer, and engineer/producer in his own studio (
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). Darrell and I collaborate by exchanging files over the internet. I haven't actually seen him in years!
WATCH "THE MAKING OF GREAT DAY FOR CLIMBING"
press PLAY in the viewer below to see a 4 minute short.
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