LA LISTE REACHES NEW HEIGHTS

Some films are reaching new heights because of technology. But some films are reaching new heights because of the strength of the human spirit. This is more than exemplified by the film crew involved in the film La Liste: Everything or Nothing. The film focuses on the dangerous expedition of professional skiers Jérémie Heitz and Sam Anthamatten. They have chosen to go on a journey where no man has gone before.

A short film version of La Liste was filmed back in 2016 with the help of Red Bull Media House. It featured Jérémie Heitz skiing the Swiss Alps at 4000m which was incomprehensible at the time. Heitz defied the odds by accomplishing this feat while filming. Although, Heitz had more goals to attain. He wanted to go on more expeditions but this time with friend Sam Anthamatten. They both were to going to climb and ski the Artesonraju in the Andes Mountains in Peru and then Laila’s Peak in Karakoram, Pakistan. With both being at 6000m above sea level, a lot more had to happen to have this documented.

Eric Crosland & Sherpas Cinemas

The ball started to roll once Canadian production studios Sherpas Cinemas founded by director Eric Crosland and producer Malcolm Sangster entered the picture in 2018. The two were no strangers to both Jérémie and Sam who have filmed the two before. The way these four have much respect for each other and what they do was the foundation of this film.

Crosland who has several action sports films under his belt such as Loved By All (2018) and TSRIKU (2016) was one of the key components in making it all happen. When asked about how these experiences helped in filming La Liste, Crosland replied that it was all about expedition filmmaking. Having a small film crew, preservation of gear and data management all were key ingredients to this process.

While both Heitz and Anthamatten had been planning their strategy, Crosland was working on his vision of the film. He wanted the audience to experience every feeling that these skiers were experiencing planning, climbing and descending upon these iconic mountains. Crosland explains,

Most ski films show just ski descent; I wanted to show everything behind the scenes that goes into getting to those skiing descents. The challenges of making this film were working in a high elevation with little oxygen and a frigid environment, with no electricity, with minimal crews, and in some of the most dangerous mountains in the world, during the most challenging time of year in these mountains for avalanche conditions.

La Liste: Everything or Nothing is a slow-burner type of documentary. Trusting the resourcefulness and intelligence of producer Malcolm Sangster allowed for this film to get behind the character development of both skiers. This included their physical training, preparation, travels, hikes, camping, mountaineering and above all their friendships. It is all about what goes into getting to the peak of these mountains. And to sustain yourself upon descent.

Steep Skiing

The expedition to get to the top is a big challenge but to ski, the slopes of these mountains is another thing. “Steep Skiing” is what Jérémie Heitz coins the term going down these high altitude slopes. At times, they were very icy and very dangerous. At the highest speeds, any mistake or slip-up can cause a massive injury. Let alone death. There is also a chance of an avalanche occurring. But that is a whole different situation in itself. This is why extensive planning is so imperative for this type of expedition where anything can happen. Especially when trying to film this high-pressure sequence.

Josh Levigne

Alpinist and cinematographer Josh Levigne‘s emotional intelligence helped capture these important moments for both Jérémie and Sam. Levigne explains that both skiers do not have a classic style when skiing on these slopes. To film a classic style would not be entertaining he emphasizes. He had to follow the style that both skiers had developed.

Furthermore, Levigne had to be up close and personal with the skiers to capture their true emotions which were very important to the film. Especially when capturing behind-the-scenes footage. This was a challenging task for Levigne and the crew who had to film during this pandemic. Proximity was one of the concerns of many when filming during COVID-19.

Tim Symes

Editor Tim Symes admits to having a responsibility to depict the truth and not glorifying the material to the viewer whether or not involves tragedy or success. Even though he was working on the other side of the world, Symes’ work was very crucial to tell this story. Shots and sequences were expensive and physically challenging to take but unfortunately were not part of the vision. They were left on the cutting room floor.

The work and interaction of both Levigne and Symes were impeccable in trying to capture the story and journey of both Jérémie and Sam. But what is most important is the vision of producer Sansgter who says,

 “So many films we watch these days, and on social media, are all about going out, crushing it, or killing it, and there is a discussion around risk but the side you don’t see as much are these accidents and the heartache that can surround them.”

The third chapter of this La Liste exemplifies the blood, sweat and tears of this extreme expedition. Not only from both skiers you see this. You become mindful of everyone involved in this film and the planning, climbing and skiing of these mountains.

La Liste: Everything or Nothing is the prime definition of a successful film. The filming and documentation of both skiers Jérémie Heitz and Sam Anthamatten was unprecedented. The pandemic limited the logistics of the whole project. Everyone had to go beyond the call of duty to make this happen. Some even risk their safety and lives to capture this journey.

But the audience has to be mindful that the skiers went beyond their human limits and juggle risk and reward when it came to their expedition. Safety became everything. The film crew of La Liste: Everything or Nothing was just as important to document an expedition that stretched beyond the human imagination. This is why La Liste is evolutionary filmmaking. The trust and friendship amongst everyone involved in this film were at such a high level. A level that was greater than 6000m.

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