New movie: "The Climb"

“FYI: A friend of mine (John Schmidt, Jr.) just directed a full-length film about mountain climbing called "The Climb". I missed the preview of it because of my hike last weekend, but I heard the cinematography is awesome. The film is set in the Andes, but much of the filming was done in Alaska. It will be playing on TV very soon. Some West Coast dates and times I know of are:

Chico-Redding ABC 7 June 8, 9:30 p.m.
Fresno CBS 47 June 7, 9 p.m.
Los Angeles KCAL 9, June 8, 9 p.m.
San Diego, NBC 8, June 8, 6:30 p.m.
Santa Maria, CBS 12, June 7, 8 p.m.

The film has a Christian storyline to it. The website describes the film:

THE CLIMB (New!)

Go from heart-stopping to heart-warming…and back.

Two hotshot moutain climbers forge an uneasy friendship in order to reach their ultimate summit. A daring rescue just earned flamboyant Derrick Williams (Jason George, Sunset Beach), the climb of a lifetime, but his dream comes with an unwanted partner. “Safety man” Michael Harris (Ned Vaughn, The Beach Boys) doesn’t hot dog, doesn’t blaze trails and rarely takes life to the edge.

Media attention forces training to take a back seat in their fire-and-ice relationship. But no amount of training can prepare them for the harsh reality of the Chilean Andes. The Climb escalates into a test of wills, character and sacrifice that pushes both men beyond limits.

Features compelling performances by Dabney Coleman (Stuart Little), Clifton Davis (Any Given Sunday), Todd Bridges (Diff’rent Strokes) and newcomer Kyli Saantiago.

A World Wide Pictures release of a Billy Graham Evangelistic Association film.

Length: 99 minutes
Rating: PG

Anyway, passing it along for those of you who might be interested. I worked as an extra in several of his films, but most of what I was in ended up on the cutting room floor.”

“Neat, thanks for the info....

Kinda sounds like another hyped version of what climbing is really about, but I'll watch it with an open mind.

Did you get a chance to be in this one, or did you deck again....you know, hit the floor....”

“No, I wasn't in this one. Most of it was filmed out of the area. John's films are big time now and he doesn't need to recruit his friends at church as extras.

I don't know how technically sound it is (e.g., as in "Vertical Limit"...nitro anyone?). My friend is not a mountain climber himself so hopefully there was some technical expertise. His movies have been very entertaining. He is now getting higher budgets to work with and doing well. He has several mroe movies coming out soon.”

“Thanks for the info Phil, I've heard the about the movie. I'll have to record it as I'll be gone when it's playing in Fresno.”

“Thanks Phil, looks like it will take a while to make it's way to FL, but I look forward to seeing this someday.”

“Just caught part of the movie. Nicely done.”

“for what I watched (as Enterprise was on at the same time) it looks like a good film. great scenery and it seems a good battle between two different types of climbers. I am now watching the Kitty Calhoun story on Outdoor Magazine on OLN. Now this is real climbing on some of the worlds greatest peaks and frozen waterfalls. She is the REAL DEAL...Long live women who can turn the world upside down.”

“I only caught a couple of scenes so please understand it my not be the whole movie: both climbers where climbing an exposed outcrop without gloves and then one of them slipped taking both of them out over the ledge, they were roped together but not anchored into the rock anywhere. The rope draped over a small outcrop during there fall. After they came to rest side by side dangling in mid air they both had gloves on and a whole rack of shinning new unused climbing gear. I climb safely and always tie into the rock so WHEN I fall I can go back to climbing again.”

“It sounds like some climbers like to put on their gloves and acquire new gear while falling! When I get to see the movie I will watch for that! Thanks!”

“I saw it. It was a good movie!”

“I caught the last 60 minutes. It seemed pretty well done from what I could tell. Most of the mountain scenes were actually filmed in Alaska, not the Andes.”

“Would you a little cheese with your Jesus?”

“Caught the whole thing, both the movie and the chedder were quite good.”

“It was totally lame.”

“I was distracted by all the TNF and other corporate logos.”