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Production Notes

BEYOND THE EDGE

“It’s not the mountain we conquer – but ourselves.” ~ Sir Edmund Hillary

Exactly 60 years ago on May 29, 1953,for the first time, two men stood on the top of the

world. As news of their conquest of Mt Everest filtered out, the world was already in a mood

to celebrate as Queen Elizabeth the 11 prepared for her Coronation on June 2.

GENERAL FILM CORPORATION IN ASSOCIATION WITH

THE NEW ZEALAND FILM COMMISSION; NZ ON AIR’s PLATINUM FUND AND

DIGIPOST PRESENTS A MATTHEW METCALFE PRODUCTION

“BEYOND THE EDGE”

HAIR AND MAKE-UP DESIGNER DAVINA LAMONT COSTUME DESIGNER BARBARA DARRAGH SOUND DESIGN BRUNO BARRETT-GARNIER ORIGINAL MUSIC BY DAVID LONG

LINE PRODUCER CATHERINE MADIGAN PRODUCTION DESIGNER GRANT MAJOR DIRECTOR

OF PHOTOGRAPHY RICHARD BLUCK EDITOR TIM WOODHOUSE

SCREEN STORY BY MATTHEW METCALFE AND LEANNE POOLEY PRODUCED BY

MATTHEW METCALFE WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY LEANNE POOLEY

© 2013 GFC (EVEREST) LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

For publicity enquiries contact:

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CONTENTS:

List of key cast and crew Page 3

About the Film Page 4

Synopsis Page 7

Director’s Statement: Leanne Pooley Page 8

The Filmmakers: Producer - Matthew Metcalfe Page 10

The Filmmakers: Director - Leanne Pooley Page 10

The Filmmakers: Line Producer – Catherine Madigan Page 11

The Filmmakers: Production Designer – Grant Major Page 12

The Filmmakers: Cinematographer – Richard Bluck Page 13

The Filmmakers: Costume Designer – Barbara Darragh Page 13

The Filmmakers: Make Up, Hair and Prosthetics – Davina Lamont Page 14

The Filmmakers: Editor – Tim Woodhouse Page 14

The Filmmakers: Composer – David Long Page 15

The Making of BEYOND THE EDGE Page 16

(Production gets support of Sir Ed’s family Page 16

Casting Ed Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Page 18

Key components of the film Page 20

Recreating a true life event on location Page 21

Choosing 3D Page 22

Production Design – the look and feel Page 22

Safety and logistics of filming at High Altitude Page 25

Guy Cotter – Mountaineer and Safety Page 27

Mark Whetu – Everest Cinematographer Page 28

Peter Hillary – Edmund Hillary Consultant Page 29

The 1953 Expedition Page 30

Sir Edmund Hillary – Biography in brief Page 32

Tenzing Norgay – Biography in brief Page 34

Ed and Tenzing – forever immortalized Page 36

Hunt’s British Everest Expedition 1953 - in brief Page 37

Dangers of climbing Mt Everest Page 38

The Locations – New Zealand and Everest Page 39

Mark Whetu’s Ascent of Everest 2013 Page 39

About Mt Everest and Aoraki / Mt Cook Region Page 40

Sir Edmund Hillary and the Mt Cook Region Page 41

World’s largest Dark Sky Reserve Page 41

Credits and Resources Page 42

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About the Film:

BEYOND THE EDGE, a Matthew Metcalfe Production for General Film

Corporation, is a 3D feature film focused on one of the world’s greatest adventure

stories of all time.

BEYOND THE EDGE documents the epic true journey of the heroic and triumphant

ascent to the top of Mt Everest by Edmund Hillary, a modest bee-keeper and keen

mountaineer from Auckland New Zealand, and the very experienced Sherpa,

Tenzing Norgay, of Nepal.

This is the tale of two men from modest beginnings. Ed Hillary overcame his own

demons and battled nature’s raw cruelty to conquer the highest peak in the world,

together with Tenzing Norgay.

This is a truly experiential film for an audience to not only learn about the legendary

expedition, but to be transported into taking part in the action that is ‘re-lived’ on

the big screen in 3D as never seen before. Using original colour archival footage and

photographs from the time, seamlessly interwoven with interviews as well as

dramatic re-creations of the assault, this is a high-altitude ‘fly on the wall’ look inside

one of the most inhospitable environments on earth and man’s ability to conquer.

This state-of-the-art feature film weaves together a number of components including

dramatic reconstructions, re-enactments, colour archive footage and stills from the

1953 expedition, a number of interviews, graphics and actual newsreel footage.

The main focus of BEYOND THE EDGE is the astonishing climb itself. While the

world acknowledges that Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay “knocked the

bastard off”, few people really know the details of just how they managed it, or grasp

the dramatic moments that took place during that understated modest era of 1953.

Although they had the best mountaineering equipment available at the time, by

today’s standards the gear was relatively primitive.

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Hillary and Tenzing carried the hopes and dreams of the United Kingdom, New

Zealand, the people of the Himalaya and the entire British Empire on their

shoulders. As the world slowly recovered from the horrors of the second world

war their efforts allowed people everywhere to believe a new age was dawning.

The film is produced by Matthew Metcalfe, (GISELLE; DEAN SPANLEY; LOVE

BIRDS) and is written and directed by Leanne Pooley (THE TOPP TWINS:

UNTOUCHABLE GIRLS; SHACKLETON’S CAPTAIN).

Producer Matthew Metcalfe said, “This is an amazing story of heroism, drama,

tension, danger, thrills and spills, added to that it is one heck of a good tale. On an

emotional level, at its heart, this is not just a story about being the first to climb a

mountain, it’s the story of a shy man who not only literally conquered that mountain

but overcame his own self doubt and conquered himself.”

Director Leanne Pooley said, “BEYOND THE EDGE is a gift for a filmmaker. Like

the conquest of Everest itself, BEYOND THE EDGE is a film that pounds a stake in

the ground establishing once and for all that Sir Edmund Hillary’s triumph on top of

the world wasn’t just a huge accomplishment, but an epic story that helped to define

a nation. It is my goal to take the audience on a journey up the mountain on an

adventure that will remind them of what it is that makes us who we are.”

BEYOND THE EDGE has the blessing of the Hillary family with Sir Ed’s son Peter

commenting: “At last a chance to tell Ed Hillary’s Mt Everest story! I am delighted

that this story is finally coming to the big screen.”

The Royal Geographical Society in London (whose expedition the 1953 assault on

Everest was part of) supplied access to both photographs and original materials from

this historic event.

The Production Designer is Grant Major (EMPEROR), an Academy Award© winner

for his work on THE LORD OF THE RINGS Trilogy. Director of Photography is

Richard Bluck an accomplished DOP, well respected as second unit DOP on some of

the world’s biggest motion pictures including THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy,

AVATAR and most recently THE HOBBIT.

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The Costume Designer is Barbara Darragh who has a raft of experience with both

local New Zealand and international productions including Vincent Ward’s RIVER

QUEEN and BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA for Walden Media and Disney Films.

The film has been edited by Tim Woodhouse who has collaborated with Leanne on

many of her previous documentaries including "TOPP TWINS: UNTOUCHABLE

GIRLS”.

The 3-D Post Production is being be handled by New Zealand's Digipost, who have

completed Post on many feature films including EVIL DEAD (2013), together with

the final series of SPARTACUS, which is currently airing in the USA and Europe.

The New Zealand Film Commission has invested in the production in association

with NZ On Air’s Platinum Fund, DigiFilm, TVNZ and Rialto Distribution. The

project is being made with the assistance of the New Zealand Government’s Screen

Production Incentive Fund (with finance by ANZ).

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SYNOPSIS – The story

In 1953, the ascent of Everest remained the last of Earth’s great challenges. Standing

at over 29,000ft, the world’s highest mountain posed a fearsome challenge and had

already claimed thirteen lives in previous expeditions.

Faced with treacherous winds, sub-zero temperatures and battling altitude sickness,

Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay finally achieved the impossible and became

the first men to stand atop Everest. It was an event that stunned the world and

defined an era.

Sir Edmund Hillary’s incredible achievement remains one of the greatest adventure

stories of all time; the epic journey of a man from modest beginnings who overcame

adversity to reach the highest point on Earth.

Both a classic triumph of the underdog story and a gripping, cinematic experience,

BEYOND THE EDGE is a tale of human endurance, tenacity and courage in the face

of overwhelming odds.

For the first time ever, and with the support of the Hillary family, Sir Edmund’s story

will be brought to life on the big screen, ‘relived’ using both original colour footage

and photographs and dramatised recreations of the assault in stunning 3D.

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DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT – Leanne Pooley

Mount Everest was the final frontier, the third pole. Before Hillary set foot in Nepal

there had been 15 serious attempts to conquer Everest; all had failed and thirteen

people had already lost their lives on her slopes. Many at the time believed the

altitude at her summit was beyond that which could be survived.

The ultimate villain, Mount Everest is an enormous, unfeeling, vicious killer whose

penetrating temperatures, ferocious winds, sheer cliff faces and maze-like icefalls

make her an adversary like no other. The conflict between this mammoth mountain

and Sir Edmund Hillary’s stoic, humble heroism is a David and Goliath tale of Biblical

proportions. The story is a gift for a film-maker and I don’t believe I’ve ever come

across a tale that better serves the dramatised documentary form.

The best documentaries are exactly like the best fiction features; good stories, well

told, with a strong narrative and great characters. BEYOND THE EDGE is neither a

documentary nor drama but a piece of work that authentically weaves the two into

one.

The historical components that are available to be explored are extensive.

Wonderful colour archive (moving and still) and interviews from the time provide

me with an incredibly rich bed from which to establish the film’s credibility. This

material also helped me to create a strong sense of nostalgia, reminding the audience

of a different time. An age when there were still frontiers to be explored.

Rather than simply reflecting this world however, the film will transport the viewer

into it. Using the latest technology, we have treated the archive to make it 3D and

inter-cut it with high-end dramatic 3D reconstructions and re-enactments. The

technology allows the audience to truly experience Everest, enabling the viewer to

get as close to the climb as is physically possible without risking frostbite. The

Death Zone will feel real as we gaze around an environment almost unimaginable in

its scale. We’ll look over edge of cliffs as we traverse them and up at rock faces that

seem impossible to climb. As Hillary struggles against the elements we’ll struggle

with him, wind and snow driving towards us.

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I also want people to come to know Ed the man. For this reason there are

flashbacks into the childhood of a self-conscious, insecure boy who was bullied at

school. As Ed the climber grinds his way up the mountain, we are reminded of

where he came from; the young man who suffered from self-doubt and was painfully

shy - the under-dog in many ways.

BEYOND THE EDGE is an old-fashioned thriller, a sometimes harrowing, but

ultimately inspiriting journey. Everyone should leave the cinema feeling inspired to

climb their own mountain no matter what that mountain might be. This is a great

story about a great man and I believe it will be a truly great film.

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The Filmmakers

MATTHEW METCALFE – Producer

Matthew Metcalfe is one of New Zealand’s most prolific and internationally

successful producers whose films have been nominated for thirty New Zealand Film

Awards with thirteen wins, while also being long-listed for two BAFTA awards and

being nominated for a London Critics Circle Award.

In September 2013, Matthew will have two features at the prestigious Toronto

International film Festival with BEYOND THE EDGE and GISELLE - a first for a

producer from New Zealand.

Other films Matthew has produced or executive produced have shown in the

Cannes, Toronto and London film festivals, as well as numerous others around the

world. His work includes feature films such as DEAN SPANLEY (starring Peter

O’Toole and Sam Neill), NEMESIS GAME (starring Ian McShane) and LOVE BIRDS

(starring Rhys Darby and Sally Hawkins) – films which have sold internationally to

companies such as Lions Gate, Icon, Paramount and Miramax. TV shows Matthew

has produced include prime time productions such as AIR FORCE, SOLDIERS OF

FORTUNE, VIETNAM – MY FATHERS WAR and the hit German TV drama series –

EMILIE RICHARDS.

LEANNE POOLEY – Director

One of New Zealand's most internationally accomplished and award winning

documentary film-makers, Leanne has worked for broadcasters around the World

including the BBC, ITV Channel 4 (UK), PBS, TVNZ, the Knowledge Network, and

The Discovery Channel.

Pooley's documentaries have screened in more than 100 countries and include topics

ranging from the great Antarctic Explorers to a docu-drama examining the ancient

process of Papal elections. In 1997, Pooley established the independent production

company Spacific Films in New Zealand.

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Recent documentaries include SHACKLETON’S CAPTAIN, a dramatised

documentary about Frank Worsley, Captain of Ernest Shackleton’s ill-fated

Endurance expedition; THE TOPP TWINS : UNTOUCHABLE GIRLS (2009) which

has won 20 international awards including the “Cadillac People’s Choice

Award” at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival Award; the

Qantas Award winning film RELATIVE GUILT, THE MAN WHO HAS

EVERYTHING for the American Discovery Network, and KIWI BUDDHA (as seen

on National Geographic). Her first feature length documentary, HAUNTING

DOUGLAS about choreographer Douglas Wright, screened at festivals around the

world and earned Leanne the award for BEST DIRECTOR at the 2005 New Zealand

Screen Awards.

Her documentary THE PROMISE, about euthanasia campaigner Lesley Martin, won

the 2006 New Zealand Screen Award for 'Best Documentary'. In 2006 Leanne

produced and directed TRY REVOLUTION, exploring how rugby was used to help

bring down South Africa’s apartheid regime, and in 2007 BEING BILLY APPLE about

the man who became a living work of art.

Leanne lives in Auckland, New Zealand with her husband and two children. She was

born and raised in Winnepeg, Canada, immigrated to New Zealand in the mid-1980’s

and began working in the New Zealand television industry. In 1992 she moved to

England where she made documentaries for major broadcasters including BBC (1

and 2) ITV and Channel 4 as well as PBS in America.

CATHERINE MADIGAN – Line Producer

Catherine Madigan has been involved in numerous feature films, television series,

television commercials and documentaries, both in New Zealand and overseas. Most

recently she was the Production Manager on Andrew Adamson’s latest feature

Mister Pip (starring Hugh Laurie) filmed in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea and New

Zealand. She previously worked as a Line Producer on the documentary Brother

Number One, filmed in Cambodia and New Zealand.

Her most recent projects include Line Producing two of General Film Corporation’s

films GISELLE and BEYOND THE EDGE for producer Matthew Metcalfe.

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Catherine production-managed the Hollywood feature film VERTICAL LIMIT shot in

Queenstown, followed by a US feature BEYOND BORDERS in Thailand starring

Angelina Jolie. She has also produced a behind-the-scenes DVD in Las Vegas with

Celine Dion and has directed her own documentary in Sri Lanka about New Zealand

aid reaching fishing communities post-tsunami. Catherine has produced several

Tourism NZ commercials in recent years as well as the Tourism NZ International

Short Film Competition. She is currently on the NZ Film Commission LBSG panel,

the DOCNZ Advisory Board and is a member of WIFT.

GRANT MAJOR – Production Designer

The Academy Award-winning production designer Grant Major was born in New

Zealand in 1955 and went to Auckland University of Technology art school, where

he majored in graphic design.

His first job was in the design department at Television New Zealand and, after a

stint with BBC TV in London, his debut feature credit was on Jane Campion’s, AN

ANGEL AT MY TABLE (1990). He embarked on a notably fruitful collaboration with

director Peter Jackson on HEAVENLY CREATURES (1994), which also included

THE FRIGHTENERS (2006) before they went on to attempt the most ambitious film

trilogy of all time, THE LORD OF THE RINGS (The Fellowship of the Ring, 2001;

the Two Towers, 2002; The Return of the King, 2003). Grant won the Oscar for the

final instalment; he has been nominated four times.

Grant went on design Jackson’s KING KONG (2005) and Martin Campbell’s THE

GREEN LANTERN (2011). In between such gigantic productions, he has worked

closely with Nikki Caro on MEMORY AND DESIRE (1998), WHALE RIDER (2002)

and THE VINTNERS LUCK (2009) and his most recent projects are MR PIP (2012),

which is set in Papua New Guinea, and THE EMPEROR, set in the post-War imperial

palaces of Japan.

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RICHARD BLUCK – Director of Photography

Richard Bluck, who is today considered to be one of New Zealand’s best exponents

of shooting in state of the art 3D, started at Television New Zealand as a trainee

cameraman. In 1989 Bluck made a debut as director of photography by collaborating

with cameraman Grant Lahood on the classic short film SNAILS PACE. He went on

to direct music videos for hip hoppers Southside of Bombay, and went on the road

with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra for 1993 doco In Bed with the Orchestra.

Richard earned a great reputation for his Steadicam skills and worked on selected

scenes of Peter Jackson's BRAINDEAD, THE FRIGHTENERS and THE LORD OF THE

RINGS. He made his debut as a feature film director of photography two with

Jonathan King's BLACK SHEEP, which garnered a New Zealand Film and Television

Award. Other feature films include UNDER THE MOUTAIN and SECOND HAND

WEDDING. He served as second unit DOP on the epic films KING KONG and

AVATOR.

Richard is skilled in the complex art of filming miniatures: his work on THE TWO

TOWERS would see him sharing an award from an organisation of American special

effects professionals. Bluck also shot boat miniatures for MASTER AND

COMMANDER, and train scenes for Martin Campbell's THE LEGEND OF ZORRO.

BARBARA DARRAGH – Costume Designer

Costume Designer Barbara Darragh has had a life-time career costuming actors for

major New Zealand film and television shows, US cable shows and international

feature films such as BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA, along with many television

commercials.

Over the past four years Barbara was costume designer for the Starz series

SPARTACUS plus numerous television commercials. She has several awards for

costume design and Emmy nominations for Spartacus.

Barbara owns an expanding costume hire business, Across The Board (ATB), to

facilitate industry designers and stylists.

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DAVINA LAMONT – Make Up, Hair and Prosthetics Designer

Davina Lamont, based in Queenstown New Zealand, is an international Film,

Television and Fashion Makeup, Hair and Prosthetics Artist, with over 19 years in

the industry.

Her career has taken her around the world where she has managed to work within

all the different elements that the makeup world has to offer, from designing

makeup, hair and prosthetics for some of the big film production companies to

photo shoots.

Davina works with Directors Peter Jackson, Andrew Adamson, Leanne Pooley, Ross

Brown and Gino Acevedo, people whose creativity continually feeds her imagination.

She was nominated for a Saturn Award in America for Best Makeup for 30 DAYS

OF NIGHT and Winner of a Moa New Zealand Film Award, for Best Makeup Design

for THE DEVILS ROCK.

Davina has worked with the following artists: Jude Law, Viggo Mortensen, Karl Urban,

Doris Roberts, Narveen Andrews, Josh Hartnett, Ashley Tisdale, Danny Huston, Tom

Cavangh, Stephan Moyer, Donna Hay, Richard Roxburgh, Ben Cross, Sam Neill, Simon

Callow, Patrick Bergin, Frances O’Connor, Claire Forlani, Kevin Nealon, Gillian Vigman,

Robert Hoffman, Lincoln Lewis, Jonah Lomu.

TIM WOODHOUSE - Editor

Tim Woodhouse is a documentary specialist who has been editing for over 20

years. During this time he has forged a strong working relationship with Director

Leanne Pooley editing many of her projects including THE TOPP TWINS:

UNTOUCHABLE GIRLS; SHAKLETON’S CAPTAIN, THE PROMISE, BEING BILLY

APPLE and HAUNTING DOUGLAS.

He has also cut TV drama, commercials, comedy, pop videos, short films and dance

films. He won 'Best Drama Editor' at the 2002 NZ Television Awards for

STAUNCH and 'Best Documentary Editor' at the NZ Screen Awards 2005 for

HAUNTING DOUGLAS. In 2006 he was a finalist in the documentary editing

category of the NZ Screen Awards and the Australian Screen Editor's Guild Awards

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for his work on THE PROMISE and the NZ Television Awards for ELGAR’S

ENIGMA. Documentary projects include COFFEE, TEA OR ME (with Brita McVeigh

and Gaylene Preston), TRY REVOLUTION (with Leanne Pooley), and SHEILAS: 28

YEARS ON (with Annie Goldson).

DAVID LONG – Composer

David Long composes, performs and produces music. He has worked on all of Peter

Jackson's films of the last decade. For THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY

he composed, in collaboration with Plan 9, the music for the song Misty Mountains

that is sung by the dwarves in the film. Their melody was then used throughout

Howard Shore's score as a major theme and also developed into the credits song by

Neil Finn. In 2009 he composed additional score for Peter Jackson's THE LOVELY

BONES. He wrote music and created musical sound design for Peter Jackson's

LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy and KING KONG (again with Plan 9 Music).

He has composed scores for THE RED HOUSE and PICTURES OF (a feature

documentary) and Robert Sarkies' feature TWO LITTLE BOYS. Other credits

include REST FOR THE WICKED and a UK mini-series ICE. He has also composed

for Weta Workshop childrens' series the WotWots which has screened in over 100

countries.

David was a founding member of the New Zealand band The Mutton Birds. He has

since produced many albums including Dave Dobbyn's Available Light (2005), two

albums for Barry Saunders (Red Morning, 2005 and Zodiac, 2009), Lucid 3's Dawn

Planes (2007) and Leila Adu's Cherry Pie (2006) to name a few. He won Producer of

the Year at the 2002 New Zealand Music Awards for Fur Patrol's Pet.

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The making of BEYOND THE EDGE

For Producer Matthew Metcalfe making BEYOND THE EDGE was more than a

passion project it was the fulfilment of a dream come true. “About six years ago I

became interested in the story of the conquest of Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and

Tenzing Norgay. I had been thinking about it and often asked myself - how do I tell

this story - what’s the best way to do it?” Matthew decided the best way to tell the

story was not to be too complicated but simply tell the story “from the bottom of

Everest to the top.” He adds, “I also felt it was an achievement story – a little like

CHARIOTS OF FIRE – so with that in mind I carried it with me for a few years and

eventually came to a point about 18 months ago where I felt that I had found a way. I

wrote a story line that outlined the story and how it would work within a feature

film narrative structure while also giving the audience an insight to the make up of

the great New Zealander”.

“I wanted to do this as a feature film within a New Zealand environment, so at that

point I started to think about doing it in what I would call a ‘Touching the Void’ style

which was a feature film documentary format I greatly admire using extensive

recreations and dramatisations to tell the story.”

Production gets the support of Sir Ed’s family

The family of the late Sir Edmund Hillary have been extremely supportive of

BEYOND THE EDGE. “The Hillary family have been wonderful right from the get

go and in fact when I first phoned Sir Ed’s son, Peter Hillary, out of the blue about a

year and a half ago and said Hi I’m Matthew Metcalfe and I’d love to come and have a

coffee with you, he was very welcoming and very warm. From that moment we

engaged with the family and they engaged with us and we started talking about how

to do this film in a way that respected both the family and the legacy of Sir Ed;

something which was very important to us as filmmakers. We felt that we had to pay

homage in the right way as we are telling a story that’s not only important for the

climbing community but is arguably the most important national narrative in New

Zealand’s cultural and social history. We had to get the story right and the only way

we could get it right was with full engagement with the Hillary family - something

they have allowed us to do from the very beginning.”

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Peter Hillary himself is an accomplished mountaineer, literally following in his father’s

footsteps, having reached the summit on Everest twice. In BEYOND THE EDGE he

lends his voice to share his father’s emotional story giving the audience a unique

insight into Ed’s heart and mind.

The Director, Leanne Pooley was very attracted to the cinematic potential of this

tale. “In terms of stories in New Zealand there’s no story that is more important or

bigger, or has stronger resonance in terms of a country’s identity – I don’t know any

filmmaker that wouldn’t be attracted to this story.”

Matthew in collaboration with Director Leanne Pooley, completed the story line and

together with Line Producer Catherine Madigan, started to get the production off

the ground.

After the screen story had been written by Matthew and Leanne, Leanne got down

to the business of writing the actual film. “We knew we had access to the archive

that came from The Royal Geographical Society who filmed the 1953 expedition and

we decided early on to frame the story and interlink the dramatic recreations we

shot on location with their material and layer the story to ensure we included the

historical context.” Leanne said. “In the year 1953 England was still feeling down

after World War II and the race for Everest was a big boost for national morale –

plus the fact a couple of New Zealanders had been invited meant a lot for New

Zealand. The fact that Queen Elizabeth II was about to celebrate her coronation was

a great morale booster”.

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CASTING Ed Hillary and Tenzing Norgay

Stepping into the legendary climbing boots of the young Ed Hillary is actor Chad

Moffit from Nelson, in the South Island of New Zealand.

In the role of Tenzing Norgay is Sonam Sherpa – who is originally from Nepal and

now a New Zealand resident living in New Zealand’s alpine region of Aoraki/Mt.

Cook National Park where principal photography took place.

Producer Matthew Metcalfe said, “After an exhaustive search we were thrilled to

discover Chad and Sonam. They were in great hands with a team of talented world-

class Kiwi filmmakers including Director Leanne Pooley, Oscar winning production

designer Grant Major and acclaimed New Zealand cinematographer, Richard Bluck”.

The job of finding a New Zealand actor who didn’t just resemble Ed but could bring

to life his stoic yet awkward personality and imposing physicality was taken on by

accomplished casting director Liz Mullane (THE LORD OF THE RINGS Trilogy, THE

HOBBIT, HEAVENLY CREATURES). A nationwide search ensued as men from all

walks of life (from experienced actors to sheep farmers) came forward in the hope

that they might be given the chance to portray their hero.

Director Leanne Pooley said “There are few if any individuals in New Zealand more

loved and admired than Sir Edmund Hillary. First and foremost finding an individual

who Kiwis would believe and accept as Ed was a daunting task. We knew we needed

someone who could truly embody Sir Ed and get as close as possible to his

incredible presence. However, from the first time Chad auditioned I knew he was

special”.

Chad, who stands at 6’4”, has an uncanny likeness to the great man. When he first

wrote to the production he sent a picture of himself holding a New Zealand five

dollar note – with its profile portrait of a young Ed Hillary – this delivery had the

desired effect. Leanne and Matthew wanted to see more.

Chad Moffit said “I am honoured and humbled to have been chosen to play such an

important New Zealander of international stature.”

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Finding Tenzing Norgay was also a challenge. The filmmakers were determined that

whoever played this role should be from Nepal or Tibet. So it seemed the most

wonderful stroke of luck when they were introduced to Sonam while on a location

scout in Mount Cook in New Zealand’s great alpine region, the location of principal

photography. Director, Leanne Pooley said “Tenzing was described by everyone who

met him as the most charming, charismatic man, with an amazing smile. Sonam is

exactly the same and while relatively new to acting he was completely relaxed and

focused in-front of the camera. It just seems incredible that we found our Tenzing in

New Zealand.”

“Finding Sonam was like something out of a Hollywood movie – we were up at Mt

Cook on a reccy and Sonam was working at the restaurant at the Hermitage Hotel. I

literally looked and said “wow that guy looks an awful lot like Tenzing!” That lead

to an audition and here we are – he’s the easiest going, lovely person to work with;

he is very focused and never complains even when being hurled towards crevasses!”

Sonam Sherpa said “It’s a great honour, I never thought I’d one day be playing the

role of a national hero – an international hero – and being involved in this exciting

film industry. This is a totally new experience for me.”

“The stars aligned when we found Chad and Sonam” added Pooley.

“Together Chad and Sonam built an easy natural rapport with each other that has

been apparent from their first meeting, reflecting the same relationship the real men

had” said Producer Matthew Metcalfe. “And like Ed and Tenzing, Chad and Sonam

were ready to take on a huge challenge of their own.”

Chad had some climbing experience under his belt and Sonam is originally from

Nepal and works in New Zealand’s alpine region. So while both men don’t have the

technical skills of mountaineering they are both very familiar with high terrains,

which helped them immensely to cope with the challenging high altitude filming

conditions.

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Key Components of the Film

The multi-faceted components that streamline to make BEYOND THE

EDGE - THE ARCHIVAL MOTION PICTURES and STILLS IN COLOUR, THE

VOICES OF THE MOUNTAINEERS, CLIMBERS and INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS,

THE NEWSREELS, THE 3D DRAMATIC RECREATIONS AND SIR EDMUND

HILLARY HIMSELF.

The voices:

Through the use of original interviews, Sir Ed is the main voice of the film, guiding us

through the ascent step by step, ensuring the viewer experiences his highs and lows,

fears and insecurities, and ultimately his triumph. Mountaineering and historical

experts include Jim Whitaker – the first American to summit Mt Everest, Stephen

Venables – first Britain to reach the summit without oxygen, Peter Hillary – son of

Ed Hillary and twice summiter of Everest, Norbu Tenzing – son of Tenzing Norgay,

Peter Hackett – world’s leading authority on high altitude medicine, and Mick

Conefrey – author of Everest 1953. The voices of the entire 1953 expedition are also

used in the film alongside Sir Ed’s.

Pulling all the threads together…. Metcalfe explains, “Our aim to bring together

the multiple elements that make up the film into a seamless story was a challenge

that I think we’ve mastered quite well. There are four key elements to this film:

firstly you’ve got the original footage from the 1953 expedition – fortunately it’s in

colour – which was shot on 16mm film and has been brilliantly preserved and

recently restored so it’s a wonderful medium to use. Secondly, the Royal

Geographical Society has over 1,000 35mm colour stills taken by Alf Gregory on the

expedition. Further we have all the interviews that each member of the expedition

took part in once they came down from the mountain – something they also

continued to do for many years afterwards. There’s a wide variety of this archival

material available. Then finally we have our dramatic re-creations directed by Leanne

and filmed on location around the Southern Alps.”

Another interesting aspect the filmmakers adopted that sets this film apart was to

not include ‘talking heads’ in this film. Leanne Pooley commented “We only use the

actual expedition members themselves to provide a narration – like a voice over to

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their story. We then match the colour footage and the colour photographs from

1953 with what we’re doing so that they seamlessly integrate with an end result that

perfectly comes together and compliments itself with the old footage and the new,

combined with the narration of the original expedition members. We want to give

the audience a true and unique story-telling experience”.

As per the Producer’s brief, Leanne also wanted to concentrate the story on the

climb itself, “In terms of Ed Hillary’s life the film is not about what happened after

the climb, it’s about the moment in his life that became the impetus that leads to all

those other things; the movie finishes at the top of the mountain rather than

following on. This was a very important driver for producer Matthew Metcalfe. The

filmmakers didn’t want to tell Ed Hillary’s life story, they were telling the mighty

story of the conquest of Everest as well as exploring the emotional threads that

made up this great man. “This is also the story of one man’s journey from a simple

boy who grew up in a small town outside of Auckland, who was painfully shy who

became the man who not only conquered the mountain but conquered himself” said

Metcalfe. “In fact in the words of Sir Edmund Hillary ‘it’s not the mountain that we

conquer but ourselves’ – and that’s really what this movie is about – conquering

yourself and achieving your own dreams.”

Recreating a true-life event on location

Recreating a true-life event on location in the Southern Alps was not so much a

challenge but a fun experience for Director Leanne Pooley. With her extensive

background in documentary filmmaking, Pooley said, “Directing true-life events is all

I’ve ever done to be honest. The challenge of combining drama with it was actually

less of a challenge and more fun because it means I have control over those dramatic

elements. For the moments of the story that have no archive footage or

photographs, I can recreate and control. In a way it’s not a challenge, it’s a gift, and

it’s such an amazing story that the gifts are sort of multi layered. There’s all this

wonderful archive and incredible photographs, and we’ve got hundreds and hundreds

of hours of interviews with the people who were actually there so we’re using those

people to tell the story with the dramatic moments we shot on the Tasman Glacier.”

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Choosing 3D

The use of 3D is very deliberate as Matthew Metcalfe explains, “3D works best in

two environments: firstly in an environment where you have depth of field and

secondly when you have a reason to use it, and the reason we’re using it is that it’s

experiential for the cinema-goer. 3D helps you to ‘be there’ and right from the start

we said we want the audience to come with us on the journey from the bottom to

the top of Everest. 3D helps us achieve that.”

Director of Photography, Richard Bluck, is one of New Zealand’s foremost

authorities on 3D shooting. Richard was second unit DOP of AVATAR, THE

HOBBIT and THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy.

PRODUCTION DESIGN – creating the authentic look and feel

Academy Award winning Production Designer Grant Major just happened to be

walking the Himalayas, (as you do!) when he took a call from Leanne Pooley’s

researcher, Keiran McGee, with whom he’d worked with in the past “They heard I

was wandering about up there and said … “right on, you could be the guy for the job!”

The job intrigued the LORD OF THE RINGS production designer as it presented a

new ‘genre’ for him. “It was very interesting for me because I’d never done a

dramatised documentary before. One of the things about my job is to know about

time and place and the environment for a given drama and script and of course in

this instance there’s a very specific time and a specific place with a lot of imagery and

knowledge about what actually happened there. My duty was specifically to do with

recreating with a lot of fidelity, all those details, so that it looks just the same as the

real thing.”

The brief from the Producer was for authenticity all the way. From his point of view

he wanted a sort of stylisation while maintaining the authenticity, offering a very

exciting design opportunity. “It’s a break from tradition to have a designer on a

documentary,” said Grant, “ I like to think that with my skills I bring a certain

amount of stylisation I suppose. It’s a very factual story but it has look, which I

think is quite a groovy look. When you look at the material – even though it’s 60

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years ago now – all these individual climbers had their own style, a certain ’50’s style,

a certain mountaineering style. I was very interested in that period look. There was

also a lot of graphic work to happen in the film and so collectively with the archival

things and the things that I can bring in from a design point of view, there’s quite a

lot of material to formulate and turn into a ‘designed’ look.”

Objects like the oxygen gear and tents are actual archival objects that still exist in

the Royal Geographic Society and there are some elements of that expedition in

various New Zealand Museums. Grant said, “One of the great things about it is that

I was actually able to go to the museums and measure up, photograph and do a

survey of all the things I could get my hands on. We also had a researcher in

London who could go to the Royal Geographic Society and do a really good photo

survey of their objects there, so collectively we had a lot of good stuff to work

with.”

Grant started researching in early November 2012, five months before principal

photography commenced. “That was quite a while given that we’re only really

recreating 20 to 30 minutes of actual drama”. As the research started pretty much

straight away Grant and his team could find out what items they had to acquire from

overseas, which can take some time to get to New Zealand, and what things they

had to make. They made the oxygen sets and all the tents with a lot of detail

following their intensive research, “I’d like to think that all the intercutting between

what we’ve made and the actual things on the archival footage is pretty seamless.

That takes time and a skilled team”.

For Costume Designer Barbara Darragh, being able to research the actual

archival pieces in the Canterbury Museum was a great place to start. “We were able

to look at their original pieces that came back from Everest, including the padded

jackets and boots that were lined with Kappock at the time, plus the actual mittens

and the oxygen helmets. It was a really good start for us to get a scale of how they

were built. Most of them were designed in Farmborough”.

The challenge of matching the recreation with the actual film footage was an

enjoyable aspect for Barbara, “It was really interesting trying to make the colours

and the shapes seamless between the original footage from 1953 and now. It took a

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lot of dying – a lot of cloth was dyed and over dyed until we got the correct

colouration and aging process. I did try to use the cottons and nylons which is what

the fabrics were at the time. All the green jackets do have down in them and all the

boots have been constructed very similar to the time. With combat soles, we have

left the padding out because we had to try and fit existing crampons.”.

Dealing with the 3D impact was a challenge, “If you have anything white or a strong

contrast and it moves in front of the performer it’s really distracting so a lot of the

toggles and the ties were taken down a lot darker in colour than what they would

have been at the time”. Because the members of the expedition were issued all

these garments at the bottom of Kathmandu they were like new. When you look at

the original footage on some of the garments you can still see the packaging lines on

them, however we were trying to get away from that and make them feel like

they’re also going to the top so they are aged and ripped and torn – we did notice

that the boot covers ripped pretty quickly on the rocks in New Zealand during the

shoot!”

Barbara found it fascinating to have an insight into what they would have gone

through, “They slept in their down jackets for wind protection. They all had their

own eccentricities – of course Ed with his striped cap that was made, we

understand, by his sister, with scraps of fabric. That actual hat was in the museum –

we recreated it. I had all the stripes reprinted again and we stitched it just as it was

– which was a very cool thing to do as the cap is so iconic. Ed also had this sweater

which, the more we studied it, we found it was knitted ‘off kilter’ - it’s not

symmetrical – so we recreated it exactly the same.

Make Up, Hair and Prosthetics Designer Davina Lamont was working in

London with Jude Law at the time in October 2012 when she received emails and

phone calls from Director Leanne Pooley. “Leanne asked me would I be keen to

take on this job and of course anyone would be stupid if they didn’t say yes – so of

course I said “I’d love to ‘create’ Hillary.” On my return to New Zealand Leanne

asked me to be involved in the casting and showed me Chad Moffitt first up. I said

they’d be crazy if they didn’t take him on, I said he’s got everything that looks like

Hillary. There’s obviously a bit of an age difference but with a little bit of extra help I

think he’ll be amazing!”

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“Chad is actually older than Ed when Ed ascended Everest but Chad has been

indoors for a few years and didn’t have the aging or the weathered look that our

lovely Ed had so we had to add it. I had a list of stuff that I gave to the producers of

what I thought Chad would need to play Hillary. We didn’t want to make him

exactly like Ed which I thought was a great idea and so we kind of went for aging

weathered prosthetics around his eyes and a little bit on his forehead. We changed

the length of Chad’s teeth so he has just the top teeth in and we also pushed out his

gums a little bit just to open up his mouth. We then we added in his beard and

stubble and weathered it up, and with him in costume and make up he looks

amazing.”

SAFETY AND LOGISTIC when filming at high altitude

Filming at high altitude posed many challenges including the obvious safety hazards,

which impacts upon and slows down the pace of shooting.

Director, Leanne Pooley said, “I have shot in the mountains before and safety has to

be the number one issue so in order to make everyone safe, each person has to be

clipped in and harnessed. That creates its own what I call “dog park dance” where

we’re all clipped in like dogs in a dog park, tripping over each other in the snow.

There’s no way to avoid that because you don’t want to take the risk of someone

getting hurt. It’s a ‘live’ environment – a dangerous environment – so it’s slower

because of that; there’s just no way around it”.

Producer Matthew Metcalfe explains the logistics of filming on the

mountain: “The mountains have got to be one of the hardest places to film. A

typical day for us started with most of the team rising at 5am – we have breakfast

between 5:45 am and 6:00 a.m. – get the latest weather reports, and from there we

grab our kit and head down to the airport at Mt Cook or go to the studio if weather

is bad. If we fly, which was more often than not during the shoot, the first choppers

are usually in the air at first light and it’s normally a two-hour process to get all the

loads up to the mountain. Those loads usually involve about eight helicopters to get

us from the bottom to the top and then of course from the top to the bottom and

26

we have to break that down into passenger loads and also bin loads. The bin loads

require the more powerful helicopters; the Squirrel B3 is usually used here and they

bring up to about half a tonne of equipment with them and we need three of those

per day. In a nutshell every day we’ve got to bring about 24 people and 1.5 tonnes

of equipment up to about 8,500 to 10,00 feet at the top of the Tasman Glacier.

Because safety on the production was paramount the producers ensured

the best possible practices were in place at all times and engaged some

of the world’s best mountaineers and safety experts who also had

extensive experience working on feature films.

“On any film safety is important and I have a personal mantra which is: we all treat

our work like we’re trying to get a rocket to the moon, but at the end of the day it’s

just a movie, it’s not even worth a cut finger, and on this film that applies in

triplicate. So we said to everyone right from the get go – the budget is always tight

but not for safety, on safety we don’t scrimp and we don’t save”. Production

ensured they had everything they needed safety wise and were strict about it,

“Everyone respected that and everyone has gone out of their way to look out for

each other and operate as a true team. We’ve been greatly helped by Adventure

Consultants, led by Guy Cotter who is one of the world’s foremost experts on

filming in the mountains. Guy has been able to set up a situation whereby we can

operate safely and do our job knowing that someone has got our back and that

hopefully nothing is going to happen to us”.

There were no incidents on the mountain during principal production.

“We had the most amazing safety crew, in fact some of them have been up Mt

Everest six times for example. I have no idea what the collective Everest summits are

in our safety team but it’s got to be somewhere between ten and fifteen and even

for those who haven’t summited Everest, they’ve gone to the South Pole, they’ve

climbed K2, they’ve climbed the worlds top eight peaks. We’ve literally got the most

experienced guys in the world looking after us and I tell you what on a daily basis, it

shows!” Matthew concluded.

Director Leanne Pooley actually had a slight aversion to heights! The well-respected

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and much liked Director never complained about the dangers and later said “I’m

absolutely certain that if I wasn’t attached to a mountain-man I would have fallen

down some hole by now, so it’s pretty good that they’re here. I feel like I’ve

conquered it because I literally sat on a ledge and it was, hmm I don’t know, about 4

meters wide with what seemed like a 4000 meter drop and I felt fine because I trust

them all. I don’t mind helicopters at all but heights have never been my thing, so I’ve

hung myself over a couple of these ledges and I feel kind of proud of myself – haha -

it won’t impress my kids though!”

GUY COTTER – Coordinator of Safety and Locations on Beyond the

Edge is one of the world’s foremost mountaineers.

Highly respected Adventure Consultants (originally founded by the late Rob Hall) is

directed and owned by Guy Cotter. He is a IFMGA Mountain and Ski guide with a

wealth of experience in all things climbing, especially high altitude mountaineering at

a professional level. Guy's whole life has been spent in the mountains - in New

Zealand, the Himalayas and many other mountain ranges around the world. He has

been the director of Adventure Consultants since 1996 and prior to that he had

been intricately involved with the company since its beginnings in 1992.

Born in southern New Zealand, Guy was introduced to the outdoors at an early age

where a fascination for the mountains was fostered. At 11 years of age Guy started

his climbing career accompanying his father on climbing trips and at 15 years old he

completed a traverse of New Zealand's wild Southern Alps from Arthur's Pass to Mt

Cook. One of his companions on that trip was Rob Hall, the founding director of

Adventure Consultants.

Immediately after taking on Adventure Consultants he led expeditions to Everest,

Gasherbrum II, Gasherbrum I, Ama Dablam and Cho Oyu and reached the summit

of each with clients (except Gasherbrum I). This meant that in 1997 he became the

first westerner to guide clients to the summits of three 8,000 metre peaks in one

year, as well as guiding and climbing Vinson Massif in Antarctica in December of that

year. The pace didn't slow down in 1998 with Guy leading expeditions to Dhaulagiri,

Muztagh Ata and Vinson again, this time also staying behind to climb Mt Slaughter in

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Antarctica (a first ascent). Since then he has led successful expeditions to Aconcagua,

Makalu, the Mustang region of Nepal, Kilimanjaro, Mt Kenya, the

Antarctic Peninsula and Elbrus. In 2005 he climbed Denali, which completed his

Seven Summits. He led Everest Expeditions in 2006 and 2007, so has now summited

Everest four times. In 2010 he led the first Ski the Last Degree South Pole

expedition and in 2012 he led the successful Manaslu expedition as well as a trek to

Mustang in Nepal and in 2013 led the successful Lhotse expedition. In total, Guy has

summited six 8,000m peaks.

Other recent projects, apart from guiding and leading Adventure Consultants

expeditions, have been as diverse as working on the Hollywood movie about

climbing K2, THE VERTICAL LIMIT, filmed in New Zealand's Southern Alps during

1999; giving lectures and slide shows throughout Australasia, Asia and North

America and rigging the courses for the Eco-challenge multi-sport races in New

Zealand and Fiji.

MARK WHETU – Mt Everest Cinematographer

Mark Whetu summited Everest in May 2013, as Mt Everest Cinematographer for

BEYOND THE EDGE and was a pivotal member of the Mountain Safety team on the

upper Tasman Glacier during principal photography in March 2013.

Mark Whetu is a New Zealand Mountaineer, specialising in high altitude filming,

Rigging and Crew Safety. His filming exploits have put him in the wildest locations

possible, providing exclusive footage for productions internationally.

He has climbed in the Himalayas since 1983; including two ascents of Mt. Cho Oyu -

filming on Cho Oyu's summit both times and two ascents of Mt. Shisha-pangma (he

made an early ski descent off Shisha-pangma – a New Zealanders first ski ascent of

an 8,000m mountain).

Mark has summited Mt. Everest 7 times from Nepal and Tibet, filming on the planets’

high point 5 times and capturing unique footage for various Production Companies.

He has rigged and filmed in northern Russia during winter, active volcanoes in

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Ethiopia and the Pacific, 'Cat 5' Hurricanes in Mexico as well as scientific projects in

Antarctica.

Mark has documented countless achievements in New Zealand's Southern Alps,

including the first double amputee (Mark Inglis) ascent of Aoraki/Mount Cook. He

also filmed Inglis' ascent of Mt. Cho Oyu, as well as his amazing ascent of Mt Everest.

He became the subject of his own documentary in THE FATAL GAME after

spending the night out, 100m from the summit of Mt Everest in an attempt to save a

fellow climber.

At the time it was the highest recorded bivouac, without oxygen and suffering

frostbite, descending alone from the ordeal.

Marks’ other recent work includes: Search for Mallory, BBC; ANZAC's on Everest,

ABC; Global Extremes: Mount Everest , US Outdoor Life Network; No Mean Feat,

TVNZ 2003 Award for 'Best NZ Documentary'; Dangerman Series, Nat History NZ

for Discovery Channel; 3 seasons of Everest: Beyond the Limit, Discovery Channel;

Aoraki; Ski Extreme: Mt Cook Ski Descent, Red Bull, Austria; Dying for Everest, TVNZ;

Miracle on Everest, Nat. Geo - USA, ABC and France 5

PETER HILLARY – Ed Hillary and Mountaineering Consultant

Peter Edmund Hillary was born in Auckland, New Zealand in December, 1954. He

had two younger sisters, Sarah and Belinda, and was the eldest of the three children

of Sir Edmund Hillary and his first wife, Louise. Peter Hillary received his education

at King's College, Auckland and at Auckland University.

Peter has been to Everest five times, once reaching 8,300metres on the West Ridge

and twice reaching the summit by the South Col route. With his first summit of

Mount Everest in 1990, he and Sir Edmund became the first father and son to

achieve the feat. His second ascent in May 2002 was part of a National Geographic

Society expedition to mark the 50th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing

Norgay's historic first ascent in 1953. The anniversary expedition brought together

Peter Hillary, Jamling Norgay and Brent Bishop, the sons of Sir Edmund, Tenzing

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Norgay, and Dr Barry Bishop, a member of the first successful American team to

reach the summit in 1963. The 1990 expedition was led by veteran Everest climber

Pete Athans, who holds the record for the most summits of Everest by a Western

climber.

Peter devotes most of his time to fundraising in support of his father’s Himalayan

Trust, which was established in 1961 to fund capital projects in the Khumbu Valley

region of Nepal. He is also a director of the Australian Himalayan Foundation.

Peter is the patron for the Everest Rescue Trust, a non-profit, independent trust set

up to operate and manage a self-funding rescue helicopter service for the high

altitude regions of Nepal.

The 1953 Expedition

Base camp was established on April 12 1953, and then a series of camps were

created as the climbers moved slowly up the mountain. First the Khumbu Icefall lay

ahead – a pivotal feature – renowned as one of the most treacherous of the ascent.

This constantly shifting ice river with huge crevasses and frozen blocks of rock and

ice was a huge obstacle to overcome. A series of camps continued to be created,

slowly moving higher up the mountain. Camp 2 at 5,913meters (19,400 ft), was

established by life-long friends and fellow Kiwis Ed Hillary and George Lowe, a

school teacher, together with Englishman, George Band, a Cambridge University

graduate.

Establishing a route through the Icefall took several days. Thereafter it had to be

kept open for a constant succession of men and equipment. The team established

nine camps from the Khumbu Glacier, through the Icefall, up the Western Cwm and

on to the now South Col route of Everest. For several weeks Sherpas busily moved

supplies ever further up the mountain. By May 21, Wilfred Noyce and Sherpa

Annullu had reached the South Col, a crucial achievement. Then on May 26, the first

assault party of two English mountaineers Tom Bourdillon, the physicist who had

developed the closed-circuit oxygen apparatus and Charles Evans, the deputy

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expedition leader and a physician, set off for the south summit using Bourdillon’s

innovative closed-circuit oxygen equipment. Unfortunately, at the south summit they

realised that they would not be able to reach the summit due to lack of time and

failure of the closed-circuit apparatus. They had no choice but to return defeated, to

Camp 8.

On May 28, the second assault party chosen by Hunt, comprising of Edmund Hillary

and Tenzing Norgay made their bid. Together they set off, establishing Camp 9 at

8,503meters (27,900 ft) before spending a bitterly cold night trying to sleep during

the coldest and windiest weather of the expedition thus far. Tenzing later described

the night, “The winds grew even stronger than usual. When light came it was

roaring like a thousand tigers”. At 4 a.m. they began preparations for the day ahead.

Pushing off at 6:30 am and using open-circuit oxygen equipment they steadily

climbed. Remarkably reaching the south summit at 9 a.m. they carried on into the

great unknown.

As Hillary later stated: “I continued hacking steps along the ridge and then up a few

more to the right … to my great delight I realised we were on top of Mount Everest

and that the whole world spread out below us”. It was 11.30 a.m. on May 29, 1953.

Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary had reached the highest point on the earth.

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SIR EDMUND HILLARY: brief biography of a great New

Zealander, Mountaineer, Explorer, Philanthropist,

Humanitarian and Legend.

Sir Edmund Percival Hillary was born in New Zealand on the 20th of July 1919 and

passed away in Auckland on the 11th of January 2008.

Ed was a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE), Knight of the

Order of the Garter (KG), Member of the Order of New Zealand, (ONZ) and a

recipient of India’s second highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan, which was

awarded posthumously in 2008. He was a much loved New Zealand mountaineer,

explorer, humanitarian, philanthropist and an international legend.

Ed became interested in mountaineering while in High School and in 1939 he made

his first major climb reaching the summit of Mount Ollivier, a 1,933m (6,342 ft)

mountain in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand.

He served as a navigator in the Royal New Zealand Air Force during World War II.

Prior to the successful 1953 Everest Expedition, he had been part of the British

reconnaissance to Everest in 1951 as well as an unsuccessful attempt to climb Cho

Oyu in 1952.

Following his ascent of Everest, Ed founded the Himalayan Trust that went on to

build many schools and hospitals in impoverished Nepal.

In 1958 Hillary reached the South Pole overland and subsequently reached the

North Pole, making him the first person to reach both poles and the summit of

Everest (often referred to as the ‘third pole’).

Ed grew up in Tuakau, south of Auckland, in New Zealand. Unbelievably, the young

man who later grew to be 6’ 5” was initially smaller than his peers at school and was

often bullied. He attended Auckland Boys’ Grammar School, which was a daily train

journey, two-hours each way. He took the opportunity to read and gained

confidence by learning to box. His interest in climbing began at age 16 and Ed found

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he was physically strong and had great endurance. He studied mathematics and

science at the University of Auckland and in 1939 completed his first major climb.

He and his brother Rex became beekeepers, a summer time job that enabled him to

climb in winter. Hillary climbed ten other peaks in the Himalayas between 1956 and

1965.

Soon after the ascent of Everest he married Louise Mary Rose. They had three

children: Peter (born in 1954), Sarah (born in 1955) and Belinda (1959-1975). In

1975, while en route to join Ed, in the Phaphlu where he was building a hospital, his

wife Louise and youngest daughter Belinda were killed in a plane crash near

Kathmandu.

In 1989 he married June Mulgrew, the widow of his close friend Pilot Peter Mulgrew

(who was killed in an airplane crash at Mt Erebus, Antartica, in 1979).

Sir Edmund Hillary’s famous profile is on the New Zealand five-dollar note.

In 2005 he was named by Reader’s Digest as New Zealand’s most trusted individual,

beating an Olympic Gold Medalist cyclist Sarah Ulmer and multi Academy-Award ®

winning film director Sir Peter Jackson.

When Sir Edmund Hillary passed away in hospital in 2008 at the age of 88, his death

was announced by NZ Prime Minister, Helen Clark. She stated that his death was a

“profound loss to New Zealand”. The nation came to a stand still during this state

funeral, which was held on 22nd of July 2008.

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TENZING NORGAY – Legendary Sherpa and Mountaineer

Tenzing Norgay was born the eleventh of thirteen children in May of 1914. His

parents named him Namgyal Wangdi, but a Buddhist lama later suggested he change

it to Tenzing Norgay ("wealthy and fortunate follower of the teachings"). The exact

date and circumstances of his birth are disputed. Although in his autobiography,

Tenzing claims to have been born in Nepal to a Sherpa family, it seems more likely

that he was born in the Kharta Valley of Tibet. When the family's yaks died in an

epidemic, his desperate parents sent Tenzing to live with a Nepalese Sherpa family as

an indentured servant.

At 19, Tenzing Norgay moved to Darjeeling, India, where there was a sizable Sherpa

community. There, the British Everest expedition leader Eric Shipton noticed him

and hired him as a high-altitude porter for a 1935 reconnaissance of the northern

(Tibetan) face of the mountain. Tenzing would act as a porter for two additional

British attempts on the northern side in the 1930s, but this route would be closed

off to westerners by the 13th Dalai Lama in 1945.

Along with Canadian mountaineer Earl Denman and Ange Dawa Sherpa, Tenzing

snuck over the Tibetan border in 1947 to make another attempt on Everest. They

were turned back at about 22,000 feet (6,700 meters) by a pounding snow-storm.

In 1950, China invaded Tibet and asserted control over it, strengthening the ban on

foreigners. Luckily, the Kingdom of Nepal was beginning to open its borders to

foreign adventurers. The following year, a small exploratory party made up mostly of

Britons scouted the southern, Nepalese approach to Everest. Among the party were

a small group of Sherpas, including Tenzing Norgay, and an up-and-coming climber

from New Zealand, Edmund Hillary.

In 1952 Tenzing joined a Swiss expedition led by the famous climber Raymond

Lambert, as it made an attempt on Everest. Tenzing and Lambert got as high as

28,215 feet (8,599 meters), less than 1,000 feet from the summit, before they were

turned back by bad weather.

In 1953 another British expedition, led by John Hunt, set out for Everest. Tenzing

Norgay was invited to put a team of 20 Sherpas together and was later hired as a

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mountaineer, rather than as a Sherpa guide - an indication of the respect his skills

engendered in the European climbing world. It was Tenzing's seventh Everest

expedition.

Tenzing and Ed quickly learned to respect one another as mountaineers. Tenzing

even saved Ed’s life in the early stages of the 1953 expedition.

The two were roped together, making their way across the ice-field at the base of

Everest, the New Zealander leading, when Ed jumped a crevasse. The icy cornice he

landed on broke off, sending the lanky mountaineer tumbling down into the crevasse.

At the last possible moment, Tenzing was able to tighten the rope and prevent his

climbing partner from smashing onto the rocks at the bottom of the crevasse.

Push for the Summit: The Hunt expedition made its base camp in March of 1953,

then slowly established eight higher camps, acclimatising themselves to the altitude

along the way. By late May, they were within striking distance of the summit.

The first two-man team to make the push was Tom Bourdillon and Charles Evans,

on May 26, but they had to turn back just 300 feet short of the summit when one of

their oxygen masks failed. Two days later, Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary set

out at 6:30 am for their attempt.

Tenzing and Hillary strapped on their oxygen masks on that crystal-clear morning,

and started kicking steps into the icy snow. By 9 am they had reached the South

Summit, below the true summit. After climbing the bare, 40-foot vertical rock now

called the Hillary Step, the two traversed a ridge and rounded the last switchback

corner to find themselves on top of the world.

The newly-crowned Queen Elizabeth II knighted Edmund Hillary and John Hunt, but

Tenzing Norgay received only the British Empire Medal rather than a knighthood. In

1957, the Indian Prime Minister threw his support behind Tenzing's efforts to train

South Asian boys and girls in mountaineering skills and provide scholarships for their

studies. Tenzing himself was able to live comfortably after his Everest triumph, and

he sought to extend the same path out of poverty to other people.

After the death of his first wife, Tenzing married two other women. His second wife

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was Ang Lahmu, who had no children of her own but looked after Dawa Phuti's

surviving daughters, and his third wife was Dakku, with whom Tenzing had three

sons and a daughter.

On May 9, 1986, Tenzing Norgay passed away at the age of 71. Different sources list

his cause of death as either a cerebral brain hemorrhage or a bronchial condition.

Thus, a life-story that begins with a mystery also ends with one.

Tenzing Norgay's Legacy: "It has been a long road...From a mountain coolie, a

bearer of loads, to a wearer of a coat with rows of medals who is carried about in

planes and worries about income tax." ~ Tenzing Norgay. Of course, Tenzing

could have said, "From a child sold into servitude," but he never liked to talk about

the circumstances of his childhood.

ED and TENZING – Immortalised forever in history

It was an incredible day on the summit of Mt Everest, 60 years ago, on May 29 1953,

when two humble men fulfilled a dream. After years of dreaming and seven weeks

of climbing they became the first to people ever stand on top of the world!

When four days later – on June the 2nd – the news of Everest’s crowning glory finally

reached the UK, the Commonwealth and the world, it was on the very day of

Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation.

The news was greeted by millions of people already in the mood to celebrate, as

Queen Elizabeth II was about to ascend the throne as the new monarch of the

British Empire.

All this exciting news was a tonic for a beleaguered world that in 1953 was still

reeling from the aftermath of the Second World War that ended only 8 years

earlier. In the United Kingdom it was a sobering and somber time - rations still

existed and times were tough. The Coronation and the conquest of Everest

entwined as events that excited and elated the world.

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Ed Hillary, an extremely strong man towering 6’5” (195cm), and the powerhouse

that was Tenzing Norgay, a 39-year-old Sherpa from Nepal – a self confessed ‘simple

man of the mountains’ – had together achieved the ‘impossible’ and became

immortalised in history forever.

Further notes: When Hunt and Hillary returned to Kathmandu a few days later they

discovered they had been promptly knighted. Tenzing, a Nepali citizen of India, was

granted the George Medal of Great Britain. Famously – when Sir Edmund

descended the mountain the next day, he greeted his close friend and fellow New

Zealander George Lowe with ”Well, George, we knocked the ‘Bastard’ off!”

HUNT’S BRITISH EVEREST EXPEDITION OF 1953 – the first

confirmed ascent of Everest

A new British party led by Colonel John Hunt was established in 1953 and marked

Britain’s 9th attempt at Everest. With Hunt were the pick of 11 of England’s best

mountaineers and two from New Zealand, one of whom Edmund Hillary had been on

both the 1951 Everest reconnaissance and the Cho Oyu expedition of 1952.

The party totaled over 400 people, including the 11 English and two New Zealand

mountaineers – (Ed Hillary and George Lowe). Tenzing Norgay was invited to join,

and helped pick and eventually lead the Sherpa team of 20 experienced men. (Norgay

was attempting Everest for the 6th time and was considered the best-known Sherpa

climber and one of the world’s leading mountaineers).

There were 362 porters who were vital to the success of the expedition as they

collectively carried the party’s 10,000 lbs of baggage.

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The Dangers of Climbing the Highest Mountain in the World

Before Hillary and Tenzing, the world didn’t know if a man could survive at the top

of Everest. While BEYOND THE EDGE doesn’t dwell on the issues such as the

contentious debate following so many failed attempts and loss of life in earlier

expeditions – such as was it literally worth the risk of life and limb – the producers were

mindful to present the dangers the climbers faced, which can’t be underestimated in

todays world.

Climbing Mt Everest is extremely dangerous. Besides the freezing weather (which

puts climbers at risk of extreme frostbite) and the obvious potential for long falls

from icy cliff faces and into deep crevasses, climbers of Mount Everest suffer from

the effects of the extreme high altitude, often called "mountain sickness."

At high altitude the human body struggles to get enough oxygen to the brain and is

put under great distress, which causes a condition called hypoxia. Any climber who

climbs above 8,000 feet could get mountain sickness and the higher they climb, the

more severe the symptoms might become. Most climbers of Mt Everest suffer from

headaches at the very least, thoughts can become cloudy which impacts on decision-

making. They also suffer from a lack of sleep, severe fatigue and no appetite.

If a climber hasn’t acclimated properly, then acute signs of altitude sickness can

present including dementia, delusions, the wobbles, a lack of physical coordination

and possibly induce coma.

To prevent the acute symptoms of altitude sickness, climbers have to slowly

acclimate their bodies to the various stages of high altitudes. This is the reason why

climbers can take many weeks to climb Mt Everest.

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THE LOCATIONS – New Zealand and Mt Everest

Filming for BEYOND THE EDGE took place in the high altitude climbs of the

Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park region, located in the centre of New Zealand’s

Southern Alps, and at Mt Everest in The Himalayas.

For 21 days in March 2013, the principal photography of the re-enactments took

place in and around the magnificent key locations of Mt Hopkins at the head of the

Dobson Valley, the Tasman Glacier ice-falls, Mt Hochstetter ice fall and locations on

The Minarets.

In May 2013, Mark Whetu, an experienced New Zealand mountaineer and high

altitude cameraman led a second unit team and shot footage for BEYOND THE

EDGE as he summited Mt Everest in The Himalayas.

Mark Whetu’s Ascent of Everest 2013

At 10:00pm on May 19, 2013, experienced Kiwi mountaineer Mark Whetu

departed the South Col, and summited Mt Everest at 6:40am on May 20.

BEYOND THE EDGE has been a unique opportunity for Mark Whetu, “It’s been an

honour, not only to be involved with and contribute to the production but also to

celebrate by climbing Mt Everest during the time of the 60th anniversary.

This particular expedition was one of the more enjoyable projects that I've worked

on. Essentially we had superb weather and therefore climbing conditions were very

favourable. It was great to be involved in a New Zealand project, on a New

Zealand-lead expedition, shooting a story about our most famous New Zealander.”

Whetu is a New Zealand Mountaineer, specialising in high altitude filming, rigging and

crew safety. Mark's filming exploits have put him in the wildest locations possible,

providing exclusive footage for productions internationally.

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This was Mark’s 7th ascent of Everest. He began the expedition in early April and

spent six weeks acclimatising and filming the lower mountain.

On the expedition were 49 Sherpa staff with 20 Climbing Sherpa for Everest (16

were summit day Climbing Sherpa), and 4 Climbing Sherpa for Mark Whetu's film

project. The rest of the Sherpa were at Base Camp or were cook staff.

There was in excess of 10,000kg of equipment which was all transported to Base

Camp by either porter or yak. A porter normally carries 30kg and a yak

60kg+. There were more than 100 porters and about 90 or so yaks. Once above

Base Camp, loads were carried by the expeditions’ climbing Sherpa (who carry less –

normally about 15kg depending on how bulky or cumbersome the load is).

About Mt Everest in the Himalaya Region:

The Himalayan mountain range in Asia separates the plains of the Tibetan Plateau

from the plains of the Indian subcontinent. It is home to some of the highest peaks

on earth, with over a hundred mountains exceeding 7,200metres (23,600 feet), the

highest being Mt Everest with a peak of 8,848metres (29,029 ft) above sea level.

Today the mountain attracts relatively large numbers of adventurous and highly

experienced mountaineers as well as ‘capable’ climbers – willing to challenge the high

level of danger such as altitude sickness freezing temperatures, extreme weather

conditions and wild wind.

About Aoraki/Mt Cook Region:

The mountains of Aoraki/Mt Cook region are renown to be very similar to the

Himalayas, with similar textures, ice cliffs and terrain, but the main difference is of

course the much lower altitude. The lower altitude makes this ‘match’ a real asset

for the Mt Cook region to enable filming of projects like BEYOND THE EDGE and

others. It’s also an ideal training ground for New Zealand mountaineers who can

transfer the skills they learn to the Himalayas.

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Aoraki/Mt Cook, located in the centre of the South Island is New Zealand's great

alpine park consisting of 70,696 hectares. It has the highest mountains and the largest

glaciers in New Zealand. Mt Cook itself is the highest peak in New Zealand reaching

3,754 meters (12,316 ft).

Sir Edmund Hillary and Mt Cook

Sir Edmund Hillary had a longstanding connection with the Aoraki/Mt Cook region.

The Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre hosts a treasure trove of information about

the great mountaineer and hosts a gallery that touches upon his achievements,

expeditions and life’s work. It was here at Aoraki Mt Cook that a young Ed Hillary

climbed his first major mountain and achieved a number of impressive first ascents

including the difficult south face of Mt Cook, and also trained for his Everest and

Antartic expeditions.

Aoraki/Mount Cook was formally established as a national park in 1953, the same

year Hillary and Tenzing reached the top of Everest. The park was formed

from reserves that were established as early as 1887 to protect the area’s significant

vegetation and landscape.

A popular tourist destination, it is also a favourite challenge for mountaineers from

all over the world. Aoraki/Mount Cook consists of three summits lying slightly south

and east of the main divide, the Low Peak, Middle Peak and High Peak, with the

Tasman Glacier to the east and the Hooker Glacier to the west.

This magnificent alpine wonderland is also famous for its majestic locations in Sir

Peter Jackson’s THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy and THE HOBBIT.

Special Interest : World’s Largest Dark Sky Reserve

The Mt Cook National Park is home to over 4,300 km² of the region’s

Mackenzie night sky in the Southern Alps. This reserve has been recognised as an

International Dark Sky Reserve - the largest such reserve in the world and one of

the best stargazing sites on earth.

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BEYOND THE EDGE Credit Information

FEATURING Chad Moffitt as Edmund Hillary Sonam Sherpa as Tenzing Norgay 1

st Assistant Director Hamish Gough

Consultant for Ed Hillary and Mountaineering Peter Hillary Casting Director Liz Mullane Researcher Keiran McGee

CAST Edmund Hillary Chad Moffitt Tenzing Norgay Sonam Sherpa John Hunt John Wraight George Lowe Joshua Rutter Tom Bourdillon Dan Musgrove Charles Evans Erroll Shand Ang Nyima Phurenje Sherpa Pemba Jimmy Kunsang Alfred Gregory Callum Grant Wilfred Noyce Matthew Metcalfe Sherpa 1 Pasang Dawa Sherpa Sherpa 2 Nima Wangchhu Sherpa

CREW Stereographer Sean Kelly 1

st AC Dean McCarroll

2nd

AC Garth Michael Video Split Operator Jason Naran Digital Technician Chris Rudkin Script Supervisor Sarah Hinch Key Grip / 3D Engineer Dion Hartley Gaffer Jamie Couper Grip / Lighting Technicians Kevin Matthews Ben Vere Jones Production Co-ordinator Donna Pearman 2

nd Assistant Director Thea Govorko

Director’s Assistant Belinda Cumming Financial Controller Di Magee Art Directors Sam Storey Ken Turner Jill Cormack Props Buyer Grace Mok Standby Props Alexandra Turner Standby Assist / Special Effects Mike Appleby Construction / Special Effects Kevin Butson Ethan Gabriel Special Effects Technicians Tom Brown

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Pete Jansen Set Painter Andy King Graphic Designer Alistair Gillies Storyboard Artist David Gunson Make Up Assistant Michele Barber Costume Assistants Heidi Watson Costume Breakdown Artist Matthew Kleinhans Costume Cutter Marion Olson Costume Builder Rosemary Gough Knitter Jo Hawke Boot Makers Lastrite Footwear Mountaineering Consultant Guy Cotter Mountain Safety / Riggers Brian Hall Dave McLeod Mark Whetu Charlie Hobbs Mark Morrison Callum Grant Andy Tindall Edmund Hillary Climbing Double Jim Spencer Tenzing Norgay Climbing Double Phurenje Sherpa Set Medic / Unit Manager Richie Hunter Mountain Location Manager Guy Cotter Location Scout Phil Turner Set Runner Jane Ovenden Stunt Co-ordinator Steve McQuillan Stunt Rigger Aaron Lupton Edmund Hillary Stunt Double Mana Davis Tenzing Norgay Stunt Double Tim Wong Helicopter Pilots Mark Hayes John Haora Richard Hayes Nick Nicholson Scott Theyers Chris Green Sam Gawith Helicopter Coordinator Trish Knox

MT EVEREST CREW Mt. Everest Cinematographer Mark Whetu

Mt. Everest Aerial Pilot Jason Laing Mt. Everest Operations Coordinator Caroline Blaikie Climbing Sirdar Lhakpa Dorje Sherpa Climbing Sherpas Namgyal Sherpa

Lhakpa Tenzing Sherpa Datuk Bhote Pasang Bhote

ADDITIONAL CREW 1

st AC Ben Rowsell

Key Grip / Gaffer Adrian Greshoff Technical Assistants Ben Marshall

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Jason Tidswell Assistant Production Coordinators Kylie Gaudin David Boden Research Assistants Anna Maloney Annie Bates Art Department Assistant Bevan McDonald Make Up Artist Natasha Lees Safety Officer Robert Gibson

POST PRODUCTION BY DIGIPOST, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND Digipost Executive Directors Garry Little Greg Fay Post Production Producer Roger Grant VFX Producers Lucy Bowey Fiona Webb VFX Supervisor / Compositor Stuart Bedford VFX Compositors James Cordon Jesse Parkhill Matt Westbrooke Nick Hurst Oliver Faldo Richard Betts Kim Fogelberg Digital Matte Artist Peter Baustaedter 2D Graphic Design Grant Major 3D Animation Greg Smith Dan Taylor Ivan Leong Mike Blennerhasset Glenn Darwick Digital Colourist Pete Williams Archive Restoration Dave Gibson Gerard Ward Pete Williams Smoke Artist / Ocular Stereoscopic Matching James Schoning Supervising Sound Editor/Re-recording Mixer Bruno Barrett-Garnier Sound Editor Bruce Langley Assistant Sound Editor Chay McLaren Additional SFX Recording Andy Salek Dave McLeod John Patrick Maxwell Scott Foley Artists Amy Barber Gareth Van Niekerk Digipost Audio Facilities Kylie Green Cinetape Services Edward Sampson

John Bakker DCP Mastering Matt Cunningham Digipost IT Terry Blow Benn Morrison Assistant Editor Jonathan Stevenson Assistant VFX Editor Anu Webster

SOUNDTRACK Orchestra Conductor Hamish McKeich Orchestral recording and mixing Graham Kennedy All other recording Mike Gibson Orchestration Ewan Clarke

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Music mixed at Park Road Post, Wellington, by Graham Kennedy Percussion Riki Gooch Viola Campara, Feedback David Long Harp Natalia Mann Taonga puoro Richard Nunns

Strings Emma Barron Megan Molina Matt Cave Rowan Prior Alexander Gunchenko Rebecca Struthers Sally Isaac Andrew Thomson Andrew Joyce Belinda Veitch Vesa-Matti Leppänen Anna van der Zee Haihong Lui Kristina Zelinska Alan Molina

Woodwinds Bridget Douglas Phil Green Peter Dykes Robert Weeks

Horns Dave Bremner Andrew Jarvis Mark Carter Sam Jacobs

Original Music and Recordings by David Long © 2013 Native Tongue Music Publishing Ltd.

"Only To Be"

(J. Fraser/M. Walters) Control

Performed by Six60 Courtesy of Massive Entertainment Ltd

3ality Technica 3D Rigs Wingnut Cameras Lighting Equipment Portsmouth Rentals Grip Equipment Filmtec 3D Licences 3ality Technica Legal and Business Affairs Matt Emery (Emery Legal) Insurance Crombie Lockwood Completion Bond Services Film Finances Australia

Anni Browning Auditor PriceWaterhouseCoopers Corporate Accounting Services Leonard Knight Ltd.

Dave Johnston SPIF Lending ANZ Bank ANZ Lending Manager Grant Watson

Publicist Diana Goulding EPK Crew Jay Berryman

Lyn Hamilton Stills Photographer Matt Klitscher Mark Whetu

FOR THE NEW ZEALAND FILM COMMISSION Chief Executive Graeme Mason Deputy Chief Executive Mladen Ivancic Head of Business Affairs Naomi Wallwork

FOR NEW ZEALAND ON AIR Chief Executive Jane Wrightson

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Television Manager Glenn Usmar Television Contracts Executive Benedict Reid

FOR ALTITUDE FILM SALES Chief Executive Will Clarke Co-Chief Executive Andy Mayson Managing Director, International Sales Mike Runagall International Marketing Manager Robin Andrews International Sales Executive Vicki Brown

INTERVIEWEES: Broughton Coburn Mick Conefrey Ed Douglas Dr Peter Hackett Peter Hillary

Dr. David Shlim Norbu Tenzing Simon Thompson Stephen Venables Jim Whittaker

Archive Interviewees: Edmund Hillary

George Band Alfred Gregory John Hunt

George Lowe Mike Westmacott Charles Wylie

THE CONQUEST OF EVEREST (1953) COURTESY OF

Studiocanal Films Ltd. British Screen Finance Ltd.

1953 Everest expedition filmed by

Tom Stobart George Lowe

ARCHIVE COURTESY OF

T3 Media Sound Archives / Ngā Taonga Kōrero

Archives New Zealand / Te Rua Mahara o Te Kāwanatanga Keirfilm Productions Ltd

Australian Broadcasting Corporation Library Sales Global ImageWorks, LLC.

Everest The Ultimate Challenge 1922-1982 / Quarry Lane Productions Eddie Bauer, LLC

Archwood Protection Ltd. NHNZ Moving Images

Smithsonian Folkways Recordings Archive

“The Everest Expedition” by Sir Edmund Hillary from the recording entitles Interview with Sir Edmund Hillary: Mountain Climbing, courtesy of Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. © 1974. Used by

permission.

STILL PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF Royal Geographic Society (with IBG)

The Hillary Family Auckland War Memorial Museum George Lowe Collection Guy Cotter, Adventure Consultants Kynan Bazley & Hedgehog House NZ

Eric Shipton (RGS) Alfred Gregory (RGS) Edmund Hillary (RGS) George Lowe (RGS) John Hunt (RGS) Charles Wylie (RGS)

THANKS TO

Susan Band Theresa Graham

Susan Leyden Mary Lowe

Jan Morris Sally Westmacott

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Auckland Boys’ Grammar Pete Athans Dave Bamford Ray Bellringer Connor Bradding Canterbury Museum Jim Clash Claude Desan Andy Faulkner Kerry Fowler Luca Gibb Patric Giclas Glentanner Station Goal Zero Australia Norman Hardie Richard and Carol Hayes Jochen Hemmleb Brian Hill Shaun Higgins Sonny Hopkins Harrison Hoskin

Frank Jasper Jacob Johnson Alexa Johnston Leonne Kassler Colin Kelly Chris Lambourne Jacob Lerner Dr Huw Lewis-Jones Matt Logan Stephen Lovatt Colin Luke Sam Newton Hugh Major Lloyd Major John Martin Meek William McCartney Kirsten McDougall Margaret McMahon Edward Moody Mountain Heritage Trust Mount Cook Backpackers

Tim O'Connor Jamie Owen Adam Pavis Paul Paton Dylan Pharazyn Rotary International Audrey Salkeld Douglas Scott Murray Stott The American Alpine Club The Explorers Club The Hermitage Hotel The New Zealand Alpine Club Simon Thompson Gilly Tyler Walt Unsworth Edmund Viesturs Greg Walker White Studio Justin Winters Wireless Warehouse

SPECIAL THANKS TO

Royal Geographic Society Peter Hillary Sarah Hillary Lady June Hillary John Hillary June Carlisle Alistair Carlisle Hilary Carlisle

Norbu Tenzing Jamling Tenzing Elizabeth Metcalfe Benjamin Metcalfe Dean Pooley Ella Pooley Grace Pooley

The Filmmakers would also like to thank the people of Ngāi Tahu, the people of Aoraki Mt. Cook Village

and the wider New Zealand community for making this film possible.

Filmed on location in Aoraki Mt. Cook National Park, New Zealand; Auckland, New Zealand

and Mt. Everest, Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal

Produced with the assistance of Aoraki Area Office of the Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai New Zealand

Mt. Everest filming assisted by Adventure Consultants

The Himalayan Trust was the work of Ed Hillary’s life. This was how he helped people reach their own summits!

www.himalayantrust.co.nz (Himalayan Trust Logo)

LOGOS FOR: Adventure Consultants, Eddie Bauer, Lonza, Goal Zero, Dermalogica, Heliworks, M.A.C.,

ANZ, Scruples

COMPANY LOGOS FOR: GFC, New Zealand Film Commission, Digipost, NZ On AirAltitude

Copyright 2013 GFC (Everest) Ltd All Rights Reserved

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