Free Solo Movie

Briggs Lazalde wrote:

HAHAHA!! the question there was, did he use aid?

Sorry to dread thrift some more here, but speaking of free soloing and movies, does anyone recall the Stone masters episode that featured Dan Osman free soloing a rushing waterfall with ice tools and water pounding him in the face? I still dont see how that's possible. He couldn't see his placements and no gear...there was like no way to be in full control when climbing like that which is like the foundation of free soloing from what I see. Insane

I love those older videos.

I think the Dan Osman Eagle Falls solo had some engineering to it.  Maybe some preplaced cables in the summer.  Over all it isn't steep, sheer, or tall.

Fun Crazy stuff.

Wait. Was I supposed to get really offended that my thread was off topic?!?!

Briggs Lazalde wrote:

HAHAHA!! the question there was, did he use aid?

Sorry to dread thrift some more here, but speaking of free soloing and movies, does anyone recall the Stone masters episode that featured Dan Osman free soloing a rushing waterfall with ice tools and water pounding him in the face? I still dont see how that's possible. He couldn't see his placements and no gear...there was like no way to be in full control when climbing like that which is like the foundation of free soloing from what I see. Insane

A lot of mixed climbing is "by feel" i.e. you can't see what the tools are catching on. Watch any video of high end winter climbing on something like Ben Nevis. Petzl has a good video that includes this; I recommend it. Bonus relevant to this drifted thread: Ueli is in it.

A good listen...

​Free Solo on Fresh Air​​​

For those of us in Germany, it appears that "Free Solo" will have its release on the Big Screen on March 21st.

Jaren Watson wrote:

and when Colonel Mustard maintained a 32-hour erection during TNT’s Planet of the Apes marathon.

His word is his bon’d. #ibelievecolonelmustard

Briggs Lazalde wrote:

If you live in or near Germany and have pirated the video, its time to pay your dues

Ha!  Don't start that again!!!

Jplotz wrote: A good listen...

Free Solo on Fresh Air

So, Alex, Terry Gross, and me all want the full climb footage. Cough it up, Jimmy! I'm sure it would be a snoozefest for the non-climbing audience, but I am sure a lot of climbers would be interested... plus Terry Gross!

For those that want to legally watch and purchase FreeSolo online it will be available via iTunes on Tuesday.   I'm sure this will make David very happy to know that the team finally got their act together.  Because Natgeo obviously hasn't had their act together seeing as how they managed to get it screened on IMAX  for two different runs and managed to get the film nominated for an Oscar and a BAFTA.  

Awesome!

I'll download it on Tuesday but still will plan on seeing it on the "big Screen" in March!

Thanks for the update!

Thanks for the heads up, Mikey!

Mikey Schaefer wrote: For those that want to legally watch and purchase FreeSolo online it will be available via iTunes on Tuesday.   I'm sure this will make David very happy to know that the team finally got their act together.  Because Natgeo obviously hasn't had their act together seeing as how they managed to get it screened on IMAX  for two different runs and managed to get the film nominated for an Oscar and a BAFTA.  

Congratulations on the nominations and likely awards, by the way! Well earned.

We just watched last week, at the IMAX. Our question was, will you put out just the climb,  bottom to top, complete, at some point? Not exactly everyone's cuppa joe, but climbers would sure enjoy it!

Thanks! Helen

A lot of people ask about seeing the full climb.  That decision is way above my paygrade so I have no idea if it will ever happen.  But I am leaning towards no at this point.  Probably too much cost, effort and time for the editors/producers and the return on those investments would be low.

Mikey Schaefer wrote: A lot of people ask about seeing the full climb.  That decision is way above my paygrade so I have no idea if it will ever happen.  But I am leaning towards no at this point.  Probably too much cost, effort and time for the editors/producers and the return on those investments would be low.

I think it obviously wouldn't have much of an audience, but hand in hand with that, those who want to see the full climb also wouldn't care about production value much. Hell, I took some video production classes in college a decade ago, as part of my under-utilized journalism degree. I'd volunteer to help put something together. I'm sure nothing has changed since then, right? ;-) Or better yet, get a trio of unpaid interns to do it. Just make it chronological and linear, and I think the people interested would be satisfied and stoked. Anyway, thanks again for putting together a great flick. I bumped into you and Jimmy in the Manure Pile parking lot one May a few (three?) years ago after moving to northern California from Idaho. It was my first time in the Valley, and I had been out of climbing for over a decade (kids). I was feeling pretty starstruck, mainly by the size and scope of Yosemite Valley, but also by the idea that bumping into well known climbers was a regular occurrence. Keep up the good work!

Just pre-ordered the movie on Google Play for $9.99. It said it would be available to watch 2/12/19 (Tuesday.) So yes, next Tuesday it will be available for download on multiple streaming / web platforms. 

Mikey Schaefer wrote: A lot of people ask about seeing the full climb.  That decision is way above my paygrade so I have no idea if it will ever happen.  But I am leaning towards no at this point.  Probably too much cost, effort and time for the editors/producers and the return on those investments would be low.

Well, thanks for the reply!

My hubby was a photojournalist, way, way, back in the day, and I've been the beast of burden for camera crap many times. The interviews and shorts that feature the working end of this are just as interesting to me as the end product. And, I have to say, Chin is a favorite of mine, for his skills across multiple disciplines.

But, it is also the whole team. That, impresses the hell outta me.

More so than Honnold. ;-)

Best, Helen

Just bought this on amazon!!!

Will be watching with my kiddos later tonight!  

Cannot wait!

TV will not match the Big Screen of the theatres but it'll have to do until March when it hits the "kino" here in Germany!

On Hulu, finally watched it.

There was a decent chance that he wouldn't have survived and if so the trajectory of "climbing" in the public conscious would be totally different. Chin et al took a chance on the story, I'm glad they did but I hope they never take a chance like that again and that nobody else does either. If the unthinkable occurred their souls would be damned.

No harm, no foul!

Read "The Impossible Climb" by Mark Synott and it goes into things a little deeper about how sketched out Alex was on his first attempt and how not "totally in control" he was despite the popular desire to imagine him as such. More info about sketchy angst soloing (after breakups) etc and how he almost lost in on HD etc. He's not a fearless robot but a human being committed to overcoming overwhelming fear (that he sometimes experiences like anyone) to achieve his goals.

Worthy read to fill in the story and get at least another perspective on the historic event.

No climber can dispute the historic achievement. But I am also really glad that Alex/Sanni, the documentary crew and Mark S. shared with us the human side of it and the anxiety over the potential human cost. Keeping it real.

Harumpfster Boondoggle wrote: Read "The Impossible Climb" by Mark Synott and it goes into things a little deeper about how sketched out Alex was on his first attempt and how not "totally in control" he was despite the popular desire to imagine him as such. More info about sketchy angst soloing (after breakups) etc and how he almost lost in on HD etc. He's not a fearless robot but a human being committed to overcoming overwhelming fear (that he sometimes experiences like anyone) to achieve his goals.

Worthy read to fill in the story and get at least another perspective on the historic event.

No climber can dispute the historic achievement. But I am also really glad that Alex/Sanni, the documentary crew and Mark S. shared with us the human side of it and the anxiety over the potential human cost. Keeping it real.

Agreed.

Honestly, I feel dirty for watching it, like I'm complicit in tainting something that should be so pure and personal.