Mountains in Motion
Mountains in Motion: The Canadian Rockies (Writer)
Mountains in Motion: The Canadian Rockies is a time-lapse short about the life of the alpine landscape and the experiences of the people who have moved through it within past centuries.
Photography by Doug Urquhart (upthink.tv) & Paul Zizka (zizka.ca)
Original Music by Michael Wynne (michaelwynne.net)
Original Story by Meghan J. Ward (meghanjoyward.com) – film narration text available here
Motion control made possible by dynamicperception.com
Voice Talent – Brian Bremer
Pioneer – Guy Thorsby
Awards/Screenings (2012-2013)
Atlanta Shortsfest (Atlanta, Georiga) – September 14-16th, 2012 – WINNER – Best Documentary
Dixie Film Festival (Athens, Georgia) – October 7th, 2012 – WINNER – Best Cinematography
Banff Mountain Film Festival (Banff, Alberta) – October 31st – November 4th, 2012 – Selected for World Tour
Asheville Cinema Festival (Asheville, North Carolina) – November 2, 2012 – WINNER – Best Documentary Short
Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival (Vancouver, British Columbia) – February 8-17th – FINALIST
ColdSmoke Awards Film Festival – Bozeman, MT – March 2013 – WINNER – Best Cinematography
ColdSmoke Awards Film Festival – Bozeman, MT – March 2013 – WINNER – The People’s Choice Awards
Honolulu Film Awards – Honolulu, Hawaii – May 2013 – WINNER – Best Experimental Film
Film
BEST VIEWED FULLSCREEN, HD (with scaling off). Please dim the lights, turn up your speakers, sit back and relax.
Banff World Tour Info: banffcentre.ca/mountainfestival/worldtour/
DVD & Blu-ray available for order at mountainsinmotion.ca/order/
Trailer
Mountains in Motion: The Canadian Rockies | 2012 Official Trailer from The Upthink Lab on Vimeo.
Synopsis
Mountains in Motion: The Canadian Rockies is an experimental short documenting the life of the alpine landscape through time-lapse photography. In an effort to highlight the wildness of these mountain places and how they have inspired explorers of the past, present and future, sequences were painstakingly gathered from exposed summits; by glacial lakes; and under aurora-filled skies.
Hours and even months of change lapses in a matter of seconds, providing the viewer with a rare insight into the ever-changing nature of the landscape. Dramatic peaks, crumbling glaciers, surging rivers and frozen waterfalls come alive with intense detail.
Weaving throughout the film are reflections of an early mountaineer, who is deeply moved by his own encounter with the mountains and the revelations of explorers who have come before him. “What is this power that lures me upwards, into the unknown,” he wonders, “that pulls me deeper, despite snow, wind and exhaustion?”
Made on a shoestring budget and with entirely volunteer hours, the film brought together artists from two vastly different parts of North America – Banff, Alberta, and Atlanta, Georgia. Strangers at the start, the film team developed strong friendships over the course of production and were united by their common goal of capturing the beauty and essence of a place that inspires them every day.
This 100% human-powered film combines time-lapse photography with an original story and musical score to bring the landscape center-stage and offers a thrilling new perspective that re-establishes the Canadian Rockies among the finest mountains in the world.
“We were not pioneers ourselves, but we journeyed over old trails that were new to us, and with hearts open. Who shall distinguish?” – J. Monroe Thorington
Visit the film’s website to view the trailer, read the film’s synopsis and find out more about the crew. You can also join the Facebook Page to stay up-to-date.
