Frozen River Film Festival - Equal Footing
Wyoming’s remote and vast wilderness provides the perfect canvas for Alpinist’s Kim and Julia to redefine preconceptions of the feminine. Isolated and exposed on the raw granite peaks of the Wind River Range, the experience of these two women explores the fabric of loss, life, and friendship.
Interview with Director/Producer Dan Holz
Watch Equal Footing here:
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
We decided to make Equal Footing because we saw a pretty big lack of a female focus in the world of adventure films. There are so many female athletes out there that are really getting after it that deserve recognition. After a conversation with my friend Kim (Havell), we decided to assemble a team to make this project happen. It was an added bonus that I was able to work on a climbing film with very close friends of mine.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
We decided to make a film that would not only appeal to climbers, but to audiences across the board. We included a very compelling storyline and coupled it with dramatic cinematography from a very remote wilderness area in Wyoming’s back country. This film gives an intimate view into the world of alpine climbing that you don’t often see in most adventure films. I feel that most audience members are touched by how genuine and relatable these world class athletes really are.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
We have taken a snapshot of two women who are on a climbing trip and focus on their experience as they explore the fabric of loss, life and friendship. These are overarching themes that universally affect us all while on a very personal level.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
There really was no script for this film. Instead, we wanted to showcase what was really going through the hearts and minds of Kim and Julia during this experience. We were actually still working out the narrative on the way to the trail head when we came up with the idea of having Kim and Julia write out what climbing truly means to them - in their own words. Clearly, they dug pretty deep. These narratives became the very foundation for driving this film
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. In addition to going on a world tour and winning in the Documentary Competition with Mountainfilm, Equal Footing has landed in fifteen additional festivals (both internationally and domestic) and counting. We have also won a Jury Award for Excellence in Documentary Filmmaking from the Southern Colorado Film Festival. During the film’s world premiere in Telluride, our crew were often stopped on the street and thanked for making a relatable climbing film about women. It was amazing to receive such affirmation for this film.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Our goal is to put this film in front of as many people as possible. We would love nothing more to help start a trend which will inspire other filmmakers to create films with a more feminine focus.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
This movie is slated to go live online in July 2017. It is free to watch and free to share. Everyone and anyone who is willing to amplify our film’s message is invited (and encouraged) to do so!
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I feel that we have already received a very warm welcome since this film’s initial release to the film festival circuit. And I am hopeful that positive momentum will continue. But what I really want is for my 16-month old daughter to look at this film when she is older and be proud of her dad for doing his part for equality. That would be the best reception I can possibly think of.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Do you feel that women are receiving enough ‘street cred’ in the world of Adventure sports? That should get the ball rolling ;)
What are the key creatives working on next?
We have just teamed up with Osprey Packs, Ibex Clothing and Keen Footwear to produce a conservation piece about the Owyhee Canyonlands of Oregon called ‘Wild Owyhee.’ Films such as this are more important now than ever when it comes to raising awareness of threats to some of the last remaining ‘wild’ places on our planet.
Interview: February 2017
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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Equal Footing
Wyoming’s remote and vast wilderness provides the perfect canvas for Alpinist’s Kim and Julia to redefine preconceptions of the feminine. Isolated and exposed on the raw granite peaks of the Wind River Range, the experience of these two women explores the fabric of loss, life, and friendship.
Length: 7:32
Director: Dan Holz | Eric Elofson | Kaare Iverson
Producer: Dan Holz
About the writer, director and producer:
Key cast: Kim Havell | Julia Heemstra
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists):
Film Festival Directors and Journalists
Funders: Osprey Packs
Made in association with: Goal Zero, Tincup Whisky, Good To-Go Foods
Where can I see it in the next month? Catch it on tour with Mountainfilm: https://www.mountainfilm.org/tour/schedule
This video will be released online in July of 2017