Mountain Life
  • Daily Content
    • Trips & Expeditions
    • Climbing
    • Mountain Biking
    • Mountain Lifer
    • Multiplicity
    • On The Trail
    • Paddling
    • Photography
    • Skiing
    • Snowboarding
    • Stay & Play
    • Surfing
    • The Great Outdoors
    • The ML Interview
    • Travel
  • GEAR
  • VIDEOS
  • STORE
  • Magazines
    • ML Coast Mountains
    • ML Rocky Mountains
    • Vie En Montagne
    • ML Blue Mountains
    • ML Annual
    • ML Subscriptions
  • ABOUT
    • What is ML?
    • Our Team
    • Newsletter
    • Adventure Grant
    • Distribution
  • Podcast
  • Contests
  • CONTACT
    • ML Agency
    • Advertising
    • Contribute
Subscription Form

Get notified of the best News

Social Links
Instagram 22K Followers
Facebook 25K Likes
Twitter 5K Followers
Pinterest 1K Followers
Vimeo 34 Followers
LinkedIn
22K Followers
25K Likes
5K Followers
1K Followers
Mountain Life
Mountain Life
  • Daily Content
    • Trips & Expeditions
    • Climbing
    • Mountain Biking
    • Mountain Lifer
    • Multiplicity
    • On The Trail
    • Paddling
    • Photography
    • Skiing
    • Snowboarding
    • Stay & Play
    • Surfing
    • The Great Outdoors
    • The ML Interview
    • Travel
  • GEAR
  • VIDEOS
  • STORE
  • Magazines
    • ML Coast Mountains
    • ML Rocky Mountains
    • Vie En Montagne
    • ML Blue Mountains
    • ML Annual
    • ML Subscriptions
  • ABOUT
    • What is ML?
    • Our Team
    • Newsletter
    • Adventure Grant
    • Distribution
  • Podcast
  • Contests
  • CONTACT
    • ML Agency
    • Advertising
    • Contribute
  • Videos

Friday Flick: Beyond the Drop

  • July 18, 2014
  • Ben Osborne
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0
0
0
0
Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
Share 0
Share 0

In the world of action sports, it sometimes seems as if life is measured in adrenaline rushes—in moments that make you suck in for air or force you to reevaluate your definition of fear. But, as Mark Anders shows in his new kayaking film Beyond the Drop, sometimes it’s the quieter moments where you step back and look around that prove most memorable.

Beyond the Drop follows six pro kayakers as they take on the Rio Tulijá, or Agua Azul, in Chiapas, Mexico. Drawn to the river for its legendary series of waterfalls, the kayakers soon discover that there is more than just whitewater to explore in Chiapas, including a rich indigenous culture and a beautiful countryside full of people proud to show it off.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZRGAkMMCBk&w=1105&h=622]

We talked to Anders about traveling through Zapatista territory, filming waterfalls and how he’s breaking the mold for adrenaline films.

Mountain Life: This is pretty unusual as far as adventure films go. How did you decide to make Beyond the Drop?

Mark Anders: Over the years, I’ve spent a fair bit of time working with pro kayakers. I’ve had some pretty great adventures traveling with these guys, but then when it comes to the average kayak video, all that the audience ever sees is the highlight reel. The three-second drop. Yet there’s so much more to it than just that. I thought it would be interesting to bring the audience behind the curtain to see what really goes on, and what really drives these paddlers to do what they do.

ML: Tell us about where you were in Mexico. Why did you pick this spot?

MA: Why’d we pick this spot? Two reasons: the steep waterfalls and the neon blue water. It’s really a pretty epic spot. Specifically, we were down in Southern Mexico, in the state of Chiapas, on the Rio Tulijá. The interesting thing is, there’s this relatively busy touristy spot nearby called Agua Azul. It’s a nice waterfall, but hidden just a few miles further downstream inside the rainforest is a collection of five waterfalls, back-to-back, that are much larger and more beautiful than the touristy one. Thing is, the only way to get there is to hike in through a dense rainforest into Zapatista rebel territory. The camera team was definitely a little nervous hiking in because we had many thousands of dollars of camera gear and had heard gnarly stories about the Zapatistas. But the rebels turned out to be super welcoming. They followed us down to the river, and spent the day hanging out with us to watch the pros drop the massive waterfalls in their backyard.

ML: We, as adventure athletes, live for the drop. Why tell the story beyond?

MA: I gotta refer to my answer to question #1 here. I guess, there’s so much more than meets the eye. I wanted to share with the audience all the amazing stuff that exists—and must happen—before the drop ever goes down.

ML: The film focuses on action in and out of the water. How did the athletes feel about moving away from making just an adrenaline film?

MA: Thankfully, our athlete team was very open to the idea of a short film that went a bit deeper than just action sports porn. I think, in the end, they were keen to share with the audience all that goes into their lives beyond their two- or three-second waterfall drops—I mean, to get to these beautifully remote rivers, the athletes are always having some serious adventure travel. Of course, the paddlers were definitely more comfortable on-camera while in the water, but let’s just say cervesa and tequila does wonders for calming nerves.

ML: This is a pretty high intensity video. Can you talk about how you were able to capture those angles? What was the most challenging part?

MA: We were able to capture those angles because we had a team of super-talented filmers, spearheaded by Rush Sturges (pro paddler and head of River Roots) including Matt Baker, Thatcher Bean and Adam Mills Elliott. Matty and Thatcher hiked in every day, perched on the riverbank; meanwhile Adam paddled alongside the pros to capture a lot of the on-water type shots. And then, of course, we had lots of GoPros rolling. All of the paddlers are really dialed in with their GoPros, some even have custom-built tripods that mount the camera onto the stern of their kayaks for that epic POV shot.

ML: What’s next?

MA: Currently I’m collaborating with pro paddlers Rush Sturges and Rafa Ortiz, of River Roots, on a documentary following Rafa’s attempt to drop Niagara Falls, due out in late 2014. I’m also currently working with famed director Dana Brown on his remake of the 1970s motorcycle documentary On Any Sunday, and with skate director Ty Evans and Brain Farm Cinema on what will be the biggest budget skateboard film ever.

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
Share 0
Share 0
Ben Osborne

Previous Article
  • Mountain Lifer

Wee Wonder: The Legend of Wee Willi Winkels

  • July 16, 2014
  • Colin Field
View Post
Next Article
  • Stay & Play

Game on at the Squamish Mountain Festival

  • July 18, 2014
  • Ben Osborne
View Post
You May Also Like
elevated-Eddie-Bauer-film-Sonya-Wilson
View Post
  • CLIMBING
  • Videos

Friday Flick: Elevated

  • Mountain Life Media
  • June 3, 2022
View Post
  • Videos

Friday Flick: Meet the Rab Designer

  • Sarah Bulford
  • May 27, 2022
Jason-Hardrath-Journey-to-100-standing-peak
View Post
  • CLIMBING
  • Videos

Friday Flick: Journey to 100

  • Mountain Life Media
  • May 20, 2022
View Post
  • Videos

Friday Flick: Waterproofing 101

  • Sarah Bulford
  • May 13, 2022
Dynafit-Sea-to-Summit-Delphi-harbor-revised
View Post
  • Skiing
  • Videos

Friday Flick: Skiing with the Gods of Delphi

  • Mountain Life Media
  • May 13, 2022
North-Shore-Betty-rummel_t_0110_BP
View Post
  • Mountain Biking
  • Videos
  • Women

Friday Flick: North Shore Betty

  • Mountain Life Media
  • May 6, 2022
Helly-Hansen-search-and-rescue-helping-hand-OVERBECK_HH-SAR_4503
View Post
  • Mountain Lifer
  • The ML Interview
  • Videos

Friday Flick: What it Means to be a Search & Rescue Responder

  • Mountain Life Media
  • April 29, 2022
tentree-tree-planting-madagascar-hands
View Post
  • Videos

Does Reforestation Work? Plant a Tree to Find Out

  • Ned Morgan
  • April 25, 2022

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Featured Posts
  • Nic-Groulx-Sam-Dickie-on-the-Great-Divide-Trail crop 1
    The Legend of Sam Dickie & the Cougar
    • June 23, 2022
  • Mason Mashon Photo - Xaays Canoe Journey ML 2
    The Great Canoe
    • June 21, 2022
  • Mountain-Life-Blue-Mountains-Summer-2022-spreads-cover 3
    ML Blue Mountains Summer 2022 Issue Out Now
    • June 22, 2022
  • The-Yin-and-Yang-of-Gerry-Lopez-still-2 4
    Friday Flick: The Yin & Yang of Gerry Lopez
    • June 17, 2022
  • Property-Valet-HQ-group-Kristin-Schnelten 5
    Property Valet: Creating (and Managing) Beautiful Memories
    • June 16, 2022
RECENT POSTS
  • The-North-Face_SS21_Vectiv_Trail-Run_Saunders-
    Gear Shed: Summer Trail Shoes
    • June 20, 2022
  • 1970s-dual-suspension-MotoBMX-BRETT-TIPPIE
    Brett Tippie’s Old Bike Day
    • June 16, 2022
  • Explore-the-Bruce-Boating-Paddling
    The Artistic River Village: Discovering Paisley
    • June 15, 2022
Social Links
Instagram 22K Followers
Facebook 25K Likes
Twitter 5K Followers
Pinterest 1K Followers
Vimeo 34 Followers
LinkedIn
INSTAGRAM
mountainlifemedia
22K Followers
Who’s having a multi-sport day?! 😆 @timemmett probably is.
Bruce County is much more than the Bruce Peninsula. We’re here to let you in on a secret: a thriving community nestled in Bruce County’s interior region, just waiting to be discovered. The village of Paisley offers something for everyone, and isn’t overrun by summer crowds.
The mere thought of a cougar or any other apex predator in our midst can turn a backcountry adventure into a psychological test of mind over matter. Luckily, our fears are mostly in our heads and few have experienced a negative wildlife encounter. But, for ultramarathoner @samuel.dickie, it got real. #Linkinbio to read more!
MAG DROP! 🤩
Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day (today and every day)!
Together with our partners we’ve picked our favourite summer trail shoes, in alpha order, for your crush-it summer. #linkinbio
Happy Father’s Day to all the RAD DADS out there!! 🙌
Join the Climb for Climate Challenge on @fatmap_official! Whether you’re gaining your vert on the climbing wall, the dirt trail, or the pavement, hashtag #ClimbForClimate in the title of your adventure, and @mountainhardwear will donate $1 to @protectourwinterscanada for every 20m vertical up to $5,000–100,000m. Signing up enters you to win: a 1-month membership to FATMAP premium and a $500 MHW gift card. (Challenge runs June 16-26.)
GIVEAWAY TIME! We've teamed up with @hydroflask.ca to give you a chance to WIN an epic prize pack! The perfect pairing for a SUP expedition or an adventure in the mountains! Prize pack includes:
“With almost 50 years of riding bicycles under my belt (and 40 years of mountain biking) I can safely say when I just hop on and start givin’r it feels much like an ‘autopilot’ or ‘cruise control’ of stoke. But…I recently had a moment that hit my turbo fun button and kicked my stoke into another gear.
Follow

Subscribe

Subscribe now to our newsletter

Who’s having a multi-sport day?! 😆 @timemmett probably is.
Bruce County is much more than the Bruce Peninsula. We’re here to let you in on a secret: a thriving community nestled in Bruce County’s interior region, just waiting to be discovered. The village of Paisley offers something for everyone, and isn’t overrun by summer crowds.
The mere thought of a cougar or any other apex predator in our midst can turn a backcountry adventure into a psychological test of mind over matter. Luckily, our fears are mostly in our heads and few have experienced a negative wildlife encounter. But, for ultramarathoner @samuel.dickie, it got real. #Linkinbio to read more!
MAG DROP! 🤩
Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day (today and every day)!
Together with our partners we’ve picked our favourite summer trail shoes, in alpha order, for your crush-it summer. #linkinbio
Mountain Life
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Advertising

Input your search keywords and press Enter.