'Life of a Mountain: Blencathra' will be an independently-produced 90 minute documentary showcasing one of the Lake District's most popular and revered mountains through the course of a year featuring all those who live, work, care for and play around this iconic fell. Released May 2016.

The documentary will be a sequel forming part of a planned trilogy following on from the critically acclaimed 'Life of a Mountain: Scafell Pike'.

The film will predominantly feature many of the locals who reside in the area along with a few well-known faces from the outdoors world and media. Examples include TV Presenter and Filmmaker Eric Robson revealing little-known literary insights while exploring the remote parts of this popular fell. TV Researcher and Mountain Guide David Powell-Thompson will take viewers along the notorious Sharp Edge in the company of TV cameraman Jan Ostrowski, sharing anecdotes and stories from their time producing the popular TV series 'Wainwright Walks with Julia Bradbury'.

The charities 'Friends of the Lake District' and 'Friends of Blencathra' will reveal the work and care that goes into maintaining the special qualities of this landscape along with past and present ownership issues and Oli Reed, Associate Editor from the UK's most popular hillwalking magazine 'Trail' will share his thoughts on the mountain and it's popularity with the public

REWARDS TO BACKERS INCLUDE CYCLE HIRE, GUIDED WALKS, PRINTS AND EVEN TO FEATURE IN THE FILM! PLEASE READ ON FOR MORE INFORMATION.

BLENCATHRA

The Lake District National Park, in the county of Cumbria, is arguably the most beautiful corner of England. Renowned world-wide for it's intimate and dramatic scenery, the Lake District inspired much of the Romantic Movement in the 18th century and beyond.

It is home to Blencathra (sometimes referred to as Saddleback) which is located near the delightful town of Keswick. The area draws hundreds of thousands of visitors every year to scale its fells, be it hikers or climbers, while affording some of the finest mountain scenery on offer in the United Kingdom.

Regularly battered by the many incoming fronts from the Irish Sea, the weather can be both extremely varied and challenging. Conditions can change in an instant on Blencathra and its surrounding peaks and in winter it's not an area of high ground to underestimate - as the local mountain rescue team will testify in the completed film.

Often only explored from its distinctive southern face, Blencathra is home to a varied and interesting landscape that demands great care and protection. Farmers, who shepherd their distinctive Herdwick sheep work the steep fells daily, maintaining much of what we see today including the deceptively more benign rolling northern slopes.

"...it's influence is magnetic; to the dalesfolk it is the eternal background to their lives, there at birth, there at death. But most of all it's a mountaineer's mountain."

ABOUT THE FILM

In 'Life of a Mountain: Blencathra' I hope to bring back some of the awe-inspiring beauty, drama and romance of the Lake District. Inspire others to visit the area and see it differently. What you'll see in the film will be sights we can all experience. The real deal. I work alone and spend countless nights out in a tent on the fells watching and waiting to capture those very special scenes on camera.

Equally, I intend to reveal the work that goes on and around this mass of hills, ensuring they endure for all in the future, and give insights into the lives of those who live and work nearby.

The film will not only be a spectacular scenic journey through the seasons but also a 'people's film'; an aspect I'm keen to address in the final product. Blencathra's story is as much about the people who seek its delights as well as the wonders this distinctive landscape has to offer. Much like 'Life of a Mountain: Scafell Pike' the film will feature no dominant presenter or narrator. The film is about the mountain, it's heritage and culture. Stunning cinematography of Blencathra changing through the seasons, coupled with folks featured, tell the story.

This I hope will add a dimension of engagement and entertainment for the completed project.

WHY INDIEGOGO?

I am not looking for charity but an alternate sales venue for what I believe will make for a superb film featuring this iconic fell and to ensure its completion.

That's why the 'perks' for any pledges you choose to make reflect exceptional market value. You're not making a donation but a 'pre-purchase' with extra gifts.

All monies will go towards completing production of this film including travel (this will involve countless trips and many days spent out in the mountains), music composer fees, time out to edit the project and so on. I don't drive and reside in Nottinghamshire. It's no mean feat as I tend carry in excess of 30 kilos in my pack up on to the fells - be it camping, filming or as is usual both!

I've been steadily planning and working on this documentary since December 2014 thanks to funds provided by associated sponsors. However, I still need to secure more to ensure the film is finished on time and to the standard I wish to achieve and what this magnificent fell deserves.

Please watch the video at the top of this page, and I'm sure you'll agree this is a project that deserves to be completed.

You can keep up to date on my progress via Twitter, Facebook and my website.

You can share the journey I'm undertaking and perhaps gain an insight to how I go about achieving the end result you'll have played a significant part contributing towards. This will include not only photos but behind the scene videos too!

With your support I intend to produce an inspirational film that everyone will want to watch again and again. 'Life of a Mountain: Blencathra' will be my third film to be partially funded through a crowd-sourced funding website, following the release of 'The Cairngorms in Winter with Chris Townsend' (2013), 'Life of a Mountain: Scafell Pike'  (2014) and 'The Lake District. Helvellyn with Mark Richards' (2014).

All three projects were delivered on budget and to schedule and received widespread critical acclaim while topping the download charts at the UK's leading adventure download site, Steep Edge.

'Life of a Mountain: Scafell Pike' made its terrestrial TV premiere on BBC Four in January 2015 and was a huge hit with the press and public alike - nearly one million tuned in live during its debut transmission breaking records for BBC Four.

Here's a small selection of quotes as to what the national press had to say about 'Life of a Mountain: Scafell Pike':

"From its first moments of mists rolling through the mountain tops this documentary is a Wordsworthian hymn to nature and a eulogy to humanity. Abraham has made a film of great beauty but no solemnity."

The Times

"This is a moving, poetic film...a vivid portrait with gorgeous photography. A celebration which exudes gladness."

The Observer

"...one of those plain and simple, knock 'em dead nature documentaries...a complete delight."

Radio Times

"With its sweeping cinematography and sonorous score, there's a touch of the art-house classic Koyaanisqati about this enchanting documentary. Superb."

The Guardian

"A beautiful documentary that is good for the soul."

The Daily Telegraph

"...a beautifully filmed documentary. Pick of the day."

The Daily Mail

THE PERKS/REWARDS

• Please note that all perks involve you downloading a digital copy of the completed film. The file size will be large and require a reasonable broadband connection from yourself. At around the expected time the film is due to be completed, you'll be contacted by the filmmaker with a link to download the film, the size of which will be around or up to 5GB. Please check with your ISP if you have any data limit restrictions.
• Also note that no tangible perks are available to international contributors. Only the digital 720p HD copy of the film and deleted scenes/extras is available for international contributors.
• All DVDs are PAL region on A grade discs professionally produced and packaged. 
• The deleted scenes digital 720p HD copy will be a minimum 30mins duration. Some scenes will be as shot, eg sound mixing and imagery not completed.
• Sawyer water filter is the Sawyer MINI™ Filter. An extremely lightweight and small filter that will last years ensuring safe drinking water out on the hills. The filmmakers choice of filter when working outdoors in remote areas.
• Signed 25cm x 20cm print. Comes with no mount or frame. No choice on image selected.
• Professionally produced and mounted signed print of your choice. No frame. Backers will be notified via email with regards to selection of images for them to choose from.
• 2 cycles hire for one day of your choice from Lake District Cycling. Backers will be contacted for details via email to organise location and cycle drop-off/collection.
• 2 nights bed and breakfast at the Herdwick Guest House in Keswick. 2 adults, for two consecutive nights. A guest house filmmaker Terry Abraham regularly frequents when not on the fells in a tent in the area. Dates subject to availability and does not including Bank Holidays. Backers will be contacted via email for details.  
• Family package cycle hire (2 adults, 2 children) for one day from Lake District Cycling including optional guided cycle tour with owner and guidebook author Dan Richards. Backers will be contacted for details via email to organise dates.
• VIP ticket for two people for the premiere of 'Life of a Mountain: Blencathra' includes an hour in the company of the filmmaker and guests before the screening and a choice of the best seats in the auditorium in front of the IMAX screen . The premiere will be held at the Rheged Centre, Penrith, Cumbria, England. Date to be confirmed for premiere no later than November 2015.
• Feature in the film! Includes a day out on Blencathra with filmmaker Terry Abraham and an evening in a nearby pub or inn. Backers including guest (guest doesn't have to appear if they so wish) must be willing and able to talk on camera and be fit enough to ascend the fell. Backers MUST be available bright and early on the day of the shoot which would be a weekend date to be confirmed this summer. Backers will be required to organise their own travel and accommodation including travel to meeting point at the foot of Blencathra before the days filming. ALL BACKERS TO MEET ON SAME DAY OF SHOOT.
• Day out with celebrity Television Producer/Researcher and mountain guide David Powell-Thompson and filmmaker Terry Abraham. Limited to 5 people (plus guest) all to meet on the same day, which will be a weekend (more than likely a Saturday). You will need to organise your own transport and any necessary accommodation. Dates and location for walk to be confirmed with backers via email.
• 'WINTER WALKS' or 'WINTER PHOTOGRAPHY' course for two including dinner, bed and breakfast and accommodation at the Blencathra Field Studies Centre. Days will be Friday to Sunday circa February 2016. BOOKING IN ADVANCE REQUIRED. Backer will be contacted via email for confirmation details and choice of course.

RISKS AND CHALLENGES

Producing videos is a complicated technical exercise and more so when it comes to filming the great outdoors. The weather of course plays a huge factor in this and needless to say things can be tricky during seasons like winter. That being said, I'm very experienced when it comes to spending time out on the mountains capturing scenes on camera. "Tenacious" is often attributed to my character and work ethic. It's not unheard of for me to be cooped up in a tent for days on end waiting for that 'special moment'.

I have a proven track record in achieving my goals and targets and consequently am trusted and sought after by many highly respected companies.