It’s midnight in the “Death Zone” and your tent is being battered by howling -35 degree winds at 26,000 feet. It’s cold, dark, difficult to breathe, and you notice the effects of 1 ½ months of climbing at extreme altitude. You question whether or not to get out of your -40 degree sleeping bag, but this is Summit Night and if you want to reach the Top of the World, Mt. Everest at 29,029 feet, and complete one of man’s greatest accomplishments…it’s now or never! Driven to inspire others with this interactive production, you will yourself to climb on...3000 more vertical feet to destiny as the world follows along THE QUEST!
We're heading to Nepal in March to climb Mt. Everest!!!
Since 'THE QUEST' 2018 Everest Expedition is set, our goal for this Indie GoGo Campaign is to take you on an interactive thrill ride up the world's most iconic peak, and to showcase to you a series of never-seen-before adventures and stories! We want to reveal to you the most stunning places, fascinating cultures and interesting people that make Nepal one of the most amazing countries on earth! From witnessing the day-to-day training for an Everest expedition, to experiencing breathtaking scenery, join in on the excitement of THE QUEST!
Our secondary goal is for THE QUEST to become an ongoing Adventure TV - Film Series like no other, exploring the most striking places on our planet and sharing with you some truly unique and seldom scene stories along the way!
We begin THE QUEST at the "Birthplace of Buddhism", Lumbini, Nepal. We will explore how the 'The Awakened One', Prince Siddhartha Gautama, became inspired to start down the "path of enlightenment" to ultimately become the Buddha and founder of one of the world's great five religions. Walking in the Buddha's footsteps, we will unearth the significance on how his remarkable Quest still dictates Nepalese life 2500 years later…
Asiatic Elephants, Royal Bengal Tigers, One-horned Rhinos and fresh water Gangetic River Dolphins are four highly protected species that few would associate with the wonders of Nepal. From riding with Nepalese military patrols on elephants to combat illegal animal poaching, to tracking the elusive & endangered tiger, we will take you on a wildlife experience that few have seen on the big or little screen before...
Over a million people a year die from malaria and half of the world's population is at risk of this illness based on their geographic location. However, there is a little known indigenous population who have over the centuries become virtually immune to malaria, the Tharu people of Nepal. We will unveil their unique culture, how their malaria resistance allowed them to fight off foreign conquest for hundreds of years, and how anti-mosquito pesticides have changed their way of life in modern times…
THE QUEST continues from the lowlands of the Tharu people to the capital of power and seat of empire for over 1000 years, Kathmandu. A city that is synonymous with mystery, wonder and awe, it has been the hub of influence for all those who have tried to conquer & control it...from Hindus to Buddhists, from Muslims to Maoists.
The winding maze of streets & alleyways, bustling ethnic bazaars, ornate temples and remnants of the devastating 2015 earthquake which ravaged Kathmandu, will all be illustrated in a whole new level of detail.
We will also bring to light the significance of Nepal as a geographical buffer between the world's 2 most populated countries, China & India, and how rebels and refugees from these lands play a part in global affairs. THE QUEST will then move on, but before departing Kathmandu, we will seek the blessing of sacred monks to prepare us for our journey to Nepal's crown jewel, Sagarmatha "Forehead in the Sky" / Chomolungma "Goddess Mother of the World" or as westerners call it, Mt. Everest…
Flying into Lukla, home to the most dangerous airport runway in the world, the complete grandeur and stunning beauty of Nepal's high Himalayan peaks, steep valleys, rugged hillside villages and unique flora & fauna come into full view. As we begin our 9 day trek up the Khumbu Valley towards Sagarmatha, we plan to discuss with the local Sherpa people the spiritual, historical and financial significance of the world's greatest mountain to them, to the region, and to the nation as a whole.
Rising a breathtaking 29,029 Feet into the sky, Everest is not only the tallest mountain on earth, but also serves as both a physical & symbolic barrier between the ancestral Nepalese & Tibetan Sherpa people, the nations of China & Nepal, migrating wildlife, and all those who attempted to explore or conquer it prior to the first successful ascent by Tenzing Norgay & Sir Edmund Hillary in 1953.
The magnetism and iconography of Everest to the international mountaineering community, and the world as a whole, can not be overstated and will be thoroughly elaborated on. We will illustrate the Sherpa's view of those people who are willing to risk their lives to climb it, and the vaulted position that can be achieved in Nepalese society by those Sherpa who are willing to make a living off of Everest Mountaineering…
People have asked, why would we or any sane person want to climb Mt. Everest?! This is a very good question and often not so easily answered, but one we will shed light on during our journey to and from the mountain. For us, Mt. Everest is part of a vision to share with the world a view, an experience, an adventure which truly captures the incredible human spirit that lies inside all of us!
We will take you on an exciting first-hand personal account like no other of what it's like to climb the greatest mountain on earth! While embarking on our Quest at history, we will investigate some of the most extraordinary Everest attempts in history. We will look into how modern times have changed Everest mountaineering, and how events over the past 65 years have altered the mountain. We will interview those whose names have become synonymous with Everest and find out what this peak has come to mean to them. How personal and working relationships with the amazing Sherpa people, and time spent in this remarkable place shapes lives forever.
From navigating through the most dangerous maze on earth, the Khumbu Icefall, to scaling to the upper limits of what's humanly possible, Everest will be a culmination of a cinematic Quest that is truly exhilarating, eye-opening, informative, and unique!..
THE QUEST - Primary Team Members:
Alex Harz - Filmmaker / Radio Host / High-altitude Mountaineer / Producer
Alex is an experienced mountaineer, filmmaker, producer, actor and radio host. To date, he has climbed some of the world’s most famous peaks, including Denali (aka Mt. McKinley @ 20,320 Feet) and Cerro Aconcagua (Argentina @ 22,901 Feet), North & South America’s tallest mountains. Alex’s vision to climb all of the 7 Summits (highest points on each continent) is paired with his desire to bring unique inspirational global adventure to a captivated and engaged worldwide viewing audience.
With a love for being on either side of the camera, microphone or stage lights, Alex has been fortunate to have developed a well-versed set of production, writing, directing, acting, radio, theater and improvisational comedy skills. Combined with a solid foundation in international business development, marketing, PR and events management, Alex utilizes his broad range of experience to enhance and maximize the potential of the projects he is engaged in; from feature films to documentaries; from commercial print, to improv comedy radio & theater; from sports marketing & promotions, to celebrity product endorsement campaigns.
Since Alex was able to walk, athletics have always played a huge part in his life; a collegiate soccer and walk-on football player, scuba dive master, formally trained high-altitude mountaineer, and rock & ice climbing all help to round out his sporting CV. Alex’s continued journey to successfully scale planet earth’s most stunning peaks, and document some of the world’s most fascinating scenery & history, has him looking forward to plunging his ice axe & crampons into the legendary flanks of Mt. Everest, while diving deep into the amazing culture of Nepal...
Ryan Waters - Pro Mountaineer / Polar Explorer / Expedition Leader
Ryan is a professional mountaineer, guide and polar adventurer the likes of which rarely appear in the world. He is the first American to complete the “Adventurer’s Grand Slam” by climbing the highest mountain on each continent (7 Summits), plus skiing unsupported expeditions to the North and South Poles.
In 2010, along with his expedition partner, he became the first person ever to ski unsupported and unassisted across Antarctica during a 70 day, 1,117 mile / 1,800 kilometer crossing of the continent via the South Pole. On May 6th, 2014 he completed what has been described as "one of the most difficult expeditions in the world", a 53-day unsupported ski voyage with fellow polar explorer Eric Larsen from Cape Discovery, Canada over 500 miles of shifting ice, open water leads and polar bear encounters to the North Pole, which has become a 2hr. documentary on the Animal Planet TV Channel (Melting: Last Race To The Pole). In 2015, Ryan and his partner Eric became the first ever to climb the 20,200 Foot Himalayan peak, Jabou Ri, topping out in approximately one week after they reached the base of this previously unexplored mountain.
Ryan is a veteran leader of 18 expeditions to the daunting 8,000 meter peaks of the Himalayas, including five trips to Mt. Everest, summiting from both the Nepalese and Tibetan side, as well as leading numerous other expeditions on all seven continents.
Since Ryan has led professional expeditions to Mt. Everest before and has excellent team leadership skills, logistical management expertise, a deep familiarity with the Everest region, and an ability to shoot good video & stills, it makes Ryan the perfect fit for THE QUEST...
Tate Zandstra - Filmmaker / Adventure Journalist / Producer
A photojournalist, writer, filmmaker & adventurer, Tate Zandstra has traveled and worked on six continents. He has covered such diverse issues as tiger poaching in Sumatra & Nepal, to cage fighting in Brazil; from clandestine Burmese military operations, to human trafficking in northern Thailand. Tate specializes in travel journalism and social documentary. His motivation lies in uncovering isolated cultures, seldom told stories, and documenting environments trying to coexist in the face an ever-changing world. A deep love for travel, adventure and history has led him to pursue stories in some forty nations.
Tate began his career writing & shooting for famed Tapout Magazine, covering martial arts from India to Indonesia.
Tate’s 2013 feature documentary ‘Torn Cloth’, which followed orphaned boys who become professional Thai boxers, gained critical acclaim in several well-known film festivals, among them the Starz Film Festival in Denver, Colorado. His 2017 film, ‘Lumpinee’, spotlights the traditional & cultural elements of Thailand’s national sport, Muay Thai, and how it is deeply-woven into every facet of Thai society.
With vast journalistic experience in extreme, harsh and often completely isolated areas of the world, Tate is looking forward to weaving the unique storylines of Mt. Everest and Nepal in this remarkable production...
Samuel Johnson - Cinematographer / Director
Sam Johnson has a sincere curiosity about the diverse lives people live and a deep interest in telling their stories. Subjects can feel his fascination, and it inspires them to give confident & authentic personal accounts & performances.
As both a Director and Cinematographer, Sam travels with his subjects through their stories to create beautiful and genuine imagery.
His sensibility in the filmmaking process allows him to capture mood, movement, emotion, and beauty in order to let the movie magic happen naturally.
With a wide range of cinematic experience, from Star Wars contests and complex scene development, to covering indigenous communities in the northern most reaches of the Arctic, Sam's unique vision and ability to compose a diverse range of captivating content makes him a natural fit for THE QUEST...
THE QUEST - Additional Team Members:
Since THE QUEST Mt. Everest Expedition is set to begin in Kathmandu April 1, 2018, 100% of all funds raised by this Indie GoGo Campaign will be used to cover the costs of THE QUEST project. From filming and equipment costs, to post-production and distribution expenses, etc....100%!
Therefore, the more support THE QUEST receives by this Indie GoGo Campaign, the more Additional Team Members and creative resources we can bring to the production!
Every dollar counts, and with your gracious support you can help make THE QUEST a one-of-a-kind cinematic experience unlike anything seen before, combining exotic global adventure and truly unique stories with interactive worldwide audience participation for years to come!
Thanks again so much "QUESTers" for all your love & support!
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