Extreme Tech: Everest Filmmaking with Final Cut Pro, Solar Power

Text by Mary Anne Potts; Video still courtesy of First Ascent

Update: The team made it to the summit May 19 at 8 a.m. Kathmandu time. Watch the video.

Any hour now, weather permitting, mountaineers Ed Viesturs, Peter Whittaker, and other members of the First Ascent team will take on the summit of Everest. And even though we have not yet donned our down jackets, we've been there every step of the way—through the avalanches, illnesses, and one of the largest storms of the season. This is thanks to the daily, three-minute video dispatches produced right from the world's tallest mountain. The carefully choreographed process begins with the video getting back up on an Apple MacBook Pro from high on the mountain. It's then carried on solid state memory cards down to Base Camp. Once there, the footage is loaded on to another MacBook Pro and edited for public viewing in Final Cut Pro (watch a video of how it's done). 

Here First Ascent video editor Tom Grimshaw, stationed at Base Camp at about 18,000 feet, explains how the team gets the job done, from dealing with batteries in frigid temps to filming an avalanche for maximum drama.

See the First Ascent expedition videos and photos here >>

ADVENTURE: Can you tell us about where you actually do the editing? Is it comfortable?
Tom Grimshaw: We do all the editing in a dome tent situated at Base Camp. The tent is a good size and is remarkably comfortable, considering where we are. We have chairs, tables, and can bring in a heater if needed. Power is supplied in the day by solar panels. Then we have a generator in the evening. All in all it works very well for our needs.

About how many hours of footage do you review for each video? How long does it take to cut it together?
The amount of footage shot each day can vary, it ranges from as little as 30 minutes up to a couple of hours. Logging isn't a long process and the edit takes one to two hours. We're pretty organized when it comes to the video dispatches and have a clear idea each day for what the content will be. This helps greatly when it comes to cutting it together, as we're not trying to find a story in the footage.

How many computers do you all have out there, including backups?
We have two new, solid state Macbook Pros, one of which is the main edit machine, the other is the backup. On top of this, we have an older Macbook Pro as a secondary backup and a new Macbook for communications such as email and uploading and downloading files.

Is the cold much of problem for the technology? How about for you?
The main issue with the cold and the technology we are using is the ability to charge batteries. The laptop batteries won't accept a charge if they are too cold so we have to warm them up for 10 to 15 minutes before plugging them in, after that it's not a problem. Every thing else is functioning very well at low temperatures, which has been a relief! As for the cold on a personal level, it really isn't that bad. We have enough First Ascent gear to keep us all warm even in the coldest of nights.

How are you dealing with battery life at nearly 18,000 feet?
Battery life has been excellent. The Sony EX1/EX3 camera batteries have been performing very well, and we have a range of Stuart Cody expedition batteries that are designed to function in these kind of conditions. While power and battery life are a major consideration on trips like this, the systems we have in place have meant that it hasn't been an issue.

You have footage of a couple avalanches. What’s the trick to filming those?
There isn't a specific trick to filming avalanches, it's often more down to luck. They happen so quickly—and are often finished equally as quickly—that you don't have time to grab your camera and start filming. The footage we do have is mainly down to having a camera poised and ready to go at a moments notice. We shoot at 60fps [frames per second] and slow it down in order to show the true power of an avalanche. They are awesome to watch and it's important to reflect this in the footage.

See the First Ascent expedition videos and photos here >>

More from National Geographic ADVENTURE: 

Spring Buyer's Guide: Explore the great outdoors in all new ways this year—with a recycled tent, water-resistant camera phone, super-hi-res GPS, and more. See the products >>

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