Press Release
CONTACT:
Kathy Chrestensen – crestpictures@verizon.net
Crest Pictures – www.crestpictures.com
Not Just Another Mount Rainier Film - a sensory experience with stunning imagery and a captivating score
Seattle, WA, July, 2006 – Emerging Northwest filmmaker Robert Chrestensen will be debuting his first feature Below the Clouds / Rainier Impressions this summer. Follow in the filmmaker’s footsteps as he reveals the secrets of Rainier, "The Mountain." This is an intimate portrait of a truly unique mountain environment painted with beautiful imagery and an inspiring original score by Seattle talent Annastasia Workman. Four years in the making, the film not only portrays the true essence of this extraordinary mountain, but also serves as a testimony for wilderness preservation. The movie has no words so the viewer is not distracted by the usual voice-over, but instead is free to become fully immersed in the beautiful mountain scenery and eloquent musical themes.
Below the Clouds is art on film – with nature being the palette. It progresses from the purely natural world, revealing touching scenes and awe-inspiring mountainscapes, the persistence of fragile plant communities, and the ever-changing facets of the mountain. It looks at human presence – their impacts and interactions; their spirit of adventure, will and determination. Chrestensen goes on to capture the subtle blending of both worlds; a resilient mountain reclaiming what's been lost to time; and the simple harmony between animals and their natural habitat. Through the lens he explores the mountain's force, its beauty and spirit, its balance and form, and its bounty and greatness. Lastly, the film reflects on nature's basic elements – Air, Water, Earth, and Fire. But, through it all, a central message echoes: "The Mountain" commands respect and deserves protection.
Crest Pictures (www.crestpictures.com), Chrestensen's production company, plans to release Below the Clouds on DVD in time for the holidays. To complement the film there will be added bonus features, including a "locations" video gallery; a "Behind the Scenes" discussion with out-takes covering the How, What, Why and Hopes of the filmmaker; and a "Behind the Music" composer's discussion of her processes and challenges. Crest Pictures is passionate about preserving and protecting our national parks and wilderness. So, the DVD will also include a guide to the seven principles of Leave No Trace, a program designed to educate those who enjoy wild places about the consequences of their actions and the techniques to prevent and minimize their impact.
This Fall watch for free screenings around Puget Sound and the Portland area.
Reviews:
"You can be proud that you have portrayed our mountain in such
grandeur."
–
Cecelia Svinth Carpenter, Indian Historian and Author, Where The
Waters Begin, The Traditional Nisqually Indian History Of Mount Rainier
"I believe you captured the mystique, beauty, spirit and soul
of my favorite mountain. This film allows each of us to personally
connect with Rainier."
–
Peter Whittaker, Rainier Mountaineering, Inc.