Preparing an outdoor film

Preparing an outdoor film

Where the adventure begins

Behind the scenes

When we think about an outdoor film, we often imagine wide open spaces, untouched powder, and a camera ready to follow every turn.
From the outside, everything seems simple, almost instinctive.

The reality, however, tells a different story.

Before the very first image is captured, an essential step often invisible to the audience takes place through the writing of the script.
At the moment, we are fully immersed in this phase for our next film.
It is a moment that is both exciting and frustrating.
Exciting because everything is still possible.
Frustrating because imagination already has to deal with real-life constraints.

Why does an outdoor film need a script?

The question comes up often. After all, we are not telling a Hollywood story. And yet, even a mountain film needs a guiding thread.

Without a script, we sometimes end up with a series of beautiful images. They can be strong and aesthetic, but they may leave the viewer at a distance, without a true emotional journey. The script is what connects the shots together. It gives meaning to the sequences, structures the story, and allows us to alternate between moments of intensity and moments of breathing space.

Beyond the images, what we are really trying to do is tell a story. Not a story written in advance down to the smallest detail, but an intention that runs through the entire film. We try to convey a message, to capture the viewer’s attention and emotions, without ever forcing them. The script helps us keep this direction in mind, not to get lost in the raw beauty of the images, and to build a film that can be watched the way a story is listened to.

It also helps us anticipate the rhythm, the necessary silences, the moments when we simply let the mountains speak, and to choose the right music at the right time to support and intensify those emotions.

The writing phase, where all possibilities are still open.

Writing always begins with a voluntary kind of chaos.
An unfiltered brainstorming session: locations, atmospheres, expected light, sounds to capture, possible encounters.

At this stage, everything is possible.
A headlamp descent.
A conversation around a fire.
A moving sequence, followed by a more contemplative one.

Then, little by little, constraints begin to shape imagination.
The weather, unpredictable.
Accessibility to certain spots.
The availability of the crew.
The season, which transforms light, snow, and colors.

Gradually, the story takes shape.
An opening.
A rise in intensity.
A balance point.
A conclusion.

Even if the field will force us to improvise, this foundation remains essential.
It gives direction, without ever locking us into a fixed vision.

From paper to the mountains

A script is not just a text.
It is a real roadmap for the shoot.

Each imagined sequence implies concrete choices:
what equipment to bring, which lens to favor, how much importance to give to sound, when to stay light, and when to accept carrying more.

We always prepare several options. Plan A, B, sometimes C.

Because in the mountains, nothing ever goes exactly as planned. And that is also what makes filming so rich.

Pitfalls to avoid

Writing comes with its own risks.

The first is wanting to film everything.
Accumulating hours of footage without a clear intention, at the risk of losing meaning in the edit.

The second is more subtle: forgetting emotion.
An outdoor film is not just about showing the mountains.

It has to make the viewer feel what we experience there: doubt, waiting, fatigue, and the simple moments shared. This is often where the true balance of a film is found.

Waiting before the action

Writing a script is a bit like preparing for a long journey.
You draw the route, imagine each step, while knowing that the road will bring surprises.

Today, the idea is still in our minds, and the story is beginning to take shape on paper.
Soon, it will come to life in the field, shot after shot, turn after turn.

And we can already tell you this: we can’t wait to show you this project, as it will grow between intention and reality.