Penticton filmmaker brings higher perspective to climbing community

PENTICTON – A Penticton filmmaker's pitch earned him a $50,000 STORYHIVE grant.

DM Productions Production Manager David Mai says his pitch of a new adventure film, “Higher Perspective”  is one of a group of 15 documentary makers on STORYHIVE'S B.C. finalist list.

“It’s about climbing photographers, with filming based around Penticton,” Mai says.

Photographers capturing climbing images face a number of challenges, including navigation of ecology and terrain, unpredictable weather and development of skills necessary to follow the ice climbers being filmed.

He’ll be utilizing scenes around the Skaha Bluffs and other areas, including some ice climbing venues in the region.

The 24-minute production is expected to be completed around May of 2020.

Mai’s last film, “Ephemera,” toured eight different film festivals in six different countries. Its success has motivated him to create new films in the adventure/climbing genre.

Although he’s had previous experience climbing, ice climbing is new to him.

“It’s an interesting process, creating this film. I’ve been through a lot of learning and exciting experiences — you don’t usually see the trials and tribulations of the camera guy,” he says.

“How is the cameraman ahead of the climber getting the shots? The climber gets all the credit,” he says.

Mai has been a Penticton resident since 2001. He left long enough to get a degree in Kelowna, but wasted no time returning to the Peach City.

“This is where I wanted to be. There’s lots of adventure here,” he says.

Mai started a recording business but shifted to video production when he saw a need emerge.

He says climbing films and adventure documentaries are where he wants to be.

He also sees opportunity in producing adventure related media for adventure-related companies in the area.

Mai says other climbing locations besides Skaha Bluffs include rock and ice climbing in the Naramata area, on Green Mountain Road towards Apex and in the Keremeos area.

“I’m always looking for that shot that no one has ever done,” Mai says.

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