- Title: USA: CHARLTON HESTON APPEARS IN FRASER HESTON'S ADVENTURE STORY 'ALASKA'
- Date: 31st August 1995
- Summary: (RTV ) FRASER HESTON SAYS IT WAS A GRAND ADVENTURE TO MAKE THIS FILM, HUGELY AMBITIOUS, WE HAD UNITS ALL OVER NORTH AMERICA, ONE IN THE REAL ARCTIC FILMING POLAR BEARS, WE SHOT ON THE TOP OF PEMBERTON ICE CAP, WE HAD TO GO BY HELICOPTER, LITERALLY WHITEWATER RIVER RAFT, I HAD TO HELP PADDLE, SO IT WAS A HUGE EXPEDITION, EVERY DAY WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WE WOULD FACE (ENGLISH) THORA BIRCH SAYS THEY HAD US DOING THE REAL STUFF, THEY HAD PEOPLE WORKING WITH US, OUT THERE ON A MOUNTAIN, WE HAD A MONTH OF PREPARATION, IT WASN'T LIKE CATHAY ISLAND WITH VIDEO TAPES, WE LEARNT HOW TO KAYAK, CANOE, MOUNTAIN CLIMB, I ALSO HAD TO LEARN TO WALK ON THE SNOW BECAUSE I'M FROM CALIFORNIA
- Embargoed: 15th September 1995 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES AND VARIOUS FILM LOCATIONS
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVA3W7P7K3Y23JDXWLDGL6306S9J
- Story Text: Father and son collaborate as veteran actor Charlton Heston appears in Fraser Heston's adventure story "Alaska" -- although a newborn polar bear cub steals the show.
The adventure begins when pilot Jake Barnes, played by Dirk Benedict, crash lands his small plane deep in the mountainous wilderness of Alaska where he has recently moved his family from Chicago.
Not satisfied with the search and rescue efforts, Jake's two children Jessie, played by young actor Thora Birch, and Sean (Vincent Kartheiser), set off on their own to rescue him.
The two siblings must canoe through treacherous rapids, scale vertical cliffs, and care for a loveable polar bear cub that just won't leave them alone.
But the cub is being trailed by heartless hunter Perry, played by Charlton Heston.
"Alaska" was filmed entirely on locations in British Columbia, Canada, Alaska, and Baffin Island during a three-month shooting schedule in the summer of 1995.
Some of the locations were so remote, the entire film crew had to be ferried to them daily by helicopter, boat, or all-terrain vehicle.
In preparation, Birch and Kartheiser underwent months of training in sea-kayaking, white-water canoeing and mountain climbing. At the same time, animal trainers were working with newborn polar bear cub Agee, who was groomed for the film almost from the moment he was born in Sweden's Kohl Martin Zoo. The filmmakers believed this was the first major motion picture to train and use a polar bear as a main character.
"The bear never failed to do anything he was supposed to do, he might not get it the first take but actors often don't either. He's obviously the star of the show," Charlton Heston said.
Thora Birch is a veteran of the films "Now and Then," "Monkee Trouble," and "Patriot Games," while Vincent Kartheiser had appeared in "The Indian and the Cupboard," "Little Big League", and "Untamed Heart".
Dirk Benedict is best known for his roles on the television series "Battlestar Galactica" and "The A-Team". Charlton Heston's experience is a little more extensive. He has starred in more than 70 motion pictures and nearly as many theater productions in a career that has spanned almost the entire second half of this century.
His most famous films include "The Ten Commandments" and "Ben-Hur," for which he received a Best Actor Oscar.
Fraser Heston's feature film directorial debut was the Stephen King film adaptation "Needful Things". He also produced the highly acclaimed four-hour mini-series for the Arts & Entertainment cable network, "Charlton Heston Presents the Bible." "Alaska" was released in the United States in August. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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