Akron, Ohio, Feb. 15, 1999 David Breashears, the man who made the IMAX film Everest and who helped rescue climbers during the mountain's deadliest disaster, will deliver a lecture and multimedia presentation at The University of Akron E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall on March 8 at 8 p.m.
The presentation is part of the University of Akron Forum Speaker Series and is sponsored by the University Program Board. Tickets for the lecture are $8 or $4 with University of Akron identification.
On May 10,1996, nine people died on Mount Everest when a freak blizzard trapped climbers making their descent. Breashears and his film crew stopped their project and risked their lives to assist several stranded climbers to safety. The film team then regrouped and on May 23 achieved their goal of becoming the first to attain IMAX film images from the top of the world.
Breashears directed, photographed and co-produced Everest, which was released in more than 40 IMAX and OMNIMAX theaters throughout North America and Europe. The 1996 expedition also was the subject of a National Geographic book: Everest: Mountain Without Mercy.
A world-class mountaineer who has climbed Mount Everest four times, Breashears also is a renowned cinematographer. Since 1982 he has worked on 27 film projects, ranging from full-length feature films to music videos. Among his credits are director of photography for Seven Years in Tibet; cameraman, climbing consultant and advisor to the Sylvester Stallone feature film Cliffhanger; and photographer for two PBS documentaries, Red Flag Over Tibet, and Everest: Thin Air. Breashears has won four Emmy Awards for achievements in cinematography.
A question-and-answer period will follow his presentation at Thomas Hall. For more information, call the Thomas Hall Ticket Office at (330) 972-7570.
