Avalanche Alley (2001) (TV)

User Rating:

3.9/10   

Director:

Paul Ziller

Writers:

Elizabeth Sanchez (writer)
Paul Ziller (writer)

Release Date:

30 June 2001 (Canada)

Genre:

Drama | Adventure | Action

Tagline:

Snow at 200mph!

Plot:

Rick is not having a good day. His small ski resort is going bankrupt and potential investors have pulled out...

Plot Keywords:

Avalanche | Snow | Canada | Snowboarding

Cast

Ed Marinaro	...	Rick
Nick Mancuso	...	Scott
Kirsten Robek	...	Lauren
Wolf Larson	...	Alex
Tobias Mehler	...	Simon
Kirby Morrow	...	Jake
Miranda Frigon	...	Tami
Mark Homes	...	Willie
Cholo Burns	...	Scoob
Steven Man	...	Desk Clerk
Mark Ivanda	...	Irate Boarder
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Wesley Emms	...	Spectator (uncredited)

Directed by
Paul Ziller

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Elizabeth Sanchez		writer
Paul Ziller		writer

Produced by
Roger Corman	....	executive producer
Elizabeth Sanchez	....	producer
Dan Schlanger	....	line producer
Paul Ziller	....	producer

Original Music by
George Blondheim

Cinematography by
David Pelletier

Film Editing by
Paul Ziller

Casting by
Sean Milliken

Production Design by
Craig Stokes

Art Direction by
Tristan Oliver

Costume Design by
Heather Douglas

Makeup Department
Kim Harbicht	....	assistant makeup artist
John Healy	....	key makeup artist
John Healy	....	special makeup effects artist
Andrea Leyland	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Dan Schlanger	....	production manager
Nancy Welsh	....	assistant production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Neacol Booth	....	trainee assistant director
Gilles LaPlante	....	second assistant director (as Gilles Laplante)
Rob Payne	....	first assistant director
Josh Whittall	....	third assistant director

Sound Department
Chris Fairfield	....	studio assistant
Darren Gilmore	....	sound re-recording mixer
Brad Hillman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Miguel Nunes	....	sound re-recording mixer
Brody Ratsoy	....	assistant dialogue editor
Nicole Thompson	....	sound supervisor

Special Effects by
Bill Mills	....	special effects coordinator
Bob Price	....	first special effects assistant

Visual Effects by
Corey Bramall	....	digital effects artist
Dan Brittain	....	digital effects artist
Adam Stern	....	visual effects supervisor (as Adam L. Stern)

Stunts
Scott J. Ateah	....	stunts (as Scott Atteah)
Garvin Cross	....	stunt coordinator
Garvin Cross	....	stunts
Sherry Newstead	....	stunts (as Sherri Newstead)
Dan Redford	....	stunts
Sharon Simms	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Norbert Kaluza	....	camera operator
Prem Marimuthu	....	gaffer
James Rosencrans	....	camera intern

Casting Department
Bruce Arnold	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Maya Smith	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Bethany Handfield	....	additional editor
Bethany Handfield	....	assistant editor

Transportation Department
Alexander Mandra	....	driver: cast

Other crew
Carol Green-Lundy	....	script supervisor
Anna McMurtry	....	production accountant
Dixie Plaxton	....	location manager

Thanks
Elizabeth McCarthy	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Artsy Fartsy Pictures Inc.

Distributors

• Concorde Pictures
• Europa Filmes (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Europa Filmes (2003) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Highlight Video
• New Concorde Home Entertainment

Special Effects

• Artifex Studios (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Western Post Productions  post-production sound services

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for a scene of sensuality, some language and violence/peril.

Runtime:

Germany:90 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Germany:12 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Hemlock Resort, Agassiz, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Artsy Fartsy Pictures Inc.

As generic as the title suggests...

The description of this flick sounded promising, but all we really get are a few faceless B-movie actors along with a strangely doughy looking Nick Mancuso attempting to rescue a few kids trapped in an avalanche. You'd think that, being direct to video, they'd just flash a few cheesy visual effects and call it a day. But no, they have to attempt dramatic moments, and that's really where this movie falls and breaks its neck. It's so slow that it makes retirement home bingo seem fast-paced and exciting in comparison.

They tried to give parts of AA a stylish, music-video look, but it doesn't work with the obviously limited budget. (The tinny garage band music isn't a plus.) The end of this movie is also very abrupt and unexpected. There's no closure given at all. Do the snowboarders die or not? One of the guys that gets trapped simply vanishes for the rest of the film. Did he quit during production? Given the result of this fiasco, I would completely sympathize.