Conquistadors: The Stories: Rebecca Dobbs (Producer)
As the Producer my best moment had to be 'closing the deal' leading swiftly into my worst moment; realising that now we actually had to make the series!
Now it is nearly all completed and I am sitting here surrounded by all the remains. Double wicked candles, altimeters, pilotage charts, Mexican calendars, Nahuatl phrase books, first aid kit, slip on crampons (and that was just what we needed to get into the BBC).
Best times:
Getting the team back together again. Meeting all the new fixers, advisors and technicians. Realising that no-one had collapsed going up Quoyllur Riti. Watching the fabulous rushes, watching them again now edited and transformed by Howard's music.
Worst times:
Losing the crew in Vilacamba, losing sequences in Mexico as gunmen forced the crew out of town. Watching the bad rushes. Having the gear impounded in Brazil. Explaining to the kids that school plays, birthday parties etc would all be fine without Daddy!
The Vilacamba Episode:
We decided that we would have to trek to the lost city of Vilacamba. Peter gave me a long lecture about the fact that we are supposed to be a film crew so we must leave time to do some filming and not put ourselves through such an arduous experience that no one could find the energy to pick up a camera.
I dutifully called a meeting; camera, sound, presenter, director, on line producer and me. We discussed all the options looked at all the maps. Sally and I had nearly managed to persuade them to trek out of Vitcos for a day then call in the helicopter and fly to Vilacamba, trek out for a day, camp over night and the return to the waiting helicopter. Mike and David left the room together: On their return they definitely had to do the whole trek.
"We might meet someone interesting on the way."
"But listen" I said "No one ever goes there."
"But we need to be authentic!"
So we find fixers who tell us they know the route, describe the journey and assure us it will all go swimmingly.
As it does - Don Juvenal is a great guide but the rains came early. The path is washed away in several places. The crew has 3 days to get to Vilacamba before the helicopter goes in to get them. Don Juvenal anounces if the crew are very fit they might be able to make it but there will be no time for filming. Peter's prophesy is coming true!
The trek sounds horrendously hard. I get occasional updates on the Sat phone we have borrowed for this trip but they finally made it to the Lost City of the Incas. Sally called the fixers to check the helicopter will be there to pick them up tomorrow. All seems fine. The next day the helicopter doesn't make it. Bad weather, they say. I report this to David who tells me the sun is shining where they are! I call the fixers again.
"Don't worry we will be there by 3 pm tomorrow."
The next day David calls. "Mike and the muleteers have been playing 5 a side football, the stars at night are wonderful."
"Yes, yes, David," I interject "but for the avoidance of doubt give me your exact location again. Look at the GPS and tell me what you can see."
David goes grumpy on the phone.
"I've told the fixer who is speaking to the pilot. It's all in hand."
"Yes but tell me anyway."
"We are in a clearing near Vilcabamba, 2 miles above the Concevidayac river we have put a big marker for the helicopter to see. Oops the phone is losing power......."
I call the fixers again.
"Has the helicopter set off..? What's happening?"
"Well we have been to the site but they are not there."
" What do you mean..? I've just been talking to them."
"Well they are not there now."
"OK, where is there? Where have you been?"
The conversation continues to get more and more surreal. As they have flown twice already they cannot possibly fly again until I promise more money.
"Hang on; my crew is in the middle of the jungle your job is to arrange to get them out. This you have singularly failed to do and now you want more money?"
"First things first. Where did you go? Where do you think they are?"
To cut a long story short I became convinced that the helicopter wasn't going to the right place. I called Debs. We have to speak directly to the pilot.
"Can you get to his office and we will have a 3 way call."
By now it is obvious that they will not be picked up for the second day. And I cannot contact them so I just have to hope they will stay put and not try to walk out again.
Debs discovers that the pilot and the chief fixer will both be in a hotel that evening. In the meantime I go through all of David's emails to check exactly where he told people he was going. After 3 hours I come out on the side of David. He was pretty clear. So why can't the helicopter find the crew? The conference call is at 3 in the morning, UK time. By now I am sitting on my bed, kids asleep upstairs, surrounded by maps and emails. Finally it was the Concevidayac River clue that gave it all away. The helicopter never went anywhere near them. But after a combined assault by me and Debs they sure as hell got there the next day...
And the rest is history.