Posted by: Mark McGovern 16th Jul 2010 0

Several months ago, the team at AMS had the rare opportunity to meet someone truly special.  His name is Nando Parrado and while his name may sound familiar to you, his story is like no other.  And even though THE story – the Andes crash of Uruguayan Flight 571 in 1972 – will sound familiar to you HIS story is truly unique.  It was at a casual meeting those several months ago that our CEO Andy Streitfeld had a chance to sit with Nando and listen to his recount of that tragedy, those 72 days waiting for rescue and the unthinkable 60 kilometer trek he and fellow passenger Roberto Canessa made through the rugged mountains to save the few remaining survivors.   As Nando told his story with precise detail, Andy interrupted him to say, “I’ve never heard this story from this perspective before.  I’ve read the book, and I’ve seen the Hollywood film version, but they miss so much of what you just told me.”  We knew we had to share this.

So Andy and Producer Brad Osborne started their journey to tell this story in a way that has not been done before.  After painstakingly researching the story, interviewing key players, and getting the plan in order, principal photography began in the spring of 2010.  The shoots have included a retracing of Nando’s steps and visit to the crash site high in the Andes to reenactments shot in Colorado and New Mexico.  Its been a busy summer.  And on July 26th the very last production day is scheduled.  Fittingly, this will be a trip back to South America to shoot high definition video on flyovers through the Andes mountains.

If you’re lucky, you only meet truly amazing people a few times in your life.  The opportunity to tell Nando’s story with new eyes and a new sense of what it all meant is awesome.  He is a wonderful individual with a big heart who has welcomed our team into his life with complete generosity.  We’re very fortunate.  It’s very exciting to see the project coming to a close, almost ready to share with the world.   The entire team at AMS Pictures has been working closely with this story, listening to Nando speak, seeing the amazing images come to life and recreating  every last point with incredible detail.   We’re expecting a mid-fall air date for I Am Alive: Nando Parrado’s Story.   For the exact schedule and network, check back soon!