How Nine built a TV cliffhanger
The Summit was a different show when it was first pitched, but it has action thriller movies as its inspiration.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under News, Top Stories
In TV terms, The Summit is known as a ‘paper format’ -a new concept which remains untested in any other market.
It came together for Nine and Endemol Shine Australia over the past year, albeit with some key changes.
Nine Director of Programming Hamish Turner tells TV Tonight, “With all our key production partners, we have multiple pitches and meetings with them. The Summit was somewhat unique in that it was a show that we’d been pitched previously from the ESA team. We were having internal discussions around opportunities within the schedule about what we were looking for. It kind of ticked a lot of the boxes.
“The idea that was initially pitched isn’t what you see today, but a group of individuals needing to get to the top of a mountain was the core of the premise. As with anything, with a paper format, there was still obviously a lot of creative development that was required within that show. But we really liked the idea of ordinary Australians being put in a foreign landscape, and challenged with something that feels a little bit extra human.”
“There’s something stopping them from getting there”
The show tasks 14 strangers to group together on a 200km trek to the top of a mountain summit in New Zealand. Strapped to their backpacks is a total of $1m -their prize, subject to how many reach the top.
“There’s something stopping them from getting there and they need to join together. But they’re never going to get there as a full group, so hence that’s the process of the elimination,” he continued.
“The show is very much informed by thriller type movies on the top of a mountain.
“If you remember at the top of Cliffhanger, (Stallone is) clinging onto, I believe, his partner or his wife, and it begins with her falling.
“Ultimately, they all end in tragedy, but I’m pleased to say this one doesn’t!”
Turner says the purity of a first season can’t be ignored, with contestants denied any earlier seasons to inform their gameplay. Already eliminated contestants have given press interviews in which they said they had no idea there would be reality twists, such as being voted off the mountain.
“They’ve signed up to this show, with very little information”
“From a participation perspective, they’ve signed up to this show, with very little information other than it’s gonna be the adventure of a lifetime” Turner explains.
“The first season has a very special place in that people are coming into it blind. The great thing that the producer Amelia Fisk has done with the show, is that it doesn’t follow a kind of true and tried construct.
“As the show plays out, the format beats reveal themselves at different times. It doesn’t follow a traditional pathway in terms of beginning, middle and end. I think that’s surprising and exciting for the audience.”
The Summit‘s other key attributes are its specacular vistas, waterfalls, snow-capped mountains, rivers, canyons and rockfaces.
“Those locations, you cannot get to, other than via chopper. They’re very remote… I don’t think you’ve really ever seen them on TV before,” he suggests.
“Some of the shots you get are unbelievable”
“Some of the shots you get are unbelievable. What you can do with obviously drones these days… it’s just gobsmacking.
“(Host) Jai Courtney is an absolute treat in the show, the way he delivers… his position within the show is a kind of ‘keeper of the mountain’ and he’s always watching, always present.”
“This is Risk Management 101”
Given the physical demands of scaling an icy mountain, how nervous was Nine about keeping the contestants safe?
“This is Risk Management 101,” Turner assures. “The great thing with the New Zealand team is this is what they are absolutely versed in. Endemol Shine has got a gold star for ensuring that the participants are both mentally and physically safe. We work with the best people to ensure that, but also ensure that it feels like a very authentic show ….they’re physically not gonna be at risk, but that’s where that mental challenge comes into it.”
The Summit continues 7pm Sunday, 7:30pm Monday & Tuesday on Nine.
Share
- Tagged with The Summit
7 Responses
I often wonder about the producers and cameramen etc doing the interviews with contestants along the way. Fancy having to carry all that gear up those treacherous mountains. I am guessing there is a simple answer to how they do this?
They have leased a helicopter.
Such a great show I’m really enjoying it. I think it’s far more superior than what we saw on promos so they might want to think about that for next season. Certainly deserves more viewers, I’m hoping it sticks
I think Jai Courtney’s acting skills really shine through here, he is superb.
your article addressed a couple of things i was thinking about david..like the uncharted gameplay.usually these shows, you try to eliminate your toughest comp,but here your toughest competitor is likely the one most able to make the summit and maybe help you on the way.i don’t know how i’d play this if i were in the show.and also how the game will play out..if a bunch of them make the summit or no one does,i would be equally unsurprised.some of the plot twists seem kinda ad hoc,on the fly,like the deus ex machina eviction of jacqui by brooke.who saw that coming,even 5 mins before it happened.as for the obvious risks…9 and endemol would be insured if something really bad happened right?lastly i agree,think the stars are jai and that sinister copter,and ofc,new zealand.i’d mentioned before when i see the chopper coming, it reminds me of that black,seemingly driverless truck in Duel.
I’ve been hanging out for Million Dollar Island as my daughter’s friend is on, and thought this would be an ok filler until that debuts, however we’re hooked.
I really enjoy the “cliffhangers” 😀 at the end of each episode, their timing is not as predictable, and I’ve caught myself a couple of times saying “Nooo!” when the ep closes due to the well-built tension.
It’s not too late to jump on board, reality lovers!
Definitely heavily inspired by ‘The Bridge’ but in this case it’s actually a really good thing. There have been a lot of moral dilemmas that have been interesting to see how they tackle, including some snap decisions like in ep 3 (omg).
Aside from the mountain being a challenge in itself, the extra challenges like the ladder in ep 2 are very very tough but watching them pull through is nailbiting.
Right now I’m trying to rope in some of my Survivor and The Bridge fans as this is definitely worth a watch. Have no idea how it will end but am enjoying Jai’s deadpan hosting (this is actually a good thing too) and never would have thought a helicopter could be an exciting character in a show either.