From the coldest, windiest, most untouched wilderness on earth - and inspired by an astonishing true story - comes this thrilling tale of action and adventure, of dogs and men, of friendship and loyalty and of the stirring spirit of tenacity and hope that sparked one of the most incredible survival stories of all time.  Set against the backdrop of icy, stormy Antarctica, EIGHT BELOW follows eight surprising heroes stranded at the bottom of the world and the one man who would stop at nothing to bring his true friends home. 

THE ANTARCTIC ADVENTURE BEGINS: A TRUE STORY OF INCREDIBLE  SURVIVAL INSPIRES EIGHT BELOW
When producer David Hoberman encountered the 1983 Japanese blockbuster "Nanykoku Monogatari ("Antarctica") many years ago, the story of the marooned dogs and the human companions who refused to forget them took his breath away.  The film's epic storytelling and gripping evocation of the unsinking will to survive became the highest grossing Japanese film of its time, continuing to hold box-office records for more than a decade. In the grand tradition of classic adventure sagas, he saw it as being "at once exciting, suspenseful and emotionally powerful."  Hoberman felt that that the underlying themes of the story deserved to be seen by a much wider audience - and he envisioned a less harrowing, more family-oriented adventure that would bring the inspirational, sustaining links between friendship and survival even more to the fore. 
"I loved the story because it was so action-packed but it was also about all these epic themes of friendship, responsibility and triumph of the spirit," says Hoberman.  "It stayed with me for years and years, and I kept trying to get the project going, until at last a Disney executive who had seen the Japanese film and felt the same way about it as I did agree to option it." 
David DiGilio, a young writer in Disney's New Writers program, and himself an avid outdoorsman, received the assignment to write a first draft of the script.  DiGilio couldn't believe his tremendous luck at being handed such a thrilling, real-life adventure story on which to cut his screenwriting teeth.  "I fell in love with the story right away," he says.  "I've always been attracted to the outdoors and I'm a huge dog person, and I just thought this could be the perfect cinematic marriage of the two.  I also liked the idea of exploring themes about friendship.  Of course it's obviously about man's best friend, but the movie also demonstrates how people from different backgrounds can be thrown together and find common ground when faced with adversity.  When you place complex characters in a riveting outdoor adventure, you see how friendship truly is the key to our survival." 
Immersing himself in the turbulent, century-long history of Antarctic exploration, DiGilio moved the story to 1993, the very last year that sled dog teams were allowed to work in Antarctica (despite their long-standing status as essential members of numerous important expeditions, they were ultimately banned to protect the continent's seals from exposure to the disease known as distemper).  He forged a scientific mission for the men, based on the real-life search for million year-old meteorites on Antarctica, and developed a quartet of quirky, adventuresome characters at the heart of the story:  the fiercely independent Jerry, whose family is his dog team; the gruff, goal-oriented Davis, who just wants to put the tragedy of the expedition behind him; the lighthearted Cooper, who brings flashes of humor to the dark and icy Antarctic life; and the remarkably strong bush pilot Katie, who helps to drive Jerry towards his bold rescue.   
He also took on an unusual and daring feat of imagination: forging eight compelling canine characters who demonstrate the same friendship, loyalty and courage as their human companions - and whose actions must carry a large portion of the story.  A dog owner himself, this was a rare chance for DiGilio to explore the language, social structure and spiritual world of dogs from a truly inside perspective.  Though he was already intimately familiar with the joys and wonders of befriending canines, DiGilio had a lot of fun further researching dog behavior and the unique history of how humans and dogs evolved together - all in the hopes of creating an exciting view into the inner minds of the dogs as they struggle to survive and reunite with their human friends. 
"A lot of people don't know that the human-canine relationship goes back 14,000 years.  But if you're a dog-lover, you've seen it first hand.  There's a connection that exists to our animals that is almost primal in its purity and strength.  It's a true understanding and an unconditional love," the screenwriter says.  "Writing about the dogs of EIGHT BELOW was my favorite part of the whole project.  I think every dog-owner likes to think of their dogs as more of a person than a pet.  And this was a chance to really explore the wonders of the canine personality and the pack dynamic.  These are domesticated dogs who are forced to explore their wild roots when left on their own.  We see stories of 'man vs. nature' all the time, and we have that element in this movie, but we also explore a new idea of 'nature vs. nature.'  It's captivating and emotional to see how the dogs adjust to their new environment."
As the dogs battle to stay alive in the middle of the most harsh conditions imaginable, the dog team relies on close pack cooperation and the emergence of a new and surprising leader:  Max, once the most timid and submissive of the team who finds his strength in adversity.  "In a way Max's story parallels Jerry's emotional journey," notes DiGilio. "Max starts out at the bottom of the pack and develops into a real alpha, learning to take responsibility along the way.  Jerry is a great guide, but he's forced to grow up and confront that he can't do things alone.  They are both coming of age stories about discovering your true potential."
DiGilio's ambitious screenplay for EIGHT BELOW might have wound up tagged as a great idea that was way too challenging to create on screen - except that the script found its way into the hands of one of Hollywood's most adventurous filmmakers, Frank Marshall.  Marshall had an instant and visceral reaction to the story.  Without even realizing it was inspired by a true incident, Marshall found the story a stirring example of how stories of adventure can reveal the courage, friendship and sacrifices that keep us going in the toughest of times. 
"I loved all the different threads that were going on in EIGHT BELOW," Marshall says.  "I love adventure, I love dogs, I love the outdoors, I love stories about survival and hope - and I also especially love to take on stories that are a true challenge to bring to the screen." 
Marshall continues:  "One of the things I think that most drew me to EIGHT BELOW is that I am always drawn to stories about the vastness of the human spirit, about the will to keep going and keep trying under the most extreme conditions.  This is a story about what happens when ordinary people and ordinary animals face extraordinary events that demand the best of them.  You have the unique story of the dogs' struggle, as a kind of family working together to overcome impossible odds.  But it's also about the journey the humans have to make - Jerry Shepard's journey of growing up and moving on with his life, Davis' journey to figuring out there's more to life than just research - and all these journeys come together in a very moving way."
Once Marshall learned of the original 1958 Japanese expedition and the acclaimed film about it, he became even more intrigued.  He met with producer Masaru Kakatani, who originally produced the Japanese film "Antarctica," and listened to his gripping and emotional stories of interviewing the original expedition members.  He also contacted his good friend, Susan Butcher, a four-time winner of the world's pre-eminent dog sledding race, the Iditarod, to learn as much as he could about the lives, minds and amazing abilities of huskies performing their natural jobs.  "Susan gave me a lot of insight into how dogs will work together as a pack to survive," Marshall notes.  "I learned a lot from her about bringing the sled dogs' world to life." 
But even as Marshall conducted his initial research, he was anticipating the biggest challenge of all - the extraordinary task of somehow re-creating the remote majesty, icy splendor and extreme-weather perils of Antarctica in such difficult shooting locations as the high Northern town of Smithers, British Columbia and the cold, dark, sparsely populated island of Greenland. 
"The production of EIGHT BELOW ranks right up there with the most challenging I've ever experienced," sums up the director.  "We were in the middle of the Sahara for 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' and we were trapped on a glacier at ten thousand feet in 'Alive,' but this ranks right up there in the top three.  What was so rewarding on EIGHT BELOW is that most elements of the film came together despite the tough environmental challenges.  We had a wonderful cast, exceptional dogs, a fantastic locations and, throughout every minute of production, we were inspired by this unforgettable story of humans and animals triumphing over the odds."   

THE SLED DOGS: ABOUT THE EIGHT HEROES AT THE HEART OF EIGHT BELOW
While the human cast was key to the emotions and humor of EIGHT BELOW, there would be no story to tell at all unless the filmmakers could come up with eight canine actors capable of revealing the courageous, emotional and action-packed journey of the dogs trapped on Antarctica.  The dogs would have to bring this literally hairy adventure to life - so to pull together one of the most talented animal casts ever required for a feature film, director Frank Marshall commandeered the services of Birds & Animals, one of Hollywood's foremost animal training enterprises. 
Says Marshall:  "We knew that one of the most important elements was going to be the casting of the dogs. It was so important to us that each dog have its own individual character and unique look - and really their own distinct stories - that we needed to find eight dogs who were completely different from one another.  We started the process of casting them early because it was so vital."
Ultimately, Birds & Animals and the filmmakers of EIGHT BELOW came up with an eclectic canine cast that included previous film stars and pound puppies alike, each chosen for their special look and behavior. The canine stars include: seven year old Koda Bear, who plays pack alpha dog Maya; six year old D.J. who plays the emerging leader Max; three year old Noble, who plays the grey-colored Shadow; two year old Conan, who plays the red-tinged Buck; four year old Floyd and three year-old Sitka, who play the twin dogs Dewey and Truman, three year old Jasper, who plays the rambunctious rebel Shorty and four year old Apache, who plays the veteran of the pack, Old Jack.
"We met a lot of dogs but my two favorites were Koda Bear who plays Maya and DJ who plays Max, the dog who takes over the leadership of the group during the trek," says Frank Marshall.  "Koda Bear has a very noble stature which was perfect for the motherly Maya, the Grand Dame of all these dogs with her silvery beauty; and DJ was clearly very strong but also playful and had a look like no other dog I've ever seen, with these deep blue eyes that are just fantastically expressive." 
Marshall even developed a soft spot for the hard-to-handle Shorty.  "Jasper, who played Shorty, was just a rebel through and through.  He'd just go bounding along and just run right out of the shot sometimes.  He was a real handful but he was also perfect for the part." 
There were dozens of dogs on the set at all times - the "actor dogs" (several of the roles were played by multiple dogs) and their "sled-dog doubles" who remained at the ready for the more complicated mushing sequences.  Each of the dogs received special training for the skills they demonstrate in the film - from slipping their collars to carrying live birds in their mouths to fighting with an animatronic leopard seal.  This work fell to head animal trainer Mike Alexander, who had one of the most demanding jobs on the film.  Says Alexander:  "When I first read the script, I thought, how in the world are we going to do all this stuff?  There were a lot of challenges and a lot of them we couldn't even foresee when we started out." 
The dogs began their training in California and then, three months before filming, the dogs and a team of 20 trainers moved to a farm in the snow-covered countryside near Smithers to acclimatize to the cold and ice.  The dog's initial basic training was all about conveying emotions.  "Frank wanted as many small, expressive movements that we could come up with so we taught them a lot of different head movements along with snarls and grins," says Alexander. "We also spent a lot of time working with the dogs playing Max and Maya to get them to interact intimately with each other, kissing each other and nuzzling each other all the time." 
As the dogs continued their training, they started to develop a whole new array of skills, from chasing birds through the air (accomplished by towing stuffed toys on a wire to entice them) to crawling over thin ice.  The dogs even had to endure being buried under piles of snow.  "We had to teach that very slowly.  First we worked on getting them to curl up and lie down on command," explains Alexander.  "Then we started by putting just a little bit of snow on them and giving them a reward for letting that happen.  Each time we did it, we piled a little bit more snow on the dogs until they became comfortable being completely buried!" 
Some of the simplest behaviours were the most difficult to train. "We had to teach the dogs to watch Paul, which in the movie seems very natural, but it's actually very hard," Alexander notes. "The dogs have spent a lot of time with their trainers and are in tune with them so that's who they naturally want to look at. Paul worked with us prepping and feeding the dogs and petting and talking to them so he could develop a real bond with them. At the same time we worked with the dogs so that they would watch Paul when in fact there's a trainer off-screen telling the dog things like "put your paw out.'" 
Each dog had two trainers working with them whenever the cameras were rolling - another huge challenge because in the wide-open spaces of Northern Canada, it was very hard to hide these extraneous humans from the camera.  Even pulling the sled could be challenging for the dogs - because instead of rushing over the snow for miles as they are bred instinctually to do, these sled dog actors often had to pull the sled for five feet and then come to a dead halt for a dramatic scene. 
Along the way, the dogs developed their own unique animal bonds.  "They are very social beings these dogs, but the interesting thing is that they worked out their own social hierarchy in a way that basically matched the characters in the film!  It just worked out to match the script, which I thought was incredible," says Alexander. 
For Marshall, working with the canine cast had both its tribulations and its rewards. "In some ways, they are just like actors.  They have to be prepared and ready for their scenes - but they also have to be fed and walked and trained! And there is a whole different mode of working because you have to not only figure out what your actors and the dogs are doing in the scene, but also where the trainer will be, because the trainer has to be close enough to give commands and keep the dogs' attention.  It requires a lot of extra attention to detail."   
He continues:  "At times it became absolutely hilarious on the set with eight trainers each yelling separate commands to their dogs while the camera was running - but the trainers did a great job.  Overall, there was an amazing amount of dedication, discipline and passion that allowed us to tell the story of the dogs in a very fun and emotional way." 

THE ANTARCTIC SURVIVAL GUIDE: PAUL WALKER AS JERRY SHEPARD
When the dog heroes of EIGHT BELOW are left behind in a roaring Antarctic winter storm to fend for themselves, it is Antarctic guide and musher Jerry Shepard who, driven by his love and loyalty to the dogs, undertakes a precarious mission to bring them back home.  To play Shepard, a rough-hewn, life-long adventurer and sled dog expert, the filmmakers knew they would need to find a most unusual leading actor - someone with the dramatic chops to play a man facing up to his own stubborn independence but also an actor who could be equally at home with serious outdoor skills, physical hardship and close relationships with dogs.
They found that perfect combination in Paul Walker, who came to fore in the blockbusters "The Fast and the Furious" and the sequel "2 Fast 2 Furious."  Walker is not only a dog owner and dog lover, but an avid climber, surfer, snowboarder and even race-car driver who was thrilled to take on the EIGHT BELOW's considerable physical challenges.  Says producer Pat Crowley:  "Paul is just completely credible as someone living this kind of life in nature.  It was essential that you really believe in Jerry's lifestyle and his kinship with the dogs and Paul brings you right into that world." 
"I guess you could say that this story spoke to me personally with its emphasis on dogs, outdoor action and surviving the toughest of conditions," says Walker.  "I took it as a great compliment when Frank Marshall came to me and said I seemed like the right person for the role.  He told me it was going to be really intense and incredibly difficult, but it didn't turn out that that bad.  I thought we'd have to endure days at 50 below but we only got to 30 below!"   
Walker found himself easily relating to Jerry Shepard and the internal struggles that emerge when he is forced to maroon his loyal dogs without much hope of surviving the Antarctic winter.  "Jerry and I have a lot of things in common," notes Walker.  "He has the kind of mentality where he wants to experience as much in life as he can.  But he also doesn't really want to grow up.  He kind of shuns responsibility and he's got this fear of commitment even though he's totally crazy about Moon Bloodgood's character, Katie.  I think the only real connection he's comfortable showing is with his dogs and when they get into trouble it forces him to rethink everything else." 
After accepting the role, Walker dove into intensive training for it, working with a real-life dog musher to learn more about the lifestyle and the tricks of the trade.  Walker especially loved working so closely with his furry co-stars.  "I'm a big dog person," he admits.  "I grew up with dogs and have a Chesapeake Bay Retriever who was with me for most of the shoot.  Working with the sled dogs was really cool, especially getting to know all their personalities, which were each so unique.  And any time I had the chance to jump on that sled and run with them, I loved it.  It's a thrilling experience."
Not every aspect of the filmmaking was quite so ecstatic.  At times the conditions were downright grueling, but Walker found that this only helped him to probe more deeply into the experience of Jerry Shepard.  "One thing that I learned in making EIGHT BELOW is that when things get really miserable, when it's cold and conditions are trying, you really see what people's true colors are," says Walker.  "And you also see how teamwork is so necessary to get through it all, which to me is one of the most important themes of the film - this idea that we can only make it through the tough times through love and friendship." 


THE LIGHTER SIDE OF ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION: JASON BIGGS AS COOPER
THE BUSH PILOT: MOON BLOODGOOD AS  THE INTREPID KATIE
THE SCIENTIST: BRUCE GREENWOOD AS DAVIS MCLAREN
RECREATING ANTARCTICA: THE DESIGN OF EIGHT BELOW

ABOUT THE CANINE CAST
About the Filmmakers:  FRANK MARSHALL  (Director/Executive Producer)
DAVID DiGILIO (Screenplay)