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The Devil at Your Heels

This feature-length documentary introduces viewers to Ken Carter, a Montreal-born stunt driver who made a living by risking his life.
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The film shines a light on the intense preparation that led to Carter’s first attempt to jump a car across a mile-wide stretch of the St. Lawrence River – a 5-year period during which the dare-devil raised a million dollars, erected a 10-storey take-off ramp and built a rocket-powered car.

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  • director
    Robert Fortier
  • editing
    Robert Fortier
  • producer
    Adam Symansky
    William Brind
    Robert Fortier
  • executive producer
    Barrie Howells
    Arthur Hammond
  • script
    David Wilson
    Charles Lazer
  • photography
    Barry Perles
  • sound
    Jacques Chevigny
    Raymond Marcoux
  • sound editing
    André Galbrand
  • re-recording
    Hans Peter Strobl
    Adrian Croll
  • narrator
    Gordon Pinsent
  • music
    Art Phillips

Education

Ages 13 to 18

Notes

Warnings: [Bleeped swearing. Depictions of injury and violent situations.]

Documentary about Canadian stuntman Ken Carter’s famous attempt to jump the St. Lawrence river. Appropriate for classroom discussions and research assignments about Canadian media, entertainment and art. Do you consider daredevils like Ken Carter to be artists? Why or why not? Discuss the role funding and financial backing play in Ken’s dream of jumping the St. Lawrence. Do you consider fame and glory to be admirable dreams?  Write about your own dreams and goals; what obstacles are there? Are there any similarities between your dreams and Ken’s? Discuss any potential ethical issues behind the final decision to have Kenny Powers make the jump rather than Ken.

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The Devil at Your Heels
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