10 Weird Ways That Actors Coped With Difficult Shoots
5. Josh Brolin and Jake Gyllenhaal Gave Each Other Altitude Sickness
In 2014, during filming on Everest, an avalanche struck the mountain, killing 16 Sherpa guides. Whilst the tragedy didn't affect the production directly, it was a sobering reminder of the dangers involved. Although the production team and cast never fully ascended the mountain, they did spend some time at the punishingly cold base camp. The Hollywood actors were forced to sleep in unheated lodges with electric blankets and got to experience the treacherous surroundings, albeit at a safe distance.
Jake Gyllenhaal and Josh Brolin threw themselves into preparations for the film, going mountaineering in Santa Monica and spending time in an altitude simulator. It was here that the masculine competitive urge kicked in and both actors decided to see how far they could push themselves, staying in the machine for longer and longer. They eventually got to between 26,000 and 30,000 feet, an area where Gyllenhaal says "the body does not function".
Both actors regretted their game when they fell into a deep depression a few days later, suffering from altitude sickness. On the plus side, Gyllenhaal believes that the experience helped him get into the mindset of his character.