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Whistler climbers, filmmakers fuse spirit, adrenaline on celluloid

Unyeilding rock. Antogonizing ice. Blistering heat. Numbing cold. Beyond Gravity is an adventure into the elements and into the souls of the people who challenge them.

Unyeilding rock. Antogonizing ice. Blistering heat. Numbing cold. Beyond Gravity is an adventure into the elements and into the souls of the people who challenge them.

The 52 minute climbing film is the sweat and tears of Aaron Black of Whistler and Sean White and Aaron Jackson, both from Vancouver. All three have yet to reach their 26 th birthdays, but already have established credentials with North America’s top outdoor publications.

Black’s work has been featured in TransWorld Snowboarding, Snowboard Canada and Mountain Bike Action, just to name a few. White’s photos have been picked up by National Geographic, Maclean’s , and his multimedia show "Himalayan High" has toured extensively across Canada and is displayed in museums and galleries. Jackson has been published in Climbing, Rock and Ice and Surfer . His latest work, 5 mm Canada, is the first Canadian surf film and has been nominated for Cinematography of the Year by Surfer Magazine.

The collaboration of these three extreme enthusiasts in Beyond Gravity could also establish a landmark and set new standards for Canadian climbing films.

"There are so many snowboard films out there, but nothing really on climbing in Canada," says Black. "At first we just set out to film our friends climbing in Squamish."

But through a series of cold phone calls and chance meetings, the trio’s project began to gain momentum. Those familiar with the sport will recognize such names as Andrew Boyd, Katie Brown, Peter Croft and Steve House. Locals will recognize the faces of Jia Condon, Rich Prohaska and Conny Amelunxen. Climbing legend and author, Greg Child, narrates.

"When I made the suggestion of narration to tie the film together," says Jackson, "Sean and Aaron said ‘yeah, do you want to do it?’ I laughed and said ‘no.’"

They agreed they should have someone "prolific" to help lend credibility to the film. Child was the first choice.

"Aaron said ‘we can’t just call him!’ I was more worried about what he was going to charge," jokes Jackson.

Their quest to show genuine climbers outside the glamourized element of Hollywood must have been obvious. Child immediately agreed to narrate the low-budget film for a reasonable fee.

Whistler climber Prohaska agrees that genuine quality shines through in the finished product.

"It’s definitely more modest. Like how they would’ve made films 20 years ago. Grades aren’t involved. Skill isn’t really mentioned. It’s about why you climb. Most ski, snowboard and climbing movies out there show the name of the athlete, what they’re doing and it’s almost like a commercial."

Prohaska says the film illustrates the sport true to its nature, but still keeps it exciting.

"Which was probably pretty hard to do!" he jokes. "It’s not to say that these climbs (in the film) aren’t cutting edge, but the whole reason for climbing is what they’re worried about… it’s about what we get out of it."

Much of the Canadian landscape in Beyond Gravity will look familiar. The film details Amelunxen and Vancouverite Adam Diamond as they pioneer a wild and exposed new aid route on the Squamish Chief. Vancouver Island and Canmore, Alberta also provide backdrops. And while the trio had originally wanted to keep all the climbing in Canada, irrisistable circumstances also took them to the United States and Australia.

Prohaska’s climb stands out as the longest and chilliest in the film. He and Whistler partner Jia Condon travelled to Greenland to conquer What’s Bred in the Bone. The two did double duty on the month-long excursion, also acting as camera men for the first time.

"It’s really difficult to film when there’s only two of you. There’s so many other things you have to worry about than just the camera," Prohaska says. He was pleasantly surprised at how great his segment turned out in the end.

Beyond Gravity would never have evolved to where it did without the outdoor experience of the three filmmakers. The trio made the decision to shoot the majority of the footage themselves. While that would mean incredible close ups from the rock face or ice wall, it also meant overcoming great physical challenges.

"I had never really climbed at all before. I was a surfer," says Jackson, "so I was learning as I went. But I was able to say ‘hey, as an outsider, I would want to see this.’ It was a good balance. I knew the generalities and the other guys knew the specifics."

Black is a more experienced climber, but admits shooting was hard labour.

"One of the toughest was with Peter (Croft) in California where it was so hot. He’s doing this crazy climb and of course we have to do the climb as well, but with an extra 30 pounds of equipment on our back. We’re hanging on, sweating in the sun, just trying to get the shot… and the amazing thing is that Peter did the climb like six times that day!"

It was long afternoons like that one that helped develop an important element of the film.

"Because we’re athletes, and we understand, we became friends, and the climbers began opening up to the camera," Black says. He adds their spirit will appeal to climbers and non-climbers.

"We didn’t want to portray these people as daredevils or someone with a death-wish."

Instead the film illustrates a soaring sense of physical and mental accomplishment, a lust for life and an emotional high that everyone can relate to.

Early screenings of Beyond Gravity are garnering reviews such as "By far the best cinematography of any climbing film, bar none," from Climbing Magazine, and "As breathtaking as anything you’ll find in a Hollywood feature," according to The Vancouver Sun.

The film will be up against some stiff competition next weekend at the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival. The 10-day event celebrates the vitality and achievements of the outdoor community through film, photography and literature. Black is a past winner in the Mountain Sport category for his still picture capturing Andrew Boyd ascending The Waterspout at Horne Lake on Vancouver Island.

Other local connections to look forward to at this year’s festival include shots from Whistler and Squamish in the ski and snowboard wipe-out extravaganza film Resident Bruise. No Strings Attached features leading-edge bouldering action in the area; and Skiletto demonstrates the amazing skills of unicyclist, Kris Holm – performing on the Stawamus Chief.

Beyond Gravity will be screened Friday, Feb. 23rd at North Vancouver’s Centennial Theatre at 7 p.m. Winners will be announced and awards presented on Sunday, Feb. 25.

White is on the road with the film, touring major markets such as Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Ottawa. The film made its international debut earlier this month in Germany and will return overseas later this year to Italy and Scotland.

The film makes its way up to Whistler in early spring, just in time to kick off the climbing season. Be watching for it at Dusty’s and let your spirits soar Beyond Gravity.