Filmed by Malik Martin, Rob Jackson and Austin Schmitz for Sender Films and Reel Rock 15

45 minutes | 2021

A crew of aspiring ice climbers from the Memphis Rox gym travels to the frozen wilds of Montana, where mentors Manoah Ainuu, Conrad Anker and Fred Campbell share their love of winter adventure in the mountains. This Memphis group is a joy to journey west with and imparts many laughs and powerful moments along the way. Starkly fresh experiences and the sometimes awkward yet deeply meaningful give and take of cultural exchange make Black Ice one of the most beloved films of Reel Rock film tour’s storied history.

Co-Cinematographer Notes: Rob travelled to Memphis and Montana with Producer Zach Barr to collaborate with the wonderful cast and crew of Black Ice for principal filming over a period of eight days in February 2020, shortly before the Covid-19 pandemic shut the world down. Enormous thanks to everyone in this documentary who was willing to appear on camera and share their personal experiences, neither of which are easy things to do nor come without considerable personal impacts that often last well beyond the production and release of a film. Malik Martin, S-Lacio Bankston and Chris Dean are particularly worthy of extra shoutouts — for their skillful long-term camera and storytelling work within their community, vulnerability, courage, leadership and fantastic sense of humor. Conrad Anker, our wise and intrepid host, guide and father figure in Montana, is an American treasure and true honor to be around. Few people bring more passion to both their pursuits and the sharing of them. Manoah Ainuu and Fred Campbell are two of the most thoughtful, kind and articulate climbers and leaders I have worked with. The directors of this film, clearly one of my favorite projects to have played a role on, were Zach Barr and Pete Mortimer of Sender Films.

Black Ice Coverage:

• “CBS This Morning”

• CNN

• Forbes

• “Outside Online”

• Men’s Journal

• Boulder’s Daily Camera

• Rock and Ice

• Gripped