“Shattered Ice” Hockey Film Helps Others See Life After Loss
Screenwriter and producer Jake Miskin created the film, inspired by his high school experience, to help others struggling with mental health issues.
Shattered Ice premieres in Rhode Island on Aug. 15 at the Jane Pickins Theatre.
There’s a film out there that just might help teens struggling with mental health issues during their formative high school years. Set in a small Massachusetts town, Shattered Ice centers around a teenage hockey player’s attempt to navigate high school life when his best friend dies by suicide. High school hockey player Will Mankus, played by Charlie Gillespie, struggles with grief, but must lift himself up from rock bottom with the help of his small-town New England community. He finds hope and purpose through his family, friends and the sport he loves. The film, written and produced by Jake Miskin, is inspired by his high school experience.
“In the area where we grew up, there was a series of suicides, mostly young male athletes,” Miskin says. “We want young people to see Charlie’s performance and the rest of the cast in the film to feel permission to reach that point of emotional vulnerability, like Will Mankus did with his family, friends, team and community in Shattered Ice.”
Shattered Ice premieres for the first time in Rhode Island on Friday, Aug 15 at 7 p.m. (doors at 6 p.m.) at the Jane Pickins Theatre in Newport, in collaboration with NOSOLO, a mental health-driven brand making an impact with purpose and style. The film is directed by Alex Ranarivelo, and produced by Miskin, along with Benjamin Stephen, Daniel Sheldon and Christopher V. Nelson, and stars Charlie Gillespie, Sterling Beaumon, Kyla Kenedy, Kevin Chapman, Pat Shea with Jack Falahee, and Matt Letscher. It already won the “Most Impactful Film” award at Sedona International Film Festival, and the “Audience Award – Narrative Features” award at Berkshire International Film Festival, as well as the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature and Directors’ Choice Award for Best Ensemble Cast at the Woods Hole Film Festival.
Watch the teaser here:
Below is an interview with Miskin about the making of the film:
Is the story line in the film something you personally experienced?
Shattered Ice is a fictional story inspired by my own high school experiences between 2005-2009, where we lost multiple students to suicide. We lost friends, we picked each other up and we went to a hell of a lot of high school hockey games.
What made you want to make Shattered Ice into a film?
Sparking the conversation surrounding suicide and mental health through an entertaining, but powerful story. I always loved Friday Night Lights and how they showcased football and connected characters to the community. I wanted to highlight how hockey in New England is so unique and how passionate people are about the sport. I was inspired by the works of Good Will Hunting, Manchester By The Sea, Friday Night Lights and Peanut Butter Falcon. Creating stories with impact and authenticity.
Were you always into film or was it something you got into during college?
I was always into film. I loved creating characters and story lines growing up. I went to Springfield College to play soccer and study sports management. I didn’t get serious until I graduated and wanted to pursue film-making as a career.
What made you choose Nosolo to premiere the film in Rhode Island (I am familiar with the mental health background on the business).
I’ve followed JT from NOSOLO for a few years now and I love their passion and unique way of building a community and spreading awareness about suicide and mental health. They were the perfect partner to bring Shattered Ice to Rhode Island. Keep a lookout for some exclusive NOSOLO x Shatter Ice hats at the screening.
What helped you to keep going after your dreams after you suffered the losses of classmates to suicide?
Working on Shattered Ice was a twelve-year journey of ups and downs. I was determined, and through community support and having the right team together, we propelled Shattered Ice into production in January of 2024. Sparking the conversation around mental health and suicide through storytelling and a narrative feature was our unique way to make sure people feel comfortable enough to reach out and talk to someone.
Tickets are $12. Fifty percent of proceeds go back to the NOSOLO Give Back Foundation and fifty percent goes back to the Shattered Ice Social Impact Screenings.
