GRIPPED.

Julian Young, a headstrong, elite rock climber is consumed by perfection. During an Olympic Qualifying competition, he is embroiled in a brutal controversy. Julian unpacks the moment in a long-awaited, career-defining, podcast interview.

This is a short film I have been working on with some ultra-talented, like-minded collaborators. I had the privilege of writing, producing, starring in, and co-directing this project. The 15-minute short film also serves as proof of concept for a much more ambitious feature-length film that we are aiming to bring to life.

At the Heart of GRIPPED is a story about being broken by what you love. Is the outcome actually worth the harrowing effort? Is walking the tightrope of loving something so much that you are on the verge of hating it worth it? I’m still unsure. The film also explores the relationship between the athlete and his audience - the fine line between how the media portrays trauma vs entertainment.

Check out the teaser trailer and BTS below. Full film will be available soon.