The Fine Line (2008) – Primary Film

With the inevitable explosion in backcountry popularity this winter, we figured the time was right to revisit our first feature film—’The Fine Line’, from 2008—and release it for free on all of our social channels.
The film’s primary message of avalanche safety was inspired by the death of four of our close High School friends in a small, early season avalanche that could’ve easily been prevented with the proper safety precautions.
We wanted to take a new approach to avalanche awareness, one that would resonate with younger skiers and snowboarders and inspire them to start the lifelong process of learning how to move safely through the mountains. We did this by weaving the message into a hard-hitting, action-packed film that featured some of the top dogs in professional skiing and snowboarding at the time. And we worked with the Canadian Avalanche Foundation and a host of avalanche professionals to ensure that the educational aspect of the film met the industry standard.
Twelve years later, we’re still super proud of the entire project. But watching all five of the films again feels like we just pulled some old reels out of the attic to revisit an awkward time in our filmmaking careers when we were trying new things and finding our creative voice as a company.
It’s shot on 16mm though. So that’s cool, right?
Either way, the project is comprised of a primary film and four training films. The primary film did the festival circuit and picked up a few awards along the way, and the training films are still used as a resource for avalanche education today. Of course some of the techniques, gear and snow science standards have been updated in the last 12 years, but the message will never lose its relevance.
Hit this link to our website for access to all five films, and feel free to send it to anyone you know who intends to wander outside the ski hill boundary this winter.
Stay safe, friends. //

Original synopsis:

“The greatest snow sports athletes join the world’s leading avalanche professionals to bring you a new movement in avalanche education. “The Fine Line” is a cinematic journey that unites the cutting edge of winter sports with youth education about responsible backcountry usage. Along with massive avalanches, epic riding, year long time-lapses, crazy true stories, cable cam cinematography, and Alaskan heli to heli, educational materials are made clearly visible. This engaging, and inspiring film can save lives.”

Directed by
Dave Mossop

Producer
Malcolm Sangster

Co-Produced by
Eric Crosland
Dave Mossop

Associate Producer
Evan Woolley

Written by
Dave Mossop
Malcolm Sangster
Eric Crosland
Mike Nixon

Principal Cinematography
Dave Mossop
Constantine Papanicolaou
Alex Fostvedt

Additional Cinematography
Eric Crosland
Malcolm Sangster
Frank Desrosiers
Aaron Whitley
Anthony Vitelli

Animation by
Ryan Thibault
Callum Paterson
Nathan Gilliss

CAST

Vance Brews
Katie Elliott
Carson Graham
Jillian Rankin

RIDERS

Cholo Burns
Tom Burt
Shandy Campos
Shin Campos
Shane Carmichael
Kris Cormier
Dana Flahr
Will Gadd
Gary Hall
Tanner Hall
Andrew Hardingham
Eric Hjorleifson
Bryan Iguchi
Ian McIntosh
Scott Penner
Sean Pettit
Matty Richard
Travis Rice
Mikey Rencz
Chris Rubens
Skye Sheele
Dan Treadway
Dave Treadway
Dominic Melanson
Pete Then
Peter Velisek