COOL STUFF: In Praise of Giving: Kickstarting the Tom Frost Film

My parents taught me, through example, to give to the things you care about. My mom was a nurse, and my dad was a teacher. They weren’t wealthy, nor were they poor. They were middle-class folks who believed that selfless contribution is a virtue that makes one a caring, compassionate human. When they really believed in some cause or person, they donated money and, if feasible, they donated something even more precious than money: their time.

There are countless examples across all cultures and religions that affirm the universal truth that the more you give—whether that’s through shared knowledge, material goods, or, of course, money—the more you gain: in wisdom, in friendships, and in good will.

For six years, I sat on the board of the Access Fund, a national group that represents climbers and works both to open up new climbing areas, and keep existing ones open as well. Four times a year, I sat at a table alongside some pretty awesome people in the climbing world. One of the most memorable moments of my time there was when Dan Nordstrom, the chairman of the board and one of the most articulate, gifted leaders I’ve ever met, said something to the effect of, “You should give and give, right about to the point where it hurts.”

That line has always stuck with me. And to this day I continue to write a check to the Access Fund rather than put that extra cash toward something more selfish or self-serving. I do that because climbing has given me so much—and I want to give back to the sport that I love.

It’s with a similar sentiment that I’ll be writing a check to a new, ambitious film project from Flatlander Films that captures the life and legacy of one of the true American heroes and living legends: Tom Frost.

As I recently wrote in my latest Story Behind the Image, Tom is a guy who does everything at the highest level, whether that’s simultaneously pioneering both the sport of climbing Yosemite big-walls as well as its attendant genre of vertical adventure photography, or helping to found two of the most successful climbing brands in the world, or even founding Chimera lighting modifiers.

Tom Seawell and Jeff Wiant, the two talented filmmakers at Flatlander Films, have been working hard on this Tom Frost documentary, all out of pocket. It’s been a labor of love for these two non-climbers—who were, apparently, given the nicknames of “flat landers” by the climbers they interviewed for this film; hence their production company’s name. Now, they’re reaching out for help in finishing this project.

Check out the trailer.

And check out their Indiegogo fundraising page here.

For me, as a climber, photographer and now director, I feel deeply indebted to Tom Frost for all that he has contributed. And my contribution to this legacy film is but one tiny token of gratitude to a guy whom I owe so much.

I didn’t write this post with the intention of telling you that you should give money to this film. I wrote this post to remind you to give.

Give to whatever it is you love.

Give to what you find inspiring.

Give back to those who have given to you.

Above all, give.