OVERVIEW
CRAFTING A FILM THAT DOCUMENTS RESILIENCE IN REAL TIME—WHERE RECOVERY ISN'T A MOMENT, BUT A PROCESS DRIVEN BY INSTINCT, PURPOSE, AND THE PULL TO RETURN.
CLIENT
REALTREE
YEAR
2025
CAMPAIGN
LADDER TO THE SKY
CATEGORY
ORIGINAL FILM / DOCUMENTARY
CREDITS
- HOLT INGALLS — DIRECTOR/PRODUCER
- CRAIG GODWIN — PHOTOGRAPHER/PRODUCER
- JENSEN THOMAS — CINEMATOGRAPHER
- WELLS INGALLS — VIDEO EDITOR
PARTNERS
- REALTREE
- BANDED
- HONEY BRAKE
- OUTDOOR CHANNEL
- BERGARA
- BUSHNELL
- FEDERAL
- BUCKBUSTERS
- 1ST PRODUCTS
- TECOMATE
LISTEN
THE STORY BEHIND THE RECOVERY
AFTER A LIFE-THREATENING STROKE ON STAGE, DRAKE WHITE FACED THE POSSIBILITY OF NEVER RETURNING TO THE LIFE HE KNEW. MUSIC WAS UNCERTAIN. MOVEMENT WAS UNCERTAIN. THE FUTURE, ENTIRELY UNCLEAR.
THEN SOMETHING SHIFTED.
A TRAIL CAM CAPTURED A BUCK BEHIND HIS HOME—AN IMAGE THAT REIGNITED INSTINCT, PURPOSE, AND THE WILL TO FIGHT BACK. WHAT FOLLOWED WASN'T JUST RECOVERY. IT WAS PURSUIT.
THIS FILM NEEDED TO CARRY THAT WEIGHT—WITHOUT EXAGGERATION, WITHOUT SENTIMENTALITY. JUST TRUTH.
"This is the most powerful story we've told. We're honored that Drake and Alex allowed us to tell it."
— Holt Ingalls, Lead Director
SHAPE
BUILDING A STORY FROM GRIT AND INSTINCT
WE APPROACHED THE FILM AS MORE THAN A COMEBACK STORY. IT HAD TO LIVE AT THE INTERSECTION OF RESILIENCE, IDENTITY, AND THE OUTDOORS.
THE NARRATIVE WAS BUILT AROUND CONTRAST—STILLNESS AND MOTION, LIMITATION AND DRIVE, SILENCE AND SOUND. MUSIC, HUNTING, AND RECOVERY WEREN'T SEPARATE THREADS—THEY BECAME ONE CONTINUOUS LINE.
WITH APPEARANCES FROM ARTISTS AND COLLABORATORS WHO KNEW DRAKE PERSONALLY, THE STORY STAYED GROUNDED IN AUTHENTICITY—NEVER DRIFTING INTO PERFORMANCE.
CREATE
A FILM THAT DOESN'T FLINCH
THROUGH CINEMATIC PACING, NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS, AND UNFILTERED MOMENTS, THE FINAL PIECE REFLECTS THE REALITY OF RECOVERY—NOT JUST THE OUTCOME.
IT'S PHYSICAL. IT'S QUIET. IT'S EARNED.
"LADDER TO THE SKY" BECAME MORE THAN A FILM. IT STANDS AS A RECORD OF ENDURANCE—WHERE PURPOSE IS REBUILT ONE STEP AT A TIME, AND THE CLIMB ITSELF BECOMES THE STORY.
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