Springfield College Alumnus Returns Home to Showcase Award-Winning Film
At left, Jake Miskin '13, Springfield College President Mary-Beth Cooper, and Dan Sheldon ’12.
By: Damon Markiewicz
Springfield College alumnus Jake Miskin ’13 recently returned home to Alden Street and hosted a screening of his award-winning feature film, Shattered Ice, a sport drama that explores the emotional journey of a teenage hockey player coping with the suicide of his best friend. The vision for the film came from Miskin’s own high school experiences in his hometown of Needham, Mass.
“The film is inspired by my hometown, where we lost multiple students to suicide while we were in high school,” said Miskin, who is founder of Nehoiden Street Films, a production company based in Massachusetts. “I always wanted to tell a story about the conversations my friends or our town were or weren’t having, and it would show how people grieve differently.”
While Miskin was enrolled at the College, he was living a very normal life as a successful student-athlete. He was competing on the men’s soccer team while preparing for a career in the world of athletics as a Sport Management major. Miskin found many of his best friends in life at the College, companions who also wondered what he was always writing when he wasn’t competing or studying.
“I actually started writing Shattered Ice during my senior year at Springfield College,” explained Miskin. “I was living with my friends in our apartment, and I was inspired to write about my own personal experiences in high school losing classmates and friends to suicide. Here we are, many years later, and it’s surreal to be able to come back to campus and have Springfield College be the first college we show the movie to.”
On September 28, Miskin partnered with the Springfield College Department of Athletics, Department of Sport Management and Recreation, Office of Health Promotion, Counseling Center, and several student clubs and organizations, to host a viewing of the film in the Fuller Arts Center. The event was attended by students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends. Miskin has partnered with organizations such as The Hidden Opponent to hold showings of the film across New England. Springfield College was the first college on the tour to show the film.
“The event on campus was part of our social impact campaign with the film, which consists of having groups view the film and have some meaningful conversations after the viewing,” explained Miskin. “One of our goals is to have the film viewed by as many high school and college students as we can. Overall, the screening events really represent a night of hope and inspiration, while normalizing the conversations surrounding mental health and suicide. Through the film, we try and tell a powerful story that can send a message to other teenagers/young adults that there is light at the end of the tunnel, even in the darkest times.”
Production of the film started in January 2024, and since its completion, Shattered Ice has received multiple awards debuting at many different film festivals throughout the country. The film earned the Most Impactful Film honor at the Sedona International Film Festival, received the Audience Award – Narrative Feature at the Berkshire and Woods Hole Film Festival, and earned the Directors’ Choice Award for Best Ensemble Cast at the Woods Hole Film Festival. In addition, the film earned three awards at the Mystic Film Festival including Best Male Performance Narrative Feature, Best New England Film, and Audience Choice Award - Best Narrative Feature.
“The feedback surrounding the film has been very positive,” explained Miskin. “One moment that stands out occurred during the Sedona Film Festival. We had a guest stand up and explain their story, and how they related to the characters after watching the film. At that moment, I had one of the cast members look over at me and say, ‘mission accomplished.’ That was a really impactful moment.”
Miskin continues to use storytelling as a powerful tool for social impact, blending sport, emotion, and advocacy to reach audiences across New England and beyond. Dating back to Miskin’s student days, he had started to link his passion for sports with enthusiasm for the performing arts. As far back as high school, Miskin had an interest in the performing arts, but it was college experience that made him comfortable giving it a try.
“I was able to be a part of three theater productions with professor Martin Shell during my time at Springfield College,” explained Miskin. “My first was being a part of the production of Dracula, which led me to take Martin’s class introducing students to the performing arts theater. Next, Martin would ask me to audition for a performance of Dead Man’s Cell Phone, followed by a production Middletown. Being a part of the theater productions were some of my best experiences, and I am really glad I did it. Taking that leap of faith into the performing arts was a new experience, and it helped me down the road to become a better public speaker as well. I am really happy Martin asked me to audition. It was also meaningful because my teammates on the soccer team were supportive and they would attend the performances.”
Miskin arrived at the College as a highly recruited soccer player with a mission of enrolling as a Sport Management major. He initially viewed his collegiate career as the start of his journey to eventually explore a career in professional sports.
“That was my goal, I wanted to work for the Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, or New England Patriots,” explained Miskin. “That was my mindset coming to Springfield College. I received great support from men’s soccer coach Peter Haley ’77, and meeting sport management professors Bob Accorsi, G’80, and Ken Wall, G’73, DPE’75. My college experiences led me to exploring my passions, and that is something I continue to do.”
Following graduation, Miskin finished his summer job working at Fenway Park in Boston. He would next head to Los Angeles for four years, striving to showcase the idea he had written on Alden Street, and introduce it to the professionals in the film industry.
“The power of the Springfield College alumni network came into play, as I was able to connect with Dan Sheldon ’12, who was already in the entertainment business as a talent agent,” explained Miskin. “Dan graduated a year before me, so I reached out to him, and he would help me with the executive side and agent side of the entertainment business. Moving to L.A., I wanted to network and learn the film industry. I received some great feedback while in California. Initially, I was writing Shattered Ice as an eight-part television series. I received recommendations to make this into a movie first. I ended up adapting four episodes I had written into a 90-minute movie.”
After four years on the west coast, Miskin would return home to the Boston area, and it was around this time when the making of Shattered Ice became more of a reality.
“The networking opportunities just started to really take off when I returned home, and we were able to do some fundraising and develop into a true independent film,” added Miskin. “I received so much support from family, friends, classmates, alumni. It really showed the power of building great relationships can pay off. The movie is authentic and I think people really connect with the message of the film.”
The day before the film was shown at the College, Miskin was able to once again connect his love for soccer, with his dedication as a film writer. Thanks to the welcoming support of Springfield College men’s soccer head coach Tommy Crabill, Miskin was able to connect with this year’s team as part of the squad’s mental health awareness game on September 27.
“I was so thankful to be a part of the team’s home game, and continue to lead conversations on mental health that inspire hope for all,” added Miskin. “It was a special day, and to see the current student-athletes wearing T-shirts supporting the film and mental health awareness was really satisfying.”
Just like it was 12 years ago when Miskin first started writing the film, the College was once again the starting point for the unveiling of the movie that ties into our Humanics philosophy.
“The goal of the film and the outreach events are all about helping people,” concluded Miskin. “Our event at the College was the kick-off to a busy month of October showing the film. It has opened the doors to work with national brands like Bauer hockey, the National Hockey League Foundation and Boston Bruins Foundation. Just like it was 12 years ago, Springfield College ended up being the starting point. It was rewarding to see so many people come back to campus and be a part of this special moment. It’s always about bringing awareness and support to such an important topic.”
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