This past April a few friends and I made a series films on the discussion of art as a therapy for sexual trauma survivors. I was invited down to join a Cucalorus residency program where each resident worked on their own projects surrounding sexual assault. Being surrounded by creative minds focused on storytelling through a broad range of mediums on the same subject was an incredibly powerful approach to filmmaking.

Here are a few images from the first film, Tilt-a-Whirl.

Special thanks to Director Adam Kritzer, Thea Fitz-James, Dan Brawley, Allistair Johnson, and Andrew Ryder for making it all happen. 

Vrindavan for Holi. Amazing.

Scooter Joe is back on the Streets!

Earlier this year, Travis Benn and I started shooting a doc about Joe Willins, aka “Scooter Joe,” and his involvement in the transformation of the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY. Joe was a scooter cop in the 60’s and 70’s, when the murder rate was climbing and the crack epidemic was rampant. His role as a scooter cop handing out parking tickets and checking pot holes inevitably transformed into arresting drug pushers, thieves, and murderers. In just under a decade, Scooter and his partner Kenny were able to solve over 35 murder cases and make hundreds of drug arrests. Many attribute Scooter's strong ties to his community and kinship-like disposition with the residents as leading factors to his success. How can we duplicate that in today’s society and close the gap between the police and the citizens they pledge to protect?

Being able to meet and spend time with people such as Joe is why I want pursue documentary filmmaking full-time. I find that I'm drawn to characters that have something that I find missing in my own life. When I look at Joe I see a man that's dedicated his whole life to serving his community and planted roots around the people and places he loves the most. 

LACE CRATER PREMIERES AT TORONTO FILM FESTIVAL

In December of 2014, some friends and I gathered to make Harrison Atkins's debut feature film, Lace Crater. Joe Swanberg and his company Forager brought the film to life, and we began shooting shortly after. Independent films are rough, 18-hour days for three weeks, low-pay, under-crewed, but having such a passionate and talented group of people to work with, turned out to be one of the most rewarding and unforgettable experiences I've ever had.

The Purple Tape Files

Sometimes in the doc world you find yourself in a haze of smoke, staring into a hennessy bottle, wondering "Where the hell am I?" Don't freak out, it's your first Wu-Tang Clan video. 

Raekwon came out with Only Built 4 Cuban Linx aka "The Purple Tape" in 1995, released by Loud and RCA records. This doc brings all the OG's back together to talk about the rap world during that time and how Wu-Tang and the Purple Tape shaped what rap is today. 

Almost Sunrise gets picked up by PBS!

POV has announced that Almost Sunrise will be included in their 2016 season on PBS. For the past two years I've been working with Emmy-nominated Director Michael Collins, shooting and assistant editing his second feature documentary. The film has taken us all over the US as we followed Tom and Anthony, two Iraq veterans, as they walked across the country from Milwaukee to LA. They set out to raise awareness about the suicide crisis amongst veterans and take the time to reflect upon their experiences during war.

While we're still applying for film festivals, it's a big relief to know that the film will be accessible to everyone, and has the ability to create real social change for the veterans in our country and around the world.