Projects

Films and other media we conceptualize, produce and promote.

The West is Burning

PROJECT

The West is Burning

A campaign raising awareness about the conditions of forests in the western U.S. Told through a full-feature documentary, we examine the history of forest management and litigation that led to the current conditions which are causing catastrophic fire nearly year-round. The film explores the urgent need to act now, and the potential to generate positive change in our forests, watersheds, and communities, both rural and urban.

We need to embrace a new era of forest stewardship using all of our management tools including thinning, prescribed fire and managed wildfire.

Melanie Parker, Deputy Director, Sonoma County Regional Parks

SUPPORT & IMPACT PARTNERS

University of Arizona

Wallowa Resources

westisburning.org

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Insecta

PROJECT

Insecta

A short documentary explores the beauty and wonder of entomology during a journey alongside leading insect scientists to explore the most painful stings and fascinating science of the unseen lives that surround you.

In a 2014 Science article, lead author Rodolfo Dirzo of Stanford, combined data from several studies and found a 45 percent decline for a wide range of studied populations in the last forty years.

We made this film to bring awareness to the scary reality that insects around the world are vanishing before our very eyes. Together with the University of Arizona, we are promoting science literacy and raising awareness about the importance of insects as pollinators, natural agents of pest control, disease carriers, and decomposers.

IMPACT

INSPIRED KIDS

Inspired 20,000 children to get curious about strange and beautiful insects.

NOTICED EXCELLENCE

Nominated for a regional emmy award.

BROAD REACH

Reached nation-wide audience in theaters and at home.

The decline is dramatic and depressing and it affects all kinds of insects, including butterflies, wild bees, and hoverflies.

Dr. Martin Sorg Yale Environment 360

FILMING HIGHLIGHTS

The Pain Scale

Ancient DNA

Beyond Human Vision

All Life is Connected

FILM TEAM

Cody Sheehy

Producer, Fundraising & Strategic Planner Read more

Matt Rahr

Web Developer, Communications & Business Manager Read more

Kim Daly

Lead UX/UI Designer & Creative Director Read more

JD Gibbs

Head of Software Development & Business Strategist Read more

Craig Boesewetter

Developer, Designer & Web Strategist Read more

SUPPORT

AG Motion
Sci Art Center

Host a screening

If you’ve never hosted a film screening event before, don’t worry. All you need to do is follow a few simple steps and you’ll become even more popular!
HELP ME HOST

insectamovie.org

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Beyond The Mirage

PROJECT

Beyond The Mirage

Full feature documentary about the future of water in the Western United States paired with an app that empowers audiences to make their own film.

Water shortage is gripping the West with a growing gap in our supply. So we dove into the murky waters of western water policy to examine what leaders are doing about it. We explored how other nations like China and Israel are solving water shortages with innovative solutions.

Key takeaway: the Western United States are bound together by water, and the states all have to work together to secure future supplies for all of them. It’s become apparent that for this region, solutions will only come if individual states give up long entrenched defensive positions and even give back some ground on long-held water rights.

Our solution was to educate the public so we can hold our leaders accountable and demand solutions that work for us and our communities. Goal is to make everyone a water expert through meaningful engagement of both watching this film and making a short film from segments, or clips, of the footage.