Holy Smokes. It’s the type of thing you talk about getting when you decide to bite into a passion project, but you know it’s a pie in the sky. A staff pick has always been a goal of mine, but you just never quite know which project will be the right fit. Knowing Tony’s journey, it definitely feels right. Thanks for the honor @vimeo - hope more people will see One For All and be inspired by Tony’s story.
“When you find freedom, you refuse to suffer” - @tonydrees1782
Just over two years ago, @spencemiller_ and I were introduced to a story of someone who had been through hell and back— and was willing to share his story.
The film, “One For All” was awarded a 5PT Film Fund Grant and later went on to win the Hayden Kennedy Memorial 5Point Prize at its Premiere at 5Point in 2023. Since its premiere the film has screened at over 15 film festivals around the world, including a key screening for leaders in the Defense Industry and with RMPBS.
Today, the film is finally available to the public. Do us a favor, give a watch, a like on Vimeo and send it to someone that will resonate with its message.
Link in bio.
About 2 years ago, I spent 7 weeks up on the outskirts of Glacier National Park, working on Blackfeet territory, doing whatever it took to help make this film. From shooting the poster, shooting 2nd unit scenes, VFX plates, BTS assets and directing a companion short film… it was a wild ride. It still feels surreal to see this photo of Nicolas Cage and know that I pushed the shutter. I will never forget the people or the landscape. Grateful. Coming to theaters October 20th!
Meet Local Legend @michaelcbstevens .
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Through the end of the year, we are partnering with @coloradomtncollege students from the @iworksagency to create content for 5Point. This class is an opportunity for students to gain real world agency experience before graduation. Follow along to see a sample of the great work that they do.
#5pointfilm #5pointfilmfestival #adventurestorytelling #cometogetherreturnchanged
2ish Years Ago, I traveled north to the US-Canada Border to work on Butcher’s Crossing. As the weeks went by shooting 2nd Unit and Unit Stills for the film, it became clear that there was another story that needed to be told.
With the support of The Iinnii Initiative, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Producers of the Film, I was given to access to direct a featurette about the importance of Butcher’s Crossing in depicting a part of history that has forever impacted the Blackfeet Nation, and millions of others that were so dependent on the Buffalo for survival.
Today, the Iinnii Initiative is working to reconnect historic Buffalo migration grounds between the US and Canadian borders, while also playing an essential role in reconnecting their tribal community to Buffalo.
It was a pleasure to get to know Ervin, to learn of his relationship with Buffalo, and to shed light on the importance that Butcher’s Crossing, a historical fiction, can play in educating the public of this nation’s tricky past.
#blackfeetnation #iinniiinitiative #nicolascage #fredhechinger #butcherscrossing #buffalo #bison #glaciernationalpark #johnwilliams
We lost our dad yesterday, to a 15 month-long fight with brain cancer. He was a creative, loving and passionate man. He traveled to countries that no longer exist and played music on random city corners. He learned Spanish in his fifties and loved to sail a 12 foot sunfish just to capsize it on his children.
He was always making home videos, whether you knew it or not, and he was a coach of sports teams his kids weren’t on just so others felt included. In his later years he spoke less and watched more. It’s through those experiences I learned how to communicate with him in the final months. He is leaving a huge hole in my heart but I am thankful that he is able to rest now. I love you dad and feel so grateful we got to talk before the cancer got worse. I’ll carry you with me wherever I go.
Photos by my talented mom @debthephotog
This film is finally live (link in bio for a while, after that find it on my website).
After dozens of screenings at film festivals around the world, this project, which started as a phone call between @alpinefish43 and I almost 5 years ago, Is finally available on the World Wide Web.
A film like this - even though it’s only 13 minutes and change long - symbolizes years of work, dedication and commitment to a single project.
For those of you close to me, they know how massive of a lift this project was and I am still proud of it all of these years later.
A big thank you to Trish for believing in me to bring this story to light. I hope others can learn from her bravery, both in the leadership she shows in life and on the mountains.
And for those of you making films out there never forget that you have all the power to make whatever it is you want to come to life. Don’t let brands, budgets and exposure dictate how you craft your vision.
Thanks to everyone that helped push this forward. I could have never done it without you.
Six years ago I was on my way back from Miami - driving my ‘85 gmc home on wheels back from three weeks spent on a boat trying to sail to the Bahamas (we only made it to key west), when I decided I’d try to make a little dough, ski and enjoy winter in a town called asssspeen.
What was supposed to be a few weeks, turned into months after my van broke down mid-December and I spent 4 cold weeks in the parking lot where I was beginning an internship at a local tv station. Harper and I used to fill our water bottles with boiling and stuff our two zero degree sleeping bags with them and cuddle up for the night.
My path led me to a raw dairy, milking cows for room and board, to @banffmountainfestival for a workshop and back into my van. Months turned into years, friendships turned into partnerships, a van turned into apartments and this idea I had that I would somehow convince people to let me tell their stories has turned into the makings of a career.
During the years that have passed, I have asked answered and asked some more questions of myself, of life, of the meaning in our daily rituals and interactions only to be left with more ruminations about why we do what we do.
Change and instability have become close friends as I try to weather through the droughts and ebbs of this line of work.
Exploring what it means to be human has been a focus for me since my teenage years and I feel fortunate to have experienced the weird, wild and wandering ways of how others come to their own understandings. I’ve begun to learn that it’s not so much what you do, make, own, go, or say but really just how you think and how you engage others in the world.
In my career and in today’s world engaging others is increasingly a digital experience and while I don’t need to get on a soapbox and preach about technology etc, i do think there is always more in the physical. And while we will have this medium and these forms for years to come I guess the takeaway is that no matter who you are and what you do there is always more to explore, learn create listen and engage with. Hopefully that happens with some soil in your hands and sand in your toes and leaves in your hair.
👇🏻👇🏻
Some new work - lots of firsts in this one. Most of all learning to work with so many others in this creative process. I promise, every
class may not look like this, but every class definitely feels like this. Head over to @thebodypractice_byjayne and sign up.
Directed, Shot, & edited: 🙋🏻♂️
AC/Key Grip: @wolfingtons
Art Director: @merniecurry
AD: @willsardinskymedia@wheres_willdo
PA: @beanhamen
Photographer: @alexisahrling
Smoke & Lights: Alchemy Audio Visual
Sound mix: @philgood.audio
