Stoked to see Terra—Joy take off at some festivals this spring. Our first two stops in LA @wellnessfilmfest and in our home state in Lansing @capcityfilmfest !
Sharing a trailer very soon, stay tuned!
Here we gooooooooooo!
Thrilled. Ecstatic. Overjoyed. To announce that #TerraJoy has been selected as part of the 2026 Wellness Film Festival @thekinn.co@wellnessfilmfest this May!
@terrajoycastro ’s story is raw and and inspiring and what better place for it to show then a festival centered around wellness?
This is just the beginning but what an exciting start!
While Bernadette’s visions of Our Lady at Lourdes play an integral part in her life story, she is not a saint because of the apparitions. There have been several apparitions verified by the Catholic Church before and after Bernadette’s experiences, however, not all who experienced visions are declared as saints. By understanding Bernadette’s way of living after the apparitions, we can better understand why the Church declared her so.
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#lourdes #bernadette #behindthescenes #indiefilm #france
When writing the story and creating the look of the film, we wanted to make something that not only felt real and grounded but like something you’d want to return to, like a classic novel or film that you watch once a year because of the way it makes you feel and what it reminds you of. Three weeks into production that hasn’t changed, and what we’re capturing with this talented team is truly incredible.
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#lourdes #filmmaking #france #bernadette #behindthescenes
Be prepared to laugh, cry and reflect again and again on a life filled with changes, chances and courage 💚
TERRA JOY @terrajoycastro 🎬~ Day 2: Sunday 3 May directed by @pfduda
DP – John Coates @johncoates.film
Production Company @frankandloucreative
Music vacation_seth
“Terra’s story is not only inspiring, but incredibly up lifting. She is one of the most optimistic individuals I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet and getting to help tell her story has been such a pleasure. Not only is she a proud representative of our beautiful and incredible city, but she’s a mother, business owner, and leader in her community. She’s brought a new lens of understanding to health, movement, and health to myself and plenty of others. I’m excited to get to share her story with everyone.” Paul Duda, Director.
Synopsis
Following burnout, divorce, and a return to Detroit, former pro triathlete Terra Castro creates a community gym rooted in care, movement, and belonging. As she navigates single motherhood and financial uncertainty, Terra fights to sustain a space where joy, resilience, and collective healing remain possible.
After losing her identity as a professional athlete, a Detroit gym owner rebuilds her life through community, motherhood, and a relentless commitment to joy.
Meet Terra and Paul at #WELLFF2026 in Venice, CA 🌅for a riveting Q&A.
Early bird ends March 1st 🎟️
Last week I completed the Goldman Sachs 10k Small Business Program.
I learned a ton, but most importantly I made new friends and colleagues also building small businesses here in Detroit. It was such a great experience learning and growing with my growth group (pictured here and sending all the love to @whiskeyinthed@mistyangelique@tramseyassociates@andreadavis_lw ). Thank you for putting up with my intense swings from totally apathetic to fiery rage.
Thank you to @q_ross at @q11photography for the photos.
Also no one told me we were folding our diplomas in half for this photo.
Sharing a few frames from our interview setup and some early b-roll from the Detroit Body Garage doc.
This week is all about editing, prepping another shoot in Mexico, and continuing to build out a growth plan through the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program.
Trying to take a page from @terrajoycastro ’s book on boldness and resilience, and applying it to my own work and business.
Wish me luck! I’m wishing it to all of you.
director: @pfduda
dp: @johncoates.film
gaffer: @theo.cinematography
grip: @scuba.vfx
#filmmaking #producerlife #doclife #smallbusiness #goldmansachs10ksb
Last week was a full one.
We’re in the middle of a new documentary project about @terrajoycastro and the @detroitbodygarage —and while I'm not ready to share stills from the film yet, I’m proud of the work we did and the team that helped make it happen.
This one’s about movement, rebuilding, and what it means to keep showing up when life hits hard.
Productions like this can be intense. Small crews, juggling schedules, and lots of trust. Big thanks to Terra for her openness in sharing her story, and to the crew (@johncoates.film & @scuba.vfx of @makingshapesmedia , and @theo.cinematography ) who showed up and gave it everything.
Photos by the incredibly talented @picvwdetroit .
More to come!
#documentaryfilm #detroitstories #filmmaking #bodygarage #onset #doclife #production
Continuing on The Fourth Man, a 10-day cross-country documentary shoot with @4pmmedia and @danj333 and a quick thought on producing.
One of the biggest parts of the job that rarely gets talked about is managing people, not just logistics.
On a doc like this, we were moving fast across states, meeting new talent in every city, and working with a lean crew, each person with their own personality, pace, background, and life off set. And sometimes, those things collide.
Part of producing, at least from my perspective, is holding space for all of that. Helping create an environment where people can show up fully and still do their best work.
It’s not just about schedules and call sheets. It’s about reading the room, defusing tension, and keeping the story at the center without losing the people who make it happen.
Filming The Fourth Man with @4pmmedia and @danj333 was fast, focused, and full of surprises.
We rolled into Annapolis to shoot with a Navy SEAL.
Dan: “We need a pool.”
Me: “When?”
Dan: “Tonight.”
A few hours and a very lucky ask later… we had a pool.
Gotta do what you gotta do.
One last post about Almost Home.
This project stretched me. Tight budget, tight crew, moving vehicles, borrowed homes, long shoot days, and every bit of it was worth it.
We made something honest. Something simple and human. And I’m proud of that.
More than anything, Almost Home reminded me why I want to keep doing this work, because stories matter. Because collaboration matters. And because when a crew believes in what they’re making, even the impossible feels doable.
Grateful to everyone who helped bring this one to life. On to the next.
