This project tells the story of a grassroots community taking control of its natural resources in a changing environment. Using an intensive participatory approach, community members in Tanzania (through partner organization Mwambao) will be trained in all aspects of short film production. These videographers will be actively working with communities to document their stories, monitoring action and changes in the marine environment during a time of unprecedented challenges. We hope to use the Ricoh Theta as part of this process to capture 360° footage of the community, and have sourced an underwater housing which will allow some unique and immersive footage to be created as part of this project − helping engage communities in the tangible benefits of conservation − above and below the water.
Profiles archive
Growing From the Inside-Out
The vision for this project is to bring the audience into San Quentin Prison, where the Insight Garden Program transforms prisoners’ lives through reconnection to “self, community and the natural world". We will create a participatory documentary highlighting the prisoners’ active work in the planting, growing and harvesting stages of vegetable and flower gardens as well as the journey of self-discovery, along with the raising of environmental awareness, “inner gardening” mindfulness, and global climate issues. The film will be part of a forum that brings the target audiences together with environmental leaders and incarcerated participants -- sharing experiences and passion for environmental stewardship. Collaborative filmmaking practice will underscore deep work exploring the impacts of global climate change on low-income and underserved communities, the healing effects of working with nature, the importance of “green jobs for all,” and the impact Insight Garden Program has had on shifting lives and “greening” prison cultures.
Niema Jordan
Niema Jordan is a writer, director, and producer from Oakland, CA. She is an associate producer at Trilogy Films, has worked on social media strategy for entrepreneurs, and serves on the board of directors for Camp Reel Stories.
Myah Overstreet
Myah Overstreet is 19 years old and is currently studying English and Art at San Francisco State University. She fell in love with production, design, and writing in high school and has since worked on multiple projects designed to empower communities.
Yanqing Yang
Yanqing Yang is an anthropologist, cultural organizer, and art educator. She’s a founding team member of China Youthology, a youth culture research and connection platform which aims to empower youth driven change. She initiated Butter Youth Conference, the first youth story sharing platform in China in 2009 and has run more than 50 Butter Youth Conferences with 300+ youth opinion leaders speakers and 2000+ audience members.
Natasha Logan
Natasha L. Logan is a multi-media arts and cultural producer based in Brooklyn, NY. Natasha recently joined Creative Time as the Project Manager, and is committed todeveloping projects that encourage public participation, incorporate interactive technology, and unite communities. Recent productions include include the transmedia projects Question Bridge: Black Male and The Truth Booth with Hank Willis Thomas and The Cause Collective.
Andrew DeVigal
Andrew DeVigal is the inaugural Chair in Journalism Innovation and Civic Engagement and the first professor of practice at the University of Oregon's School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC). The Agora Journalism Center is devoted to transformative advancements for better journalism and stronger democracy. DeVigal also served as the multimedia editor at The New York Times, where he helped guide the newspaper’s print-driven format into the multimedia era.
Andrew J. Padilla
Andrew J. Padilla is an award-winning filmmaker, educator and independent journalist, born and raised in East Harlem, NYC. He is currently profiling displacement in America through a series of documentary shorts entitled “El Barrio Tours: Gentrification USA”. From Hostos to Harvard, Andrew has lectured on urban politics across the US. His writing has been featured in NPR Latino, City Limits, Latino Rebels and La Respuesta.
Ingrid Lee
Ingrid Lee works on a digital journalism-filmmaker initiative at ITVS, bringing diverse, consequential domestic and international stories to media partners like The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Salon, and others. Prior to public media, previous work included managing international projects around health, gender, and environment for the UN and World Bank.