TIME IN THE WILD
China Beach, one of the locations in THE BAY
TIME IN THE WILD is an in-progess series of stories about unexpected, transformative experiences people have in wild nature: with animals, plants, landscapes, waterways, weather. The stories go beyond simple contact with, say, a black bear or a giant redwood, but are direct, life-changing, and unforgettable: They alter perspectives, behavior, or both.
To distinguish this project from Instagram and other online encounters with wildlife, there will be no selfies, no bucket lists. We will, however, look for people who have footage or still photos of the encounter. When we come across truly memorable experiences with no photographic record, we will film at or near the location to provide context, and/or make use of impressionistic, painterly animation.
David Kimberling, star of THE DEER
Outreach started with friends and their friends, and we've found three stories that may be included in the final film, “starring” a herd of deer that surrounds a bicyclist and trots along with him, a giant red fir that when it falls nearly crushes a forest researcher, and San Francisco Bay, which both supports and imperils a woman dealing with the illness and death of her beloved young grandson. But these three stories are told by white men and women.
Swimmer in peril rescued by paddleboarder, for THE BAY
Outreach to BIPOC, LGBTQ, disabled, and culturally diverse protagonists will provide a variety of perspectives and insights from people who have too often been excluded from wilderness experiences. In this film they will be principal players.
For example:
Shilletha Curtis, aka "Dragonsky," is a 34-year-old black lesbian long-distance hiker, and the author of "Pack Light: A Journey to Find Myself." She found relief from childhood trauma in nature and is now completing her third major thru-hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. Her story will focus on an ironic perspective-changing insight she had in North Carolina, where she felt safer off-trail, camping alone in the wilderness, than she did in the racist culture at large. Dragonsky has given us access to her entire GoPro hiking archive, which covers the Appalachian and Continental Divide Trails as well as her hikes along the Pacific Crest.
A series of 8-10 stories will be connected in a thematic narrative arc to form a feature-length documentary of 80 minutes. The film will be shot and edited in 4K, with assistance from the storytellers and others including Peg Gerrity, watercolor animator, and Bruce Kaphan, composer. Production grants from the Dean Witter Foundation, Mary A. Crocker Trust, and individuals have been secured, with additional funds being sought.
Please be in touch if you’d like to become our Executive Producer! (or if you’d like to donate a small amount, hit the “donate” button on the home page)
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Film crew on Inverness Ridge, Mt. Vision, where we shot THE DEER