Cabras y Chivas
We are so thrilled to share a work-in-progress teaser for our newest short doc currently in production, Cabras y Chivas (working title), which is an official recipient of a Berkeley FILM Foundation grant! Every summer, California’s hills are dotted with herds of goats grazing to protect communities against wildfire. Told through the women and men who shepherd them, this is a story about solutions for a warming world and the intricate web of relationships that inform them - amongst family, cultures and landscapes.
Over the past year Directors Palmer Morse and Nick Stone Schearer alongside Producer & Translator Catalina Luna have been working diligently to tell the story of Bianca Soares and her mother Andreé, fourth generation Basque ranchers from the Central Valley, who are actively raising and deploying several thousand goats across Northern California to aid in wildfire fuel reduction.
None of this would be possible without the work that seemingly few Americans want to do - long days managing animals under the summer sun. But to Nestor, Ronny and their fellow herders from Peru employed by Star Creek Land Stewards Inc. , it presents an opportunity they don’t otherwise feel they have. And it’s work they know well, that’s deeply embedded in their own culture. Across seasons and landscapes, they navigate a journey far from home.
Looking forward to sharing more over the next few months as we get this film to the finish line! Do you know someone we should chat with about this project? Interested in how you can personally support? Please get in touch!
Learn more: sprucetone.com/cabras-y-chivas
Let Them Play (trailer)
Lightbeam and Spruce Tone are thrilled to premiere our latest documentary at the San Francisco Documentary Film Festival (San Francisco IndieFest) on June 2nd at The Roxie! 🎉
"Let Them Play" follows youth baseball player Adrian Garcia as he overcomes the enduring effects of bullying from teammates with the support of his coach, Ken Bradley. Told from the perspectives of the coach, player, and parent, this heartfelt short documentary explores the transformative impact of positive coaching on children's lives both on and off the field.
Director Palmer Morse, DP Lawrence Rickford, Exec. Producer Dave Stevens and the entire cast of this moving short doc will be in attendance for a post screening Q&A! Hope to see you there!
Tickets and screening info: https://sfdocfest2024.eventive.org/films/66209a2cc7b9220063311d56
#LightbeamTV #SpruceTone #LetThemPlay
@lightbeam.tv and @sprucetonefilms are thrilled to premiere our latest documentary at the San Francisco Documentary Film Festival on June 2nd at @the_roxie!
“Let Them Play” follows youth baseball player Adrian Garcia as he overcomes the enduring effects of bullying from teammates with the support of his coach, Ken Bradley. Told from the perspectives of the coach, player, and parent, this heartfelt short documentary explores the transformative impact of positive coaching on children’s lives both on and off the field.
Director @PalmerMorse, DP @LawrenceRickford, Exec. Producer @DaveStevensStevensLawGroup, and the entire cast of this moving short doc will be in attendance for a post screening Q&A!
Tickets @SFIndieFest — hope to see you there!
#LightbeamTV #SpruceTone #LetThemPlay
@positivecoachus @sportsengine @sportsbasement @iltwyp @youthinc @perfectgameusa @mlb @sfgiants @goodnewsnetwork @underarmour @champion @wilson @eastonfastpitch
Forward (trailer)
✨ New film alert! Watch now: vimeo.com/sprucetone/forward ✨
While navigating a myriad of life challenges, Anjelica Avella turned to the outdoors to improve her mental health only to discover a noticeable lack of other plus-size women of color on trail. By posting a simple flyer looking for more women to hike with, Anjelica created a community she never could have imagined.
This International Women's Day, Smartwool and Osprey Packs are thrilled to present Forward, a new short documentary sharing the life and perspective of plus-size hiker Anjelica Avella produced by Spruce Tone.
English CC, Spanish subtitles, and English Audio Description are available.
#smartwool #osprey #gofarfeelgood #internationalwomensday #diversifyoutdoors #latinooutdoors #outdoorsforall #representationmatters
In the waters off the remote island of Iluulux̂ or so called Unalaska, Alaska, toxic algal blooms are increasingly infecting filter feeding shellfish with unknown causation. After a community member died from eating blue mussels, a staple cultural food, Unangax̂ scientist Shayla began working with her tribe to research and understand the harmful blooms and what can hopefully be done about them. Illuminating the profound connection between the Unangax̂ people and their environment, Usugilix Awakun showcases the resilience and resourcefulness of a culture in the face of unprecedented challenges.
We're so thrilled to share "Usugilix Awakun" the first in a series of films our team is producing for First Nations Development Institute highlighting some of their recent grantees!
Watch the full film now: vimeo.com/sprucetone/usugilixawakun
Learn More: sprucetone.com/usugilix-awakun
Spruce Tone 2023 Reel
With several years of impactful storytelling under our belt, we figured it was time to get a bit introspective.
The result is a re-defining of ourselves as Spruce Tone, a collective of passionate filmmakers with the goal of telling timely and compelling stories.
Our newest reel is a culmination of those stories that push the boundaries of the norm led by the many change-makers and good-doers we've had the pleasure of collaborating with over the past year.
Learn more on our re-vamped site: sprucetone.com
Interested in working together? Let's connect: [email protected]
Yuba is the Heart
Forty years ago, the SYRCL - The South Yuba River Citizens League began caring for the South Yuba River by advocating for dam removal and gaining Wild and Scenic protection. Today, their work encompasses the entire Yuba River watershed – from the Sierra crest to the valley floor. As the organization looks towards the next forty years, community members reflect on the future of their work in the face of climate change and protecting the river for future generations. Posed as a love letter to the river and the community that surrounds it, Yuba is the Heart considers what it means to love and be loved by a river.
Follow this link in our bio to RSVP to the premiere of our newest film, Yuba is the Heart, on YouTube March 7th: https://youtu.be/-anMqM6qNPc
Supported by EarthxFilm & Alpacka Raft
#yubariver #syrcl
It’s been a minute! Happy 2023 friends, fam, and fans. We’re in the midst of some big changes at STF, which we’re excited to share real soon. With so much going on, we wanted to take a moment to pause and reflect on some of the beautiful places we’ve had the privilege of visiting over the past year or so.
Here’s a moment of calm featuring some little details and big views from our time visiting Makah Nation last year. Take a moment to draw a deep breath and we’ll be back with some more updates real soon!
Ibach (teaser)
Our short doc Ibach will have its sold out New York premiere at DOC NYC TONIGHT at Cinépolis Chelsea
as part of the SHORTS: HIDDEN HISTORIES program. Director Rachel Weinberg will be in attendance for a Q&A after the screening.
Ibach follows the escape of a Jewish family and their piano from Nazi Germany in the 1930’s to the piano’s restoration in Philadelphia four generations later. Weaving an in-depth look at the restoration process alongside perspectives from the surviving family members, Ibach is a heart-rending story of generational trauma and reconciliation.
Learn more about the film: sprucetonefilms.com/ibach
#DOCNYC #Documentary #HiddenHistory #HistoricalFigures #SocialChange #community
Inseparable: Ava (teaser)
NSEPARABLE: AVA - watch Episode 2 of our new @waterbearnetwork original series, for free, now: www.waterbear.com/watch
The ocean has been a source of spiritual connection, traditional knowledge and cultural practices for the Makah people for generations. After learning to surf through a local non-profit nearly half a decade ago, 13-year-old Ava now uses her sport as a way to connect with the land, ocean, and her elders. Alongside her five siblings and her mother, Ava surfs the well known swell of Neah Bay on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington, one of the most ecologically diverse areas of the United States. Ava’s story highlights the critical role Indigenous youth play in the preservation of language, culture, and knowledge.
Follow and support A Warm Current to learn more about their efforts to connect more Indigenous youth to surfing!
Learn more about Inseparable: sprucetonefilms.com/inseparable
INSEPARABLE: SKYE - watch Episode 1 of our new WaterBear Network original series, for free: www.waterbear.com!
For time immemorial, climbing has been a traditional activity for Kānaka Maoli. While history shows Native Hawaiians climbed over mountains and scrambled rocks to trade goods and information with their neighbors, today few Indigenous members of the tropical islands practice climbing actively. For Skye Kolealani Razon-Olds, climbing is a way to connect with her ancestors. With few “official” outdoor climbing spaces on the island of Hawaii, Skye and her friends make due by visiting local State and National Parks to climb. It is here that the discovery of various petroglyphs left by her ancestors ignited her to protect and advocate for these sacred lands for her own sons and generations to come.
Learn more about Kanaka Climbers and support Skye Kolealani Razon-Olds work: www.kanakaclimbers.com
INSEPARABLE - a new WaterBear Network original series streaming now ~for free~: waterbear.com.
Through their chosen sport, three Indigenous women deeply connect with their ancestral homelands, preserve cultural practices and language, and advocate for Indigenous rights. Spanning the islands of Hawai’i and the sacred lands of the Kānaka Maoli, to the rugged coast of Makah Nation in the Pacific Northwest, and the vast mountains and trails of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation in British Columbia, this series moves beyond sport to uncover a deeper connection with the world around us. Utilizing movement across landscapes and water, these women give voice to their peoples longstanding, intimate, and inseparable relationship between humans, culture and land.
For just over two years, we have been producing this series in collaboration with Director Andrew Harrison Brown and Producer Brooke Juhala. It is an honor to present these three episodes to you, a culmination of three incredible Indigenous women: Skye, Ava, and Myia who share their perspectives in beautiful words and movements.
We’ll be diving deeper into each story over the next few weeks but for now, stream, learn, and enjoy!
