One of the best Documentaries of the year - Esquire
A haunting, desperate, emotional plea to save a way of live, and also eventually ourselves - Fast Company
Title: Newtok Role: Co-Director, Co-Producer, Co-DP, Assistant Editor Winner: Big Sky Award, Big Sky Film Fest Client: Self initiated, acquired and released by Patagonia Full Film: viewable here
Synopsis: Water will erase Newtok, Alaska. Built on a delta at the edge of the Bering Sea, the tiny Yup’ik village has been dealing with melting permafrost, river erosion and decaying infrastructure for decades. To keep their culture and community intact, the 360 Yup’ik residents must relocate their entire village to stable ground upriver while facing a federal government that has failed to take appropriate action to combat climate change. In moving their village, they will become some of America’s first climate change refugees. This is a film of a village seeking justice in the face of climate disaster.
Additional Support: Sundance Foundation, Kendeda Fund, Logan Fund, U.C. Berkeley’s Investigative Reporting Fellowship, Fund for Investigative Journalism, DTTB
Call To Action: In partnership with Patagonia, Burton and co-director Michael Kirby Smith created a Call To Action to help fund raise and bring awareness to the people of Newtok and other climate-endangered locations. This included an international film tour; text and email campaign; coordinating the children of Newtok to write letters to federal politicians; having Patagonia’s CEO hold in-person meet with the Department of the Interior and a social media campaign. Ultimately their efforts helped lead to the village of Newtok receiving $25 million from the federal government to help the village with completing their relocation.
Title: Thoughts and Prayers Role: Camera Operator & Additional Editing Client: HBO Deliverable: Feature film for HBO, worked on camera and editing team
Synopsis: In a dystopic America, children are taught how to prepare for school shootings through elaborate drills. Yet what are intended as self-defense mechanisms are themselves deeply traumatic for students, parents, educators, and entire communities.
Title: The Lives We Leave Role: Co-Producer Client: Self-initiated, SXSW Premiere Deliverable: Feature-length film, worked on producing and camera team.
Synopsis: When Washington state becomes the first in the world to legalize human composting, entrepreneur Micah Truman puts it all on the line to build the world’s first large-scale terra-mation facility. But when the conventional deathcare industry resists, he is forced to pivot, and must learn to care for the grieving while transforming his business. Alongside Funeral Directors, Brie Smith and Katey Houston, he begins to understand the double bottom line is the only way to truly profit. What begins as an ambitious venture becomes personal as they rediscover human connection, ritual, and legacy.
Title: The Endurance Role: Editor (for promotional material) Client: National Geographic x HC Deliverable: Trailers, promotional material, social media cut downs for The Endurance
Title: Taras Role: Editor Client: Fieldwork Creative Deliverable: 10 minute short film on a Ukrainian soldier grappling with the trauma of fighting on the front lines of the Ukrainian-Russian war.
Title: The Mission Role: Editor (for promotional material) Client: National Geographic x HC Deliverable: Trailers, promotional material, social media cut downs for The Mission
Title: Disrupted Role: Editor Client: Visura x Alexia Foundation Deliverable: 30 minute documentary about the fraught issues within the photojournalism industry despite its crucial role in a healthy democracy and fourth estate.
Title: JFK: One Day in America Role: Editor (for promotional material) Client: National Geographic x HC Deliverable: Trailers, sizzles, social media cut downs for JFK: One Day in America
Title: Hollywood Gate Role: Editor (for promotional material) Client: Rolling Narratives x HC Deliverable: Trailer editor for promotional materials
Title: Bobi Wine: The People’s President Role: Editor (for promotional material) Client: National Geographic x HC Deliverable: Trailer editor for Academy Awards campaign
Title: Running Thoughts Role: DP, Producer Client: Patagonia x DTTB Deliverable: 3 minute piece on what runner's think about when they run
Title: Inside a Modern Home Role: Field Director Client: Architectural Digest x Coho Deliverable: Short documentary about a modern home with a twist
Title: Crosscut Now Role: Camera Operator, Field Producer Client: Crosscut Deliverable: A three part mini series looking at infrastructure repairs in rural WA
Title: The White House Effect Role: Editor (for promotional material) Client: Netflix x HC Deliverable: Trailers and social media promotional material for film
Title: All The Empty Rooms Role: Editor (for promotional material) Client: Netflix x HC Deliverable: Trailers and social media promotional material for film
Title: Seasonal Kids (Series) Role: Editor, Camera Operator Client: Patagonia x DTTB Deliverable: 30-60 second social cuts for social feeds