Credit: Editor
Natalie Panek has spent her life focused on her biggest dream – to be the first to set foot on another planet. Natalie is an aerospace engineer, a pilot, an influencer, an avid explorer, and has made it to the top 100 of astronaut candidates. On an outdoor adventure to the Mars-like terrain of Moab, Utah she searches with her friend to reconcile life’s stumbles, redirections, and challenges in the pursuit of space travel.
Their jobs are to design the next Mars rover, but cutting a path in a Razer 4×4 might be the closest they get to a crewed mission to Mars. In the face of sky-high arches and pinnacles, breathtaking views, and a canopy of stars, it’s easy to believe the sky has no limits.
Director/Producer: Katherine DuBois
CURRENTLY IN PRODUCTION
*Seeking Completion Funding*
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Director/Producer: Michelle Aguilar
Editor:Michelle Aguilar
Cinematographer: Michelle Aguilar
Line Producer: Brenda Avila
Associate Producer: Monika Egerer
Film Website: www.noplacetogrow.com
Synopsis: An introverted latino farmer finds himself representing a public movement to save a lush garden centered within his cherished community. Over time he finds out first hand what happens when ethnic livelihoods and migrated farming traditions intersect with the “Urban Growth Machine” and gentrification.
A Co-Production of Meridian Hill Pictures and Big Mouth Productions
Director: Brandon Kramer
Producer: Lance Kramer
Line Producer: Michelle Aguilar
Cinematographer: Eddie Martinez
Editor: Magee McIlvaine
This six-part digital docu-series explores a community-based attempt to fight violence in Burkina Faso. Each episode profiles a community member in the small town of SAABA: a police officer, a Muslim cleric, a leader of a vigilante security group, a women's activist, and the tribal chief. The final episode follows everyone as they come together to build security and resilience in a community on the border of Boko Haram and ISIS strongholds in West Africa. The series is an honest, authentic, people-centered view of a peace-building effort in an area drawing increasing international attention for its role in combating violent extremism.
Producer/Director: Michelle Aguilar
Editor:Michelle Aguilar
Cinematographer: Michelle Aguilar
Line Producer: Adam Armstrong
Composre: Simón Wilson
Produced in Association with: The UC Santa Cruz, Social Documentation Program
TRT: 20 min
Film Website: www.elcacaomovie.com
Synopsis: In the lush rainforest of Bocas del Toro, Panama, an indigenous cacao farmer, his wife and grandchildren confront environmental and economic complexities as they grow, harvest and sell cacao beans for a global chocolate market. Does Fair Trade Certification really work? Documenting the exceptional wisdom, unconditional devotion and proven ancient farming techniques of one hard-working Ngäbe farmer, Samuel Murillo, El Cacao complicates the question by examining the fairness of his trade.
AWARDS:
Finalist for the Eric Moe Sustainability Film Award (DC Environmental Film Festival 2016)
Nominated for IDA David L. Wolper Award (2015) Winner “Best Short”- Social Justice Film Festival (2015)
Winner Alumni Association Award in the Arts Division , UCSC (2015)
OFFICIAL SELECTION:
Big Sky Film Festival (2016)
D.C Environmental Film Festival (2016)
Margret Mead Film Festival (2015)
Social Justice Film Festival (2015)San Luis Obispo International Film Festival (2016)
Docutime (2016)
Awareness Film Festival (2015)
Napa Valley Film Festival (2016)
Carmel International Film Festival (2015)
A 3-part web series focused on modeling honest, respectful dialogue amidst the divides of the 2016 presidential election.
To view all three episodes please click here
Produced by Magic Labs Media and Meridian Hill Pictures
Executive Producers: Van Jones and Jana Carter
Director: Brandon Kramer
Producer: Lance Kramer
Line Producer: Michelle Aguilar
Editors: Ellie Walton, Edwin Martinez, Sara Fusco
Cinematographer: Brett Wiley
Sound Recordist: Andrew Kennedy
Field Producer: Christopher Gorski
Titles: Dan Sharkey
Trailer: Wheelhouse Creative
Associate Producer: Angelica Das
Research & Outreach: Kenya Raymond, Lisa Allen
Production Assistants: Lisa Fierstein, Aisha Jama
Vocabulary.com partnered with award-winning Meridian Hill Pictures to create this series of short documentaries as thier love letter to teachers everywhere, and their profoundly important work. These inspiring people — and their stories — are the heart and soul of every school.
Ms. Hyde's Story: There are days when being in the presence of teaching and learning can feel like magic. This was one of those days.
Produced by: MERIDIAN HILL PICTURES
Producer: Michelle Aguilar
Director/Editor: Ellie Walton
Cinematographer: Brett Wiley
PRODUCED BY: Meridian Hill Pictures
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Producer: Michelle Aguilar
Directors: Michelle Aguilar and Sam Price Walden
Cinematographer/Editor: Sam Price Walden
Production Assistants: Rory McFadden
Produced by: THINK OUT LOUD PRODUCTIONS
Credit: Contributing Editor
In Puerto Rico, when entire communities were left without food and water for months, women showed up. Watch to learn more about women-run and solar-powered El Centro De Apoyo Muyo kitchen which offered free meals to families after the hurricane. “When we get together, we survive, and I think this community won’t forget that lesson.”
Other Videos in this series can be found on the THINK OUT LOUD website
Short Docs:
A Night Sea Journey
Director/Cinematographer/Editor:Michelle Aguilar
Written by: Dave and Kyle Van mouwerik
Synopsis: A father and son explore the encountering of Self. Life presents herself to them, and through this, they learn, in a small way, what it means to be human.
Kimora was blessed with a family. Donovan found comfort and guidance under the stigma of HIV. And Ibrahim's family built a new home in America after fleeing war and persecution.
Produced by: MERIDIAN HILL PICTURES
Producer: Michelle Aguilar
Director/Editor: Ellie Walton
Cinematographer: Fernando Ortega
Additional Videos in the series:
Embrace Boldly: Donovan's Story
Vocabulary.com partnered with award-winning Meridian Hill Pictures to create this series of short documentaries as their love letter to teachers everywhere, and their profoundly important work. These inspiring people — and their stories — are the heart and soul of every school.
Produced by: MERIDIAN HILL PICTURES
Producer: Michelle Aguilar
Director/Editor: Ellie Walton
Cinematographer: Brett Wiley
Produced by: THINK OUT LOUD PRODUCTIONS
Credit: Contributing Editor
In the midst of a climate crisis like Hurricane Maria, up and leaving can prove near impossible. Elizabeth Chapman’s story offers a peek at climate displacement that’s becoming more common across the globe, and the toll is takes on families.
