Meet the Team who is telling the story of the indigenous peoples in the Vale do Javari region in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon.
Céline Cousteau, Expedition Leader, Director and Producer
Céline Cousteau is a humanitarian and environmental activist working with a variety of mediums that range from documentaries to art, from consulting with corporations and foundations to public speaking. Each form shares the same message of interconnectivity between humans and the natural world. As a documentary film director, producer, and presenter, Céline is the founder and executive director of CauseCentric Productions, creating cause-focused content. Extending her family legacy and her expertise, Céline co-founded The Outdoor Film Fellowship, a nonprofit program whose mission is to empower young the next generation of filmmakers, creatives, and activists to inspire change through leadership, film, and the arts. Céline is ambassador for the TreadRight Foundation and on the board of directors of the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Her previous work has included being Guest Designer for Swarovski and Member of the World Economic ForumCouncil on Oceans. With a degree in psychology and a masters in Intercultural Relations, Céline is fluent in three languages.
Matthew Ferraro, Director of Photography
As a documentary producer/director/DP, Matt leads teams to every corner of the Earth and into some of the most extreme environments imaginable in order to tell stories that make a difference.After 15 years in film production, Matt has emerged as an experienced and accomplished filmmaker. Matt also holds a medical certification from the National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technology and is a California emergency medical technician. Matt is a co-founder of Changing Tides Media.
Çapkin van Alphen, Camera Operator
Since a very early age Çapkin held a passion and love for telling stories through the image both in still and motion. Blessed by an age of technological revolution, we are afforded the possibilities and tools to bring these stories within reach of the world at large. Working within those possibilities, CauseCentric Productions and it’s dedicated tea are amongst those establishing the foundation for change and inspiration. I feel both fortunate and honored to be part of the Tribes on the Edge team.
Brian Hall, Camera Operator
Brian is a documentary filmmaker and photographer dedicated to increasing social awareness about environmental issues that are facing the world today. Brian graduated with a B.S. in Marine Biology and a minor in Oceanography from the University of New Hampshire. After studying whales in the field with renowned biologist Roger Payne and the organization Ocean Alliance, Brian realized the importance of conveying the discoveries and issues that scientists were uncovering to the public to help promote awareness and better decision-making. He began freelancing for documentary photography and video projects that worked towards this goal. He has covered stories for the New York Times, and Smithsonian and worked with Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society team on filming and post production for the Ocean Adventures series with PBS. Brian is a co-founder of Changing Tides Media.
Michael Clark, Photographer
Michael is an internationally published outdoor photographer specializing in adventure sports, travel, and landscape photography. He produces intense, raw images of athletes pushing their sports to the limit and has risked life and limb on a variety of assignments to bring back stunning images from remote locations around the world. He uses unique angles, bold colors, strong graphics and dramatic lighting to capture fleeting moments of passion, gusto, and flair. A sampling of his clients include: Nikon, Apple, Adobe, Red Bull, National Geographic, Sports Illustrated, Outside, Men’s Journal and Outdoor Photographer. See more of Michael’s work at michaelclarkphoto.com.
Jeremy Collins, Artist
Jeremy is a widely respected artist and filmmaker, specializing in nature inspired imagery, cartographic map making and short films. His work has been featured in hundreds of publications, including the cover of National Geographic, 45 issues of Alpinist, and 116 issues of Rock & Ice. He is a professional rock climber, a section chair of the American Alpine Club, and noted philanthropist applying his art to fundraising ventures benefitting many non-profit groups including water.org, the Access fund, CauseCentric Productions and The Kyrie Foundation. Jeremy’s work has taken him to the Yunek village in the Gran Sabana of Venezuela, and Valle do Javari in the Brazilian Amazon with Céline Cousteau and team to work on environmental and health project and tell stories via documentary and art created along the way. To learn more about Jeremy please visit his website at jercollins.com.
Paulina Chamorro, Field Producer
Paulina built her career in the radio field, where she became specialist in environment and conservation. Paulina loves telling stories and mainly interacting with people, whether it is in the city or in a forest. Paulina also loves the sea and had the great opportunity to go through the entire Brazilian coast on a sailboat for a TV documentary, that lasted for three years. Her passion for the ocean comes from her childhood, as Paulina is Chilean and was born feeling the strength and unmistakable smell of the Pacific Ocean.
Barbara Arisi, Anthropologist and Translator
The Vale do Javari is Barbara’s second home, she has worked there since 2003 and she is kind of adopted by the Matis people. Barbara is an Amazonian anthropologist, researcher and a journalist. Barbara hopes to help Céline and the Tribes on the Edge Team to make a campaign that will bring the Javari’s people health to light. Barbara hopes that people will care for the Amazon indians as much as we do.
Meet the Team who is telling the story of the indigenous peoples in the Vale do Javari region in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon.
Céline Cousteau, Expedition Leader, Director and Producer
The core of Céline is in this project- passion for a place and its people and a belief that we can create positive change. 10 years ago, the tribes of the Vale do Javari asked Céline to tell their stories in the belief that this universal knowledge of their human existence will alter their fate for the better. Céline felt an incredible sense of honor to be gifted with such a request and to have a team working who dedicated their time and talent to this project. “Family” and “tribe” is about a uniting force to bring strength to a vision.
Matthew Ferraro, Director of Photography
As a documentary producer/director/DP, Matt leads teams to every corner of the Earth and into some of the most extreme environments imaginable in order to tell stories that make a difference.After 15 years in film production, Matt has emerged as an experienced and accomplished filmmaker. Matt also holds a medical certification from the National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technology and is a California emergency medical technician. Matt is a co-founder of Changing Tides Media.
Çapkin van Alphen, Camera Operator
Since a very early age Çapkin held a passion and love for telling stories through the image both in still and motion. Blessed by an age of technological revolution, we are afforded the possibilities and tools to bring these stories within reach of the world at large. Working within those possibilities, CauseCentric Productions and it’s dedicated tea are amongst those establishing the foundation for change and inspiration. I feel both fortunate and honored to be part of the Tribes on the Edge team.
Brian Hall, Camera Operator
Brian is a documentary filmmaker and photographer dedicated to increasing social awareness about environmental issues that are facing the world today. Brian graduated with a B.S. in Marine Biology and a minor in Oceanography from the University of New Hampshire. After studying whales in the field with renowned biologist Roger Payne and the organization Ocean Alliance, Brian realized the importance of conveying the discoveries and issues that scientists were uncovering to the public to help promote awareness and better decision-making. He began freelancing for documentary photography and video projects that worked towards this goal. He has covered stories for the New York Times, and Smithsonian and worked with Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society team on filming and post production for the Ocean Adventures series with PBS. Brian is a co-founder of Changing Tides Media.
Michael Clark, Photographer
Michael is an internationally published outdoor photographer specializing in adventure sports, travel, and landscape photography. He produces intense, raw images of athletes pushing their sports to the limit and has risked life and limb on a variety of assignments to bring back stunning images from remote locations around the world. He uses unique angles, bold colors, strong graphics and dramatic lighting to capture fleeting moments of passion, gusto, and flair. A sampling of his clients include: Nikon, Apple, Adobe, Red Bull, National Geographic, Sports Illustrated, Outside, Men’s Journal and Outdoor Photographer. See more of Michael’s work at michaelclarkphoto.com.
Jeremy Collins, Artist
Jeremy is a widely respected artist and filmmaker, specializing in nature inspired imagery, cartographic map making and short films. His work has been featured in hundreds of publications, including the cover of National Geographic, 45 issues of Alpinist, and 116 issues of Rock & Ice. He is a professional rock climber, a section chair of the American Alpine Club, and noted philanthropist applying his art to fundraising ventures benefitting many non-profit groups including water.org, the Access fund, CauseCentric Productions and The Kyrie Foundation. Jeremy’s work has taken him to the Yunek village in the Gran Sabana of Venezuela, and Valle do Javari in the Brazilian Amazon with Céline Cousteau and team to work on environmental and health project and tell stories via documentary and art created along the way. To learn more about Jeremy please visit his website at jercollins.com.
Paulina Chamorro, Field Producer
Paulina built her career in the radio field, where she became specialist in environment and conservation. Paulina loves telling stories and mainly interacting with people, whether it is in the city or in a forest. Paulina also loves the sea and had the great opportunity to go through the entire Brazilian coast on a sailboat for a TV documentary, that lasted for three years. Her passion for the ocean comes from her childhood, as Paulina is Chilean and was born feeling the strength and unmistakable smell of the Pacific Ocean.
Barbara Arisi, Anthropologist and Translator
The Vale do Javari is Barbara’s second home, she has worked there since 2003 and she is kind of adopted by the Matis people. Barbara is an Amazonian anthropologist, researcher and a journalist. Barbara hopes to help Céline and the Tribes on the Edge Team to make a campaign that will bring the Javari’s people health to light. Barbara hopes that people will care for the Amazon indians as much as we do.