Never ending time reviewing and cutting 100 hours of footage, too many cups of coffee to count, endless revisions, the time we spent on the phone could power the universe, rewrites, grey hairs, criss-crossing the country to work in person, then…rinse repeat and start over…the post-production team forged ahead like marathon runners on the 26th mile pulling the last bit of energy to get us to the finish line, knowing the story was always much bigger than the film.
Céline Cousteau, Producer, Director, Co-Writer
The core of who I am is in this project- passionate about a place and its people, believing that we can create positive change. After an expedition to the area in 2007, the tribes of the Vale do Javari asked me to tell their stories to the world in the belief that this universal knowledge of their human existence will alter their fate for the better. I felt an incredible sense of honor to be gifted with such a request. I am equally blessed to have a team working with me who are dedicating their time and talent to this project. “Family” and “tribe” is about a uniting force to bring strength to a vision.
Byron W. Thompson, Editor
Byron W. Thompson was 12 years old when his father came home with a video camera, and he hasn’t stopped making movies since. After receiving his undergraduate degree in Radio, TV, and Motion Pictures from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he moved to Los Angeles for graduate study at the University of Southern California School of Cinema/TV (MFA, 1997).
In 2012, Thompson joined the ranks of KQED San Francisco (PBS) as Primary Editor for Check Please!, Bay Area (4 seasons), Jacques Pepin: Heart and Soul (1 season), and San Francisco Opera (1 season) as well as editing several other news and cultural segments.
Since relocating to the Boston area in 2015, Thompson continues his work primarily as a freelance editor for a diverse number of TV and web projects for a number of clients including major power corporations, departments of the US Federal government, environmental and educational NGOs, small and large educational institutions, scientific research organizations, arts and cultural productions, and various other documentary based work.
Dean Grinsfelder, Composer
Veteran composer Dean Grinsfelder has provided music for hundreds of film, television and interactive projects over the past two decades. Dean earned a primetime Emmy Award for music editing his score for Discover Channel’s “Dinosaur Planet” series (2003-04), an Emmy nomination for his original score for “Jean-Michel Cousteau: Ocean Adventures” (2007), and a primetime Emmy nomination for music editing his score for Discovery Channel’s “Before We Ruled the Earth” (2002-03). He has also received multiple Telly Awards and Mobius Awards for his work in advertising, and numerous other accolades and recognition across a variety of media types.Dean has a passion for projects that inspire, uplift, motivate and emotionally move an audience. In an achievement for which he is perhaps most proud, a private White House screening of “Jean-Michel Cousteau: Ocean Adventures – Voyage to Kure” compelled then-president George W. Bush to implement the single largest act of conservation in U.S. history by declaring the Northwest Hawaiian Islands a Marine National Monument.
Joseph Kwong, Co-Writer
Joseph Kwong is an award-winning writer-producer-game designer who has made film, television and interactive media for nearly 30 years. While still enrolled at UCLA Film School, he line-produced the Oscar-winning documentary “Gravity Is My Enemy.” He has written many screenplays, including NIM’S ISLAND starring Jodie Foster and Abigail Breslin, the anti-sex trafficking feature, SOLD, executive produced by Emma Thompson, and the pilot for the PBS hit animated math show “Cyberchase”. He is an 8-time Emmy award winner for PBS shows, directed the documentary portion of the duPont-Columbia Gold Baton-winning “Frontline: Children of the Night” and is the co-founder of SPROKIT, a company that builds gamified mobile applications for formerly incarcerated citizens to reduce recidivism.
Jay Shilliday, Sound Mixer
His 34 year career started in Columbus OH, and has taken him to Chicago, then LA, and San Francisco. His reputation as one of the best Sound Engineers on the West Coast has garnered him work on many notable projects.
Jay has mixed sound for countless TV and radio commercials some airing on past Super Bowls; projects that graced the Grammies; music recordings on over 30 CDs as well as programs starring Robin Williams, Whoopie Goldberg, Andre Agassi, Huey Lewis, James Earl Jones and many more.
Feature Films and TV shows including: The Nightmare Before Christmas, Deadpool (20th Century Fox), Blood and Oil (ABC), Believe (NBC), Cane (CBS), Law and Order (NBC), and The Simpsons (FOX)
Jay’s work has wowed clients with his creativity, speed, and charming personality. An avid golfer, Jay played in “The World Juniors” golf tournament at Torrey Pines/San Diego at the age of 17. Ask him about his hole in one at Clint Eastwood’s Tehama Golf Club.
Never ending time reviewing and cutting 100 hours of footage, too many cups of coffee to count, endless revisions, the time we spent on the phone could power the universe, rewrites, grey hairs, criss-crossing the country to work in person, then…rinse repeat and start over…the post-production team forged ahead like marathon runners on the 26th mile pulling the last bit of energy to get us to the finish line, knowing the story was always much bigger than the film.
Céline Cousteau, Producer, Director, Co-Writer
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, on the board of directors of the National Aquarium in Baltimore, and the advisory boards of The Himalayan Consensus and Marine Construction Technologies. 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.
Byron W. Thompson, Editor
Byron W. Thompson was 12 years old when his father came home with a video camera, and he hasn’t stopped making movies since. After receiving his undergraduate degree in Radio, TV, and Motion Pictures from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he moved to Los Angeles for graduate study at the University of Southern California School of Cinema/TV (MFA, 1997).
In 2012, Thompson joined the ranks of KQED San Francisco (PBS) as Primary Editor for Check Please!, Bay Area (4 seasons), Jacques Pepin: Heart and Soul (1 season), and San Francisco Opera (1 season) as well as editing several other news and cultural segments.
Since relocating to the Boston area in 2015, Thompson continues his work primarily as a freelance editor for a diverse number of TV and web projects for a number of clients including major power corporations, departments of the US Federal government, environmental and educational NGOs, small and large educational institutions, scientific research organizations, arts and cultural productions, and various other documentary based work.
Dean Grinsfelder, Composer
Veteran composer Dean Grinsfelder has provided music for hundreds of film, television and interactive projects over the past two decades. Dean earned a primetime Emmy Award for music editing his score for Discover Channel’s “Dinosaur Planet” series (2003-04), an Emmy nomination for his original score for “Jean-Michel Cousteau: Ocean Adventures” (2007), and a primetime Emmy nomination for music editing his score for Discovery Channel’s “Before We Ruled the Earth” (2002-03). He has also received multiple Telly Awards and Mobius Awards for his work in advertising, and numerous other accolades and recognition across a variety of media types.Dean has a passion for projects that inspire, uplift, motivate and emotionally move an audience. In an achievement for which he is perhaps most proud, a private White House screening of “Jean-Michel Cousteau: Ocean Adventures – Voyage to Kure” compelled then-president George W. Bush to implement the single largest act of conservation in U.S. history by declaring the Northwest Hawaiian Islands a Marine National Monument.
Joseph Kwong, Co-Writer
Joseph Kwong is an award-winning writer-producer-game designer who has made film, television and interactive media for nearly 30 years. While still enrolled at UCLA Film School, he line-produced the Oscar-winning documentary “Gravity Is My Enemy.” He has written many screenplays, including NIM’S ISLAND starring Jodie Foster and Abigail Breslin, the anti-sex trafficking feature, SOLD, executive produced by Emma Thompson, and the pilot for the PBS hit animated math show “Cyberchase”. He is an 8-time Emmy award winner for PBS shows, directed the documentary portion of the duPont-Columbia Gold Baton-winning “Frontline: Children of the Night” and is the co-founder of SPROKIT, a company that builds gamified mobile applications for formerly incarcerated citizens to reduce recidivism.
Jay Shilliday, Sound Mixer
His 34 year career started in Columbus OH, and has taken him to Chicago, then LA, and San Francisco. His reputation as one of the best Sound Engineers on the West Coast has garnered him work on many notable projects.
Jay has mixed sound for countless TV and radio commercials some airing on past Super Bowls; projects that graced the Grammies; music recordings on over 30 CDs as well as programs starring Robin Williams, Whoopie Goldberg, Andre Agassi, Huey Lewis, James Earl Jones and many more.
Feature Films and TV shows including: The Nightmare Before Christmas, Deadpool (20th Century Fox), Blood and Oil (ABC), Believe (NBC), Cane (CBS), Law and Order (NBC), and The Simpsons (FOX)
Jay’s work has wowed clients with his creativity, speed, and charming personality. An avid golfer, Jay played in “The World Juniors” golf tournament at Torrey Pines/San Diego at the age of 17. Ask him about his hole in one at Clint Eastwood’s Tehama Golf Club.
Sean Wells, Colorist
Sean is an experienced editor and colorist in television and feature film post production. Recent credits include making-of-documentaries for Star Wars: Rogue One & The Force Awakens.
