Who are we?
We're a group of video producers with backgrounds in anthropology, social documentation, animation, photography, copywriting, and creative strategy. We're passionate about the craft of storytelling, and we're excited to tell this story about the eclipse.
Natalie Rold: Director
Ijah Garfield: Co-Producer
Ali Cottong: Co-Producer
The seed for the idea of the project was planted back in 2012, when Ijah and Natalie were just outside of Shasta City, CA to see an annular solar eclipse, and they were struck by the sheer diversity of strangers that had gathered on the side of a country road to experience the event together. From that point, they knew that there was a compelling human story that needed to be told about the Great American Eclipse: people of all stripes joining together outdoors to share a special moment. After a fateful night stargazing in Santa Cruz with Ali, they all decided to pursue this wild idea together.
Through a lucky connection, the team was introduced to NASA optical engineer Eduardo Bendek, who was also planning something special for the eclipse and provided great starting point for the project. One thing led to another, and the plan to create a documentary film called Umbra was born.
What's Umbra?
An umbra is a shadow. During a solar eclipse, umbra refers to the part of the Moon’s shadow you need to be in if you want to see the Moon completely blocking the Sun.
Umbra (our film) is an independent documentary film about the August 21, 2017 Great American Eclipse and its impact on the people who are gathering to see it. While the celestial event will be spectacular, this film's story will focus on what's happening on the ground when astronomers, astrologers, and regular people all come together. This unique angle will result in an eclipse film unlike any other.
Here are some of the people we've talked with so far:
Vivian White: An astronomy educator at the Astronomical Society of the Pacific from Berkely, CA heading to Casper with family to view the eclipse.
Eduardo Bendek: A NASA optics engineer pursuing a personal project to photograph the eclipse from the edge of the stratosphere, using a weather balloon carrier and a tracking system he designed himself.
Stacy Palen: An astrophysicist who is passionate about viewing life with a scientific lens, Stacy finds beauty and inspiration in the natural world around us, even in events as explainable as a simple solar eclipse.
Donna Woodwell: An astrologer who can speak to the history of astrology and astronomy, as well as comment on astrological aspects of our country. Donna is based in Austin TX.
Chris Brennan: A Denver CO based astrologer and founder of the Denver Astrological Group, who is an expert on the astrological traditions of the past. Chris is also the former president of the Association for Young Astrologers.
What does your contribution go towards?
We're fundraising for $12,000. This money will go towards several crucial elements for the film's production, including:
A computer-controlled equatorial mount that keeps our cameras aiming at the eclipse
Renting video production gear (cameras, lenses, lights, and sound recording equipment) in addition to the gear we already own
Gas and basic accommodations during the week of the eclipse
Building a custom spherical 360° camera array with Dillon Morris of Pivot Studio that will go 18+ miles above the Earth's surface to capture photos of the umbra from above
Paying key 3rd-party contributors to the film, such as an extra camera operator and a graphic artist who designed our poster – these people have all graciously volunteered their time but we would love to be able to pay them for their work!
Looking for other ways to help?
Whether or not you're able to contribute to the project here, we'd still love your help. Here are some ways you can help us get the word out about the film:
We appreciate your support. Thank you!