In my early years, I learned the craft of filmmaking on the editing team of Ken Burns, National Geographic and Steven Spielberg’s project for the White House Millennium celebration. While I’ve worked on many independent films, these foundational experiences helped me to learn how to construct and tell a good story whether the subject is historical, futuristic, human or abstract. I also learned good filmmaking process, using criticism to make a film better and to work as a team to hit deadlines.

You’ll also see an early passion project, Golgonooza, about the so-named type foundry and press in a small New Hampshire town. Dan Carr and Julia Ferrari share their life lessons learned while making extraordinary books by hand. This film won the People’s Choice Award at the 1999 Vermont Film Festival and was aired on the local PBS station.

Today, I use all of these skills in my filmmaking work, whether I’m filming a special event at the last minute or working on a long time frame to craft an important message with a team.