You could say that my interest was first sparked with the theft of a friend's Toyota Lancruiser FJ40 Hotwheel. (Justified by an eight year-olds logic that appreciation would be greater in my hands than his) Fascination with this little model and its role in making travel possible in even the most remote corners of the globe, I was driven to my quest for geographical knowledge. Spinning the globe aimlessly, I began looking for any landmass or island that suggested remoteness. Then, I'd dive into the 1980 World Book that was sold to us by a door-to-door salesman and find any info on my random discovery. I left immediately after my graduation for Indonesia. Armed with a camera and a backpack I went as far east as Timor, then westward to Java, North through Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal, and finally India. Upon my return I found myself teaching high school in art departments and an at-risk youth programme. Whenever possible I would try to incorporate my travel photos in lectures to offer insight through visuals in an attempt support my cultural comparisons. But i realised I needed pictures that would speak for themselves.

Bermuda.edu
Digital video
25 min.

Adam Burgess and John Neely have partnered to direct a film about a unique program on the island of Bermuda that is bringing a state of the art technology curriculum to the island's public schools. While the teachers and students are the story's main characters, the film addresses issues around globalization as they affect a small and paradoxical island society.

Lawrence Station Road
16mm film, color
8.5 min.

Stranded on an island of dirt are the last two survivors of farming in Sunnyvale, California. Ben and Joe Francia continue their way of life as taught to them 74 years ago. As the valley is consumed by "homes and electronic buildings" they reminisce of a vanished way of life.

Saltwater Veins
Co-directed by Matt Black and Adam Burgess
Digital video


The Silicon Valley's explosion is being felt by every localized community throughout the surrounding towns and cities. While most have succumbed to Starbucks and SUVs, one small community takes a stand to protect the last vestiges of its diverse culture. Nestled on the west side of the Santa Cruz Mountains lies a small costal scene unique even to California's surf culture. Fearing over-development and over-population from outside "Trannies" from the Silicon Valley, the local surfers of Santa Cruz express their concerns and reactions to those who disrespect their way of life. They leave us with the understanding that they are unwilling to change but, may consider others assimilation into their threatened lifestyle.

In Situ
16mm, Black and White
5 min.

This 5 minute B&W short follows one woman's experience as she undergoes her initial stages of a 6 month regime of chemotherapy. It exposes her initial reactions to discovering breast cancer and the continuing physical effects the toxic chemical has on her body.