Bella Luna is fueled by hard work, family spirit, and exceptional wines. Founded by two lifelong friends in 1997, the Templeton winery in California's Paso Robles wine region dry-farms many of its wines. This 3-minute brand documentary captures the essence of Bella Luna and its beautiful story of history, family, and quality always outranking quantity.
A sampling of projects filmed, directed, and edited by Kirk Weston Jackson of Going Home Pictures, LLC
Music: Un Dernier Verre (Pour La Route); Beirut
In this digital age of content delivery, is there still space for the American drive-in movie theater? 'The Skyline' is a nostalgic visit to a struggling drive-in move theater in the California desert where the popcorn is always fresh, the butter is real, and the memories are what you make. This is an exploration project for a documentary feature in development exploring similar themes of digital disconnection and supporting small businesses.
We all have a purpose. As the growth of the organization hit a rocket-like trajectory, it became time to highlight the many role players who make up Team Rubicon while focusing on the common value - purpose. This video went on to air on the HISTORY Channel as well as play a primary role in telling TR’s story with major donors and partners.
Annie "Mamá" Garcia entered the U.S. Senate race in Texas after seeing a pool of candidates relying on "politics-as-usual tactics" to defeat incumbent John Cornyn. Annie is energetic, passionate, and edgy with a bit of a chip on her shoulder that fuels her 420-mile walk across Texas in the days leading up to the primary. Her drive is evident in her voice, and my goal was to marry that with footage of Annie as a mother and grassroots candidate. Truly a campaign video on a budget, shot in 24 hours, edited in 8, and released the next day for the televised debate.
Oléa and Patrice left a life in Los Angeles and bought a nearly 400-year-old former convent in central France. With her background in landscape architecture and his experience as a master craftsman and restorer, they embarked on the long journey of taking the dilapidated residence and transforming it into a state beyond its original beauty. As they near completion in time for their autumn 2023 opening, Oléa shares her story of how she has been transformed by they transformation of the convent over the last decade.
EcoSync's mission is to provide high-accuracy measurement of any forest on earth, giving unprecedented insight into the condition and value of our global forests. EcoSync needed an impactful, brief, affordable brand video to launch its upcoming library of varied and informative content.
Malcolm escaped the gangs of Los Angeles by joining the Navy. When some demons caught up to him, he entered a long period of darkness and homelessness... until US Vets entered the picture. This is a short version of Malcolm's story produced for the Home Depot Foundation in support of their partner US Vets.
The latest PSA was centered around the new Team Rubicon tagline "Built to Serve". I wanted to incorporate the message of our veterans as a resource and our communities as resilient. As always we avoid the dramatic narrative of a broken community and broken veteran. Sam Elliot, legend of "Lonesome Dove" and "Road House" (among other favorites), generously lent his silky smooth bass to the script written by Kirk Jackson of Going Home Pictures. Airing on HISTORY and various cable networks.
Team Rubicon loves April Fool’s Day. Supporters came to expect some humorous play on the organization’s name. In 2016, we went back to the early-90’s with Team Rubisongs. Shot in about 45 minutes and compiled the next day, this piece is a cult favorite among Team Rubicon die-hards and stands as our best April Fool’s Day video.
Aleah and Joane Nahue are students of the accordion. Every Saturday, summer weekday and Jewish holiday they are outside their mother's office in downtown Los Angeles practicing their accordion and possibly making a buck or two on the side.
The Accordion Sisters (working title) is a simple, endearing story of two charming sisters who practice an unconventional instrument while staying true to themselves and their mother's wishes in a conventional world.
SafeHaven's mission is to end domestic violence through safety, support, prevention and social change. SafeHaven needed a video for their annual fundraiser that struck an emotional chord while also respecting the anonymity of the beneficiary. We had "Shandra" for one hour for the interview and would need to piece together supporting visuals to help tell her story without resorting to dramatic recreations.
JJ Selvig was looking to serve again. He just didn't know it yet. Then he found Team Rubicon, and he found himself again. JJ walks us along his road of loss and rediscovery, of action and purpose.
I used archival footage I shot of JJ over three deployments, his personal photographs to piece together his backstory, and I interviewed him to compile a script which he voiced.
The story of Team Rubicon was written by a team of eight who travelled to Haiti to provide aid immediately after the 2010 earthquake. Today that story is continued through the service of over 16,000 strong. The phrase "burn the boat" refers to the general, who upon landing on the enemy's shore, orders his men to burn the boats so that there is no path other than forward toward victory. From Joplin to the Philippines to Rockaway Beach we've crossed the Rubicon. Now, we burn the boat.
Disaster strike. It's a fact of life. The veteran and first responder volunteers of Team Rubicon stand with the communities affected by these disasters, large and small, to respond in a time of need and help get them back on the road toward recovery. This video was produced for Veterans Day 2015 and premiered at our LA Fundraiser on November 10th. The intention with this piece is to promote the Team Rubicon name as being synonymous with disaster response. HISTORY Channel requested we edit a :30 sec PSA version that has been running during primetime slots.
Retired FDNY Lieutenant Kevin Callaghan asked Team Rubicon to help him with his pride and joy, a small beach house on Broad Channel Island across Jamaica Bay from Rockaway Beach. His house 15' above the ground took on 3' of oily water and debris, and his neighbor's deck was lifted up by the storm surge and precariously placed on his deck causing it to begin to buckle. It turned out to be a dirty, but pleasant excursion for a small group of TR volunteers on Veterans Day.
Team Rubicon setup a five week response operation for the New Orleans East community struck by an EF-3 tornado. Team Depot joined in for a day of service. This is that story as told by the regional manager for Home Depot.
Belizean bush doctor Harry Guy, Sr. treats HIV, cancer, diabetes, infertility and just about anything else you can name. He is known throughout Belize for his successful treatments, however, there is no hard scientific data to validate any of it.
Jungle Remedy is the story of a bush doctor whose secrets and remedies may well stay hidden from society. It ventures into Mr. Guy's backyard kitchen stocked with tropical bark, leaves, and roots as he simmers and brews his ancient elixirs. Jungle Remedy is a story of these treatments created in a world where such things could possibly exist, a world that has not yet fully succumbed to a dependence upon Western medicine. JungleRemedy.com
Going Home Pictures was given the responsibility to write, direct, shoot & edit the promotional documentary of the complex development of Yamaha’s New VMAX motorcycle. Kirk was given unparalleled access to the engineering and design process behind closed doors at the Yamaha facilities in Japan. Going Home Pictures worked closely with the marketing reps at Japan’s Mode2 and Dentsu, as well as with the president and head marketing reps of Star Motorcyles here in the United States.
The end result is an exciting and informative piece unveiling the much anticipated New VMAX. Above is a 4 minute excerpt from the eventual 19 minute video.
On Memorial Day, we pause to remember what this day signifies: a time to commemorate those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to this country and those veterans lost here at home. This year the volunteers of Team Rubicon choose to honor their fallen brothers and sisters by serving the people of Moore, OK in their time of need.
This is a testimonial from Team Rubicon volunteer Harry Golden, a veteran of the Navy and National Guard. Harry's story is one of heartbreak and triumph. It's why Team Rubicon is here.
