A Handmade Life

A documentary about ten artists from the greater New Hampshire area each working in different mediums. The film dives into each artists' creative processes and lives, showcasing the value of craft, design, and local community. Their stories demonstrate the importance and viability of making a life as an artist and impart inspiration to continue these crafts and traditions for generations to come.

  • Brett Marshall
    Producer
  • Steven Chagnon
    Producer
  • Sarah Nyhan
    Producer
  • Ian Scura
    Director
  • Brian Chagnon
    Director of Photography
  • Caitlin Burch
    Key Cast
  • Robert Burch
    Key Cast
  • Alan Carruth
    Key Cast
  • Sharon Dugan
    Key Cast
  • Lawrence Elbroch
    Key Cast
  • Victoria Elbroch
    Key Cast
  • Kate Kilgus
    Key Cast
  • Richard Roth
    Key Cast
  • Caleb White
    Key Cast
  • Donna Zils Banfield
    Key Cast
  • Gabriel Vasquez-Billin
    Sound Operator
  • Erik Ljungholm
    Camera Operators
  • Katherine Kittler
    Camera Operators
  • Taylor Dunton
    Camera Operators
  • Bill Hurley
    Editors
  • Brian Chagnon
    Editors
  • Ian Scura
    Editors
  • Brian Chagnon
    Colorist
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 3 minutes 8 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 23, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    100,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, Blackmagic Design
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Ian Scura

I started making films when I was seven years old. Inspired by my older brothers and their creative projects, I started using film/video to tell goofy stories, make my own action movies, and stop motion animations. Over the years the stories have changed but I've continued to chase them with the same child like joy.

I was born and raised in New Hampshire, and I studied film at Middlebury College in Vermont. After college I got an internship at a Concord based video production company called Windwood Productions. Since starting there, I've grown into a creative lead at the company, working all over New England and helping to create projects like this documentary, "A Handmade Life".

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Director Statement

A Handmade Life is a glimpse into the life of being a New Hampshire artist. There is a simplicity and importance to the lives and work of artists who spend their lives dedicated to craft, and the hard work required to make quality art and materials. This film hopes to capture the unique and important nature of being an artist in New Hampshire, and inspire the next generation to continue these traditions for years to come.