Experiencing Interruptions?

Bloom

Bloom is a short documentary portrait of Mark, a small-scale cannabis grower living in southern California. The story is conveyed through fragments of Mark's routines, witnessed with extraordinary precision and benevolence.

In sensationally captured vignettes that reflect the essence of a man, his plants, and the mutual affection that binds them together, he reflects on the intensity, love, and patience required for this plant to bloom.

  • Mily Patton
    Director
    With Love, Words Hurt Too
  • Mark Patton
    Key Cast
  • Emily Alyse
    Lighting Assistant
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Participatory, Interview
  • Runtime:
    6 minutes 54 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 10, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    250 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Vista Visions Academy
  • All American High School Film Festival
    New York City
    United States
    October 21, 2022
    Official Selection
  • One Earth Film Festival

    Official Selection
  • Lift-Off Sessions Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    Official Selection
  • OKCU High School Film Festival
    Oklahoma City
    United States
    Official Selection
  • Huntington Beach Cultural Cinema Showcase
    Huntington Beach, California
    United States
    Honorable Mention
Director Biography - Mily Patton

Mily is an award-winning filmmaker and creative from sunny California with a passion for sharing stories that connect people and communities.

She wrote and directed the short film With Love, which was selected for eight film festivals and won the Best Writing award at Pacifica SCREEN Film Festival.

She has additionally been interviewed by NBC, giving insight to what it’s like being a teen director in a pandemic shaped world. She’s furthermore spoken as a panelist at the Youth Diversity Film Festival, Poly Film Festival and Open Mind Film Festival at UCLA (2021).

A complement to her professional work, her online presence includes being chosen to be in VSCO's collection numerous times, and also being featured in their Black Joy Matters campaign, which showcases and celebrates Black joy and the Black diaspora.

As a senior in high school when cramming late night study sessions, she dreams of directing all the movie ideas she has in her head.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

My decision to direct this film was influenced by the history of cannabis, especially that of black people and cannabis. Watching this film, I wanted to give them an understanding of what it takes to grow it. Marijuana cultivation poses several challenges. It’s not all sunshine and roses. This documentary was inspired by my observations of Mark during the growing season. To tend to his plants, he would get up before the sun rises and work until it sets. I will always cherish the way this film was shot. In a way, it was almost like watching a conversation between Mark and me. If you observe how Mark is talking, you’ll notice that he’s talking to me. Especially when he looks directly behind the camera lens and asks questions similar to "you know what I mean?". To him, it was just a casual conversation, not a performance. The conversation centered around his frustrations with something he cherished immensely and seeing how much damage was done to it. As a result of his love for and knowledge of the plant, he saw past the damage done to the plants and continued working toward harvesting. He initially declined to participate in the documentary. Normally, growers prefer to remain anonymous; however, he later felt it was his responsibility to be open about his experience to alleviate the stigma associated with marijuana growers and growing marijuana.