Lodestar
'One veteran dies of suicide every 65 minutes.' - VA (2013)
Despite this harrowing statistic there are effective interventions capable of reversing the pattern of self-destruction, not least of which is nature-therapy. Increasingly recognized among academic journals and scientific studies for its restorative qualities – therapies like exposure to “blue spaces” (rivers, lakes, oceans) can provide a reflective canvas for people suffering from mental health issues to heal. Yet despite having an apparent abundance of nature on our doorstep, as the world’s population becomes more and more concentrated in urban areas access to natural areas is becoming increasingly restrictive.
Lodestar explores coastal access as an under-utilized mental health treatment, highlighting the erosion of public access laws in favor of private ownership and big business. Told through the story of one Veterans experiences of PTSD and depression against the backdrop of his kayaking trip to the Oregon coast.
https://vimeo.com/345364932
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Paul KirbyDirector
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Paul KirbyWriter
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Paul KirbyProducer
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Paul KirbyKey Cast
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Evan JohnsonEditor
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Dustin SaigoCamera
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Paul KirbyCamera
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Paul KirbySound
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Dustin SaigoSound
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Evan JohnsonSound
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BenSound.comMusic
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Project Type:Documentary, Short, Student
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Runtime:9 minutes 38 seconds
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Completion Date:June 6, 2019
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Production Budget:1,000 USD
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:United States
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:Yes
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St Lawrence International Film Festival - SLIFF
Winner -
Digital Monthly Online Film Festival - DMOFF
Official Selection -
Impact DOCS
Winner -
The Annual Mountain Shadow Film FestivalWalnut Creek
United States
September 20, 2019
Finalist -
Oregon Documentary Film Festival - ODFFPortland
United States
August 11, 2019
Best Oregon Film Award
I graduated nursing school on September 11th, 2001. I have extensive medical experience as both an RN and a medic in a variety of specialty areas
I enlisted in the United States military in 2011 and went on to be the oldest solider in my graduating class in the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program at Fort Benning, Georgia. I deployed to Afghanistan as a special operations combat medic with 2nd Ranger Battalion. I left the military in 2015 with an honorable discharge and a medal for "intestinal fortitude".
I enrolled in Southern Oregon Universities' Masters in Interdisciplinary Studies, majoring in Native American Studies, Documentary Film Production and Outdoor Adventure Leadership.
I am interested in symbiotic relationships between people and their environments. My focus is on marginalized groups, including Veterans, the Indigenous People of North America and Canada, and individuals or communities seeking context to reframe crisis.
My research and practice examines nature immersion as both an intervention and upstream investment in resilience, addressing what are often taken to be personal and mental health problems. My work explores challenging issues like the detrimental effects of urbanization, homelessness, and suicide.
Themes of social organizing and resistance through the use of methods like participatory action research and documentary production inform my work.