Networks

Filmmaker and photographer Brooke Mohnkern (b. 1973) grew up in Yarmouth, Maine on the Cousin’s River; a perfect home for a curious child fascinated by the dynamic natural world around him. He loved to explore deep into the sheltered recesses of the winding marshlands and further -- out into Casco Bay and beyond. His curiosity was captured by the seasons and the changes they triggered in the weather, the landscape, and the plant and animal inhabitants he encountered. As a student his exploratory experiences were often featured in his creative writing and art projects.

After graduating from Bowdoin College in 1995 with a degree in Fine Art Photography, Brooke relocated to Cambridge, Massachusetts, but returns to Maine regularly, trying to spend as much of the summer there as possible.

Brooke’s recent foray into film was precipitated by his desire to share the stories he learned while bearing witness to the miraculous return of the Menhaden fish to the coast of Maine after a hiatus of more than twenty years. Wanting to deliver more than a home movie, but acknowledging his lack of expertise in the art, Brooke enrolled in a filmmaking course at the Harvard Extension School. Under the guidance of Professor Allyson Sherlock he produced his first film - “Networks” (2020) - a short documentary that delivers a vivid exploration of social and ecological impacts of the fish’s return.

Eager to apply lessons learned from his first film, Brooke is actively investigating numerous new film and video projects intent on showcasing the natural world he encounters.