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Peaking Through the Sand

Peaking Through the Sand is a story about the resilience of a single mother, Dany, who lives in Tubarão, a favela rooted in tradition. She supports her son, Paulo, and her community through prioritizing education and environmental nourishment. Dany values education and wants to keep her son enrolled in private school; however, a lack of funds halts her goal. Through the strong tradition of clam collecting, which began as a survival tactic for the indigenous people, Dany strengths the relationships within her community and with her son.

  • Hezekiah Lewis
    Executive Producer
  • Joe Adams
    Producer
  • Zenaida De La Cruz
    Producer
  • Lauryn Hayes
    Producer
  • Grace Owusu
    Producer
  • Alyane Wollery
    Producer
  • Amari Johnson
    Associate Producers
  • Carlos Junior
    Associate Producers
  • Caleb Lucky
    Associate Producers
  • Andréa Campos
    Director
  • Lauryn Hayes
    Director
  • Sarah Ager
    Directors of Photography
  • Reynolds Shenk
    Directors of Photography
  • Andréa Campos
    Editors
  • Daniela Ortiz
    Editors
  • Lauryn Hayes
    Line Producer
  • Tana Benitez
    Writer
  • Makayla Harden
    Writer
  • Liam Brennan
    Camera Operators
  • Meg Martin
    Camera Operators
  • Reynolds Shenk
    Drone Operator
  • Pólen Acácio
    Featuring
  • Paulo Vitor Pereira Corrêa
    Featuring
  • Dany Hora
    Featuring
  • Mari Beneti
    Translators
  • Anastasia Galanou
    Translators
  • Carlos Moraes Junior
    Translators
  • Ava Petrosky
    Sound
  • Joe Adams
    Fundraising
  • Zenaida De La Cruz
    Fundraising
  • Lauryn Hayes
    Fundraising
  • Grace Owusu
    Fundraising
  • Avery Stout
    Fundraising
  • Chloe Floyd
    Marketing
  • Ava Petrosky
    Marketing
  • Kamryn Rogers
    Marketing
  • Christopher Spears
    Marketing
  • Avery Stout
    Marketing
  • Kentron J. White
    Marketing
  • Will Brenninkmeyer
    Film Colorist
  • Caleb Lucky
    Sound Mixer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    17 minutes 45 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 2, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    80,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    Brazil
  • Language:
    Portuguese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Villanova University
Director Biography - Andréa Campos, Lauryn Hayes

Andréa Campos is a recent graduate of Villanova University who played on the varsity volleyball team where she pursed a degree in business with a major in marketing and a minor in film. She takes great pride in her Mexican heritage and culture.

Andréa has always been passionate about filmmaking and social justice so she was very inspired to be able to combine the two to contribute to positive social change. This class has allowed her to be more comfortable in her identity with lots of inspiration from the many collaborators in Brazil.

Post graduation, Andréa will be pursuing her MBA at San Diego State University while utilizing her last year of eligibility for volleyball. Her experience with Stained Glass Films has opened her up to a world of creativity whilst pursing social justice. She hopes to continue following her passion for filmmaking while blending that with her business knowledge once she earns her MBA.

Lauryn Hayes is a recent graduate of Villanova University from Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York. Growing up in an urban and low-income area, she was exposed to different systemic injustices from inadequate education, healthcare, and access to housing. Taking her personal experiences into account, she knew she wanted to make a difference in the lives of people she saw herself in. Throughout her time at Villanova, she pursued a degree in Communication and Peace & Justice to combine her interest in understanding our perception of others through different mediums with her passion for justice.

Lauryn has always found strength in her voice and her writing, and has been quick to speak out against injustice and the lack of compassion for others that has become embedded and accepted in American culture. Her choice to participate in the social justice documentary course was what she called her “chance to combine her understanding of the media’s impact on our perception of others and her passion for social justice”.

She thanks Salvador, for bringing her a new way to interpret not only her Blackness but her understanding of the importance of cultural preservation especially when governmental systems choose to not only suppress this preservation but make advancement seem out of reach.

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Director Statement

As a first-time director of a documentary, I approached this project with some apprehension about doing justice to the story. However, as I delved deeper into the lives of Dany, Paulo, and Polén, I was profoundly moved by the strength and joy they conveyed, making it a privilege to share their narratives. I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to bring their stories to a wider audience.

Polén's remarks in our epilogue, expressing gratitude for Tubarão's inclusion due to its many hidden warriors, resonated deeply with me. He highlighted the importance of representation, noting that growing up, he rarely saw people like himself or his neighborhood depicted in film. This visibility is crucial and this process has inspired me to continue this work.

Dany closes the film out with the line that her father would always tell her, “If you don’t live to learn something new, there is no worth in living.” Throughout this process, the themes of our film about Dany, the community, Paulo and his education, and the cultural importance of clam collecting really allowed me to put my own life into perspective and remember life’s important values. The emphasis on education in our film has reaffirmed my commitment to valuing and utilizing my own higher education for the greater good. At the root of it all, this is a story about a mother and son and the beauty that is present within their relationship. The connection between Dany and Paulo is inspiring and I will carry it on with me forever throughout life.

- Andréa Campos

My initial role in the filming of our documentary was as a producer. During the downtime on-set, I had the privilege to connect with Dany, Paulo, Pólen, others in their community. The Portuguese-English language barrier made little difference in the genuity and love we felt in our conversations. We learned so much about each other and our cultures. Dany’ infectious laugh and maternal love was embedded in each interaction, so choosing her story to be one of our main focuses in Brazil was an easy decision.

Once I transitioned into the director role after returning from Brazil, I drew from my personal connection I built with our collaborators to be the driving force to how we told their story. I wanted the authenticity of what we caught on camera to shine through Dany’s affection between her and Paulo and her passion about continuing his education. Single motherhood is a universal experience that many can connect with, and the struggle to access and fund education that stimulates young children is no easy task as a single parent. Shedding light on Dany’s story and allowing our audience to connect with her and Paulo was a privilege. I hope our audience feels more compassion for others and appreciation for what they have while pursuing equity for what’s right in this world.

- Lauryn Hayes