Fiscal sponsorship has been secured

A key component of the business plan for "A Handful of Dust" called for securing a fiscal sponsor for the project.  This kind of entity meets the criteria for foundations to give money to a project such as ours, and also allows individuals to make contributions that are tax deductible.   

I'm delighted that we have received confirmation that San Francisco Film Society has signed on as our fiscal sponsor.  In the next few days, I'll post information on how donations can be made.  A big step in making the documentary a reality, and I'm excited for the next steps. 

Moving sheep at the Ladder Ranch July 2013

July 11th-14th, Ed Done, the cinematographer for the documentary and I traveled to the Ladder Ranch in Savery, Wyoming.  It was a great opportunity to get started on the video portion of the documentary. 

On the first day, we covered a sheepherder moving sheep from one grazing area to another in Wyoming, then traveled to another parcel of leased land in Colorado to photograph supplies being delivered to a tent camp there.  The following two days, we shot interviews with several members of the family and with one of the Peruvian sheepherders.   A most rewarding few days.

Fourth of July parade

As part of the documentary, we want to show the community events that bind the ranching world together.  I had the opportunity to shoot a Fourth of July parade and rodeo in Cimarron, New Mexico, and here's one of the images from the parade.  Thanks to Randy and Kristi Davis of the CS Ranch for their warm hospitality.

Sheep Shearing May 15th, 2013

Just spent four days shooting in Wyoming for my documentary "A Handful of Dust" about ranching in the West.  Lots of images to process and video to log and edit. This trip focused on sheep shearing, and here's the first picture I processed.

University Of Wyoming Business Plan May 11th, 2013

A good friend suggested I reach out to a university to develop a business plan for AHandfulofDust.   Martin Saffer,  Kent Noble and Roland Kidwell from the University of Wyoming MBA program guided three  MBA candidates in doing just that. 

It was a great collaboration working with Anna Marie Chopping, Zachary Parrie and Josie Rose Wambach.  They did a wonderful job of taking input from me and then researching business models, avenues of funding and distribution and the like.

I feel like I have a wonderful roadmap now, and am tremendously grateful for all the support and insights the whole team shared. 

Thanks so very much!

Ladder Ranch cattle drive November 2012

A photograph taken on the fall cattle drive at the incredible Ladder Ranch, which straddles the Wyoming and Colorado border.

A Handful of Dust website is launched November 2012

The website for A Handful of Dust has been launched!