Role: Co-Director, Producer

In this meta-documentary, a high school class sets out to make a film about farming, only to get tangled in the contradictions between what they learn and the system that feeds them.

Grounded follows a small group of teens at Interlochen Arts Academy who are chosen to make a film about “regenerative farming” - a big buzzword without a clear definition. After some initial trepidations, they set out to document a full growing season and become immersed in the world of agro-ecology and Indigenous growing traditions applied through contemporary technology. As they navigate the messy uncertainty of both filmmaking and farming, they uncover contradictions in their own dining hall’s food sourcing and grapple with their limited power to bring meaningful change. With the help of local farmers and fellow student artists, musicians, and animators, they turn their project into a search for sustainability, community, and a more connected way of living.