THE ASK


City of Refuge is an Atlanta nonprofit focused on breaking the cycle of generational homelessness. In the fall of 2015, they called on me to produce and direct a short documentary film about its 180° Kitchen Culinary Program, a 15-week intensive course designed to train students to succeed in the culinary industry. The film would be screened at the organization’s largest annual fundraising event, The Gathering, in order to drive donations.

The catch? I got the job just a week before the fundraiser, giving me mere days to produce, shoot, and edit the entire thing.

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THE EXECUTION


With the help of a bare bones film crew, I interviewed students and staff, captured a ton of b-roll, and worked with an editor to craft a six-and-a-half minute narrative telling the deeply moving story of the culinary program and its participants.

THE RESULTS


The film, which was screened before an audience of 400+ Atlanta VIPs and subsequently featured on the organization's site, helped drive over $1 million dollars in charitable contributions.

Credits:

  • Producer/Director: Shane Tepper
  • Motion Graphics/Editor: Jason Sheedy