The Crew
Kate Kirby, Director, Producer, Writer, Editor, DP
Kate Kirby (she/her), is a director, producer, editor and entrepreneur. With a background in food security, environmental policy, and community building, Kirby has had the privilege of collaborating with fellow visionaries and organizers across the globe. While finishing a graduate degree in Global Policy, Kirby shifted directions to pursue the artistic side of activism, founding Kindred Planet Productions in 2013 to: “capture the interconnectedness of a 21st century world, raise awareness, and inspire change by bringing into focus stories from the margins.” She endeavors to integrate a justice-based approach to documentary filmmaking, with an emphasis on inclusion at all stages of production. Her films are often described as nuanced, complex, and universal. From Bolivia, to Laos, to Wabanaki territory, to Standing Rock, to American Evangelical universities, Kirby’s projects have taken on a life of their own, evolving her as a filmmaker, and as a person.
Kate Kirby (she/her), is a director, producer, editor and entrepreneur. With a background in food security, environmental policy, and community building, Kirby has had the privilege of collaborating with fellow visionaries and organizers across the globe. While finishing a graduate degree in Global Policy, Kirby shifted directions to pursue the artistic side of activism, founding Kindred Planet Productions in 2013 to: “capture the interconnectedness of a 21st century world, raise awareness, and inspire change by bringing into focus stories from the margins.” She endeavors to integrate a justice-based approach to documentary filmmaking, with an emphasis on inclusion at all stages of production. Her films are often described as nuanced, complex, and universal. From Bolivia, to Laos, to Wabanaki territory, to Standing Rock, to American Evangelical universities, Kirby’s projects have taken on a life of their own, evolving her as a filmmaker, and as a person.
Meg Webster, Producer, On-site Co-Director, DP
Native to Maine, Meg Webster (she/her) had a childhood abundant in pine, ocean, and creativity. Each summer, she migrated from inland to the salty coastal town of New Harbor, ME, with her parents and three sisters. They lived together crammed in a modest sized camper, and she believes these summers greatly influenced her creativity and artistic perspective. A lover of adventure and story, Meg has traveled throughout parts of South Asia, SE Asia, Europe, and Central America. She's worked as an English Instructor to International students, a Youth Counselor to at-risk youth, and continues work in freelance photography and film. She joined Kindred Planet Productions in 2013.
Native to Maine, Meg Webster (she/her) had a childhood abundant in pine, ocean, and creativity. Each summer, she migrated from inland to the salty coastal town of New Harbor, ME, with her parents and three sisters. They lived together crammed in a modest sized camper, and she believes these summers greatly influenced her creativity and artistic perspective. A lover of adventure and story, Meg has traveled throughout parts of South Asia, SE Asia, Europe, and Central America. She's worked as an English Instructor to International students, a Youth Counselor to at-risk youth, and continues work in freelance photography and film. She joined Kindred Planet Productions in 2013.
Angel Amaya, Producer
Angel Amaya (she/her) is a Mexican-American documentary filmmaker from Corpus Christi, Texas. Angel has a BA in English from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and an MA in Media Studies and Documentary Studies from The New School in New York, New York. She started documentary filmmaking at a young age, with local civil rights marches for immigrant rights in South Texas. During her Masters studies, she directed and produced two documentaries, 06 Female Wolf, and The World is Yours. The World is Yours premiered May 2016 in the Truth Be Told NYC film festival. She has also worked as a professional documentary film critic for the 2016 Peabody Awards. Her work in media has focused on civil rights efforts through storytelling. This is reflected in her time at Human Rights Watch, Vote Smart, Proof: Media for Social Justice and as co-founder for the Islander Human Rights Organization. Angel was most recently an associate producer on a Showtime documentary film called Beyond the Opposite Sex, which will premiere on Showtime in 2018.
Angel Amaya (she/her) is a Mexican-American documentary filmmaker from Corpus Christi, Texas. Angel has a BA in English from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and an MA in Media Studies and Documentary Studies from The New School in New York, New York. She started documentary filmmaking at a young age, with local civil rights marches for immigrant rights in South Texas. During her Masters studies, she directed and produced two documentaries, 06 Female Wolf, and The World is Yours. The World is Yours premiered May 2016 in the Truth Be Told NYC film festival. She has also worked as a professional documentary film critic for the 2016 Peabody Awards. Her work in media has focused on civil rights efforts through storytelling. This is reflected in her time at Human Rights Watch, Vote Smart, Proof: Media for Social Justice and as co-founder for the Islander Human Rights Organization. Angel was most recently an associate producer on a Showtime documentary film called Beyond the Opposite Sex, which will premiere on Showtime in 2018.
Athidxay Bouandaoheuang, Associate Producer
Programme Director for Dok Lao Media Service, an initiative of the Lao-founded NGO, PADETC: Participatory Development Training Centre, in Vientiane, Laos, “Ding” (he/him) is a prolific filmmaker and educator. Started in 1992, Dok Lao promotes participatory media production for education and sustainable development. As program director, Ding’s key activities include: training of young Lao film makers, production of short films in collaboration with youth and volunteer networks in provinces throughout Laos, development of handbooks on film making, and the creation and dissemination of multimedia educational programming throughout Laos. Ding joined the Elephant Keeper team as a consultant in 2013, and more recently as a producer.
Programme Director for Dok Lao Media Service, an initiative of the Lao-founded NGO, PADETC: Participatory Development Training Centre, in Vientiane, Laos, “Ding” (he/him) is a prolific filmmaker and educator. Started in 1992, Dok Lao promotes participatory media production for education and sustainable development. As program director, Ding’s key activities include: training of young Lao film makers, production of short films in collaboration with youth and volunteer networks in provinces throughout Laos, development of handbooks on film making, and the creation and dissemination of multimedia educational programming throughout Laos. Ding joined the Elephant Keeper team as a consultant in 2013, and more recently as a producer.
David Hinojosa, Additional Editing & Colorist
Upon receiving his BA at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, David (he/him) jumped into commercial production at the local FOX TV Station. While at the TV station he began working on his first feature film, The Violent States of America. The experience was invaluable as he gained his first co-directing, lead DP and lead editor credits. He has since worked on various short films such as UFO GIRL and has begun writing his first screenplays.
Upon receiving his BA at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, David (he/him) jumped into commercial production at the local FOX TV Station. While at the TV station he began working on his first feature film, The Violent States of America. The experience was invaluable as he gained his first co-directing, lead DP and lead editor credits. He has since worked on various short films such as UFO GIRL and has begun writing his first screenplays.
