THE WORLD’S BIGGEST WAVE, EXPLAINED
Nazaré, Portugal was for centuries just a small fishing village known for its fishermen and dangerous seas. Then one day in 2011, a pro-surfer named Garrett McNamara strapped on a surf board and rode a 78 foot wave right off its coast. It was a new world-record for big wave surfing and the moment that changed Nazaré forever. Now, Nazaré is the capital of Big Wave surfing. The secret to Nazaré’s giant waves lies under the surface, where a huge underwater canyon funnels swells right up to its cliffs, then launches that energy straight up, sometimes 60, 70, or 80 feet. Many surfers visit in the hopes of catching a 100-foot wave. Role: DP, Producer
A small town plague
“The first time I used, it was the most euphoric rush I had ever felt in my life. And I knew then that I was not going to stop,” says Kenny Shadday, a McDonald’s manager in Indiana. Shadday did, in fact, stop—he’s now recovered from his opioid addiction, thanks to an innovative new program that brings intensive outpatient treatment to rural areas. Role: Director, Producer and Editor
GLORIA STEINEM DOESN’t DRIVE
Gloria Steinem has been traveling for more than thirty years, introducing millions of girls and women to the feminist cause. But she hasn’t had a driver’s license since she was a teenager. Here’s why. Read more at The New Yorker. Role: Director, Producer and Editor
GOOD NIGHT, MARGARET
When Margaret “Muffi” Lavigne and Chris Plum, both with muscular dystrophy, met at the Hospital for Special Care in New Britain, Connecticut, their lives took an unexpected turn. Publisher: The New York Times Role: Producer and Editor
beyond the finish line
After the bomb blast at the Boston Marathon that took most of his legs, Jeff Bauman began his own long and painful journey. Publisher: The New York Times Role: Editor
HERS TO LOSE
From the start of the 2013 New York City mayoral race, Christine Quinn had it all: name recognition, an overflowing war chest and a seven-year record of accomplishment as City Council speaker. She was on track to become the city’s first female and first openly gay mayor. This is the story of her collapse, as witnessed from within her campaign. Publisher: The New York Times Role: Editor
BORN INTO COAL
Coal queen pageant contestant Arianna Bailey competes for a crown to represent her family’s way of life. Former miner Goose Stewart lives with the memories of a mine explosion. One thing binds both families: coal. Watch the full interactive film here. Roles: Co-Director, Cinematographer and Editor