Behind-the-scenes posts about documentary filmmaking — from the making of The Unruly Mystic: John Muir to insights from filmmaker Michael M. Conti on independent film production.
What does a 12th-century German abbess have in common with a 19th-century Scottish naturalist? More than you might think — and understanding the connection changes how you see both of them.
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During the 2020 pandemic, filmmaker Michael Conti revisited the original cut of The Unruly Mystic: John Muir and wove in new footage from Scotland — creating the 75-minute Scotland Cut that deepens the film's spiritual and environmental journey.
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Michael Conti joins the San Francisco Swedenborgian Church's Nature & Spirit symposium for a Q&A on how John Muir's vision of wilderness as sacred ground continues to shape how we seek spiritual nourishment in nature today.
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Celebrating John Muir's birthday with a look at the Scotland Cut — how 60+ screenings across seven states shaped the film, and why the experience of watching it together in community remains the most powerful way to encounter Muir's legacy.
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A look behind the scenes of The Unruly Mystic: John Muir — 18 months of principal photography across the US and Canada, and what it takes to bring a personal essay documentary from the wilderness to the screen.
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