Through Our Eyes - DP & Field Producer
From the same producers who brought you Sesame Street, comes Through Our Eyes, a four-part docuseries that puts a face to parental incarceration, climate displacement, military caregiving and homelessness. These stories let viewers experience the world through the empathetic, profound and intimate perspectives of the children and their families.
Due to serendipity, my previous work captured the producer’s attention and I was selected to be the Director of Photography and Field Producer for the climate displacement segment of this wonderful project. We shot in the height of the pandemic, with extreme production requirements and restrictions. Despite these challenges, the results were incredibly worth it in the end. I was able to reconnect with a cause that drives my soul in a meaningful way, shedding vital light on the climate crisis. I also was fortunate to rekindle a relationship with one of the greatest families I’ve had the chance to meet and work with: Melissa, Andy, Emma and Leo from Grinnell, IA. Finally, I was privileged to collaborate with a wonderful creative team through the wonders of zoom and remote work, as I helped capture this important and inspiring story through the eyes of the people who are living it.
Wander over to HBOMax to view Uprooted, episode two of Through Our Eyes.
In Luck (Pilot Episode of Webseries) - Director
In Luck is a female-centric comedy web series that features two millennial friends as they experience the awkwardness of life, love and family.
After directing the pilot episode of In Luck (written by Rebecca Haroldson), we have been awarded a $10,000 Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Greenlight Grant to produce episodes 2 and 3, now in post-production. Visit here for more information about the grant and recipients.
Austin Comedy Film Festival
Toronto Independent Film Festival of Cift - Winner of Best TV Pilot
Women’s Comedy Film Festival Atlanta - Winner of Best Webseries Episode
In the News
Through Our Eyes
Hollywood Reporter - “NAACP Image Award Nominations”
IndieWire - “Through Our Eyes Review: Children Lead the Way in Doc Series Covering Major National Issues”
Decider - “Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Through Our Eyes’ On HBO Max, A Docuseries Where Kids Talk About Their Difficult Circumstances And How They Persevere”
Variety - “How Sesame Workshop Created ‘Through Our Eyes,’ Its First Docuseries for Kids, During COVID”
Vulture - “Through Our Eyes Trailer Shows Social Issues From a Kid’s Lens”
Deadline - “Sesame Workshop’s First Documentary Series ‘Through Our Eyes’ Examines Social Issues With Kids’ Perspective’ Premiere Date Set"
The Legend in My Heart
USA Today Coverage - “Iowa City filmmaker humbled by Hong Kong protests”
HuffPost - “I Know This Now”
These Hopeless Savages
Little Village - “Locally produced film premieres Thursday at Filmscene”
Press Citizen - “Roadtrip film evaluates the evolution of friendship”
Backstage - “What to know about making a film - as Told by 11 Tribeca Film Festival Creators”
Nuvo - “Indy Film Fest 2014 Review”
Hooplanow - “Mission Creek Festival Expands into Film Scene, with Filmscene”
Other Projects and Coverage
Medium - “Getting Creative in The Film Lounge”
Iowa PBS - “Busbee on Becoming a Filmmaker”
Iowa Source - “Iowa’s Filmmaking Future | What’s the Impact on Local Economies?”
Daily Iowan - “The music behind iconic films, discussed”
Daily Iowan - “FilmScene Summer Camp helps kids learn filmmaking”
KRUI - “Mission Creek: Iowa Screendance Festival”
NYU Tisch School of the Arts - “On Your Radar with Kaitlyn Busbee”