S4.E2 ∙ Life Among the Clouds

The art of puppetry, performance, and the creation of imaginative 'inner pictures' is described in the voice of Monique Grund, master kindergarten teacher and the writer/director of The Magic Lantern Marionette Theater's 2013 premiere production. Inspired by the natural world of the San Francisco Bay, with its many sea creatures and aquatic parks, 75 year old Monique deftly describes her creative research and the formidable challenges faced in presenting an underwater story convincingly in a live theater performance. With a dedicated crew of teacher/puppeteers moving artfully crafted, exquisitely costumed sea creature marionettes, the story of 'The Princess Mermaid' unfolds with sparkling delight.

In this colourful and informational documentary, presenter Alec Doomadgee meets with smokers, ex-smokers and health professionals to talk about how to quit smoking cigarettes. Along the way, Alec finds out some of the support, methods and medications available to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to 'blow away the smokes'. The film, made for the 'No Smokes North Coast' project on the North Coast of NSW, Australia, highlights the issue that smoking is the number one killer of Indigenous peoples, and empowers smokers and communities to make a positive choice to improve their lives.

The 'Log Cabin Project' documentary is a collaborative effort between Tim Stamps and Nathan Zamarron documenting the construction of a livable green architecture structure in Carter County, Kentucky. The documentary details Zamarron's approach to net-zero design, re-use of material, and sustainable living.

In a tiny village of the Argentinean pampas, a group of volunteers carry out a brass music festival. Tubas, trombones, trumpets, french horns, cows, renowned musicians and village residents live together for a week.

Through an intimate lens, this film documents the work of Union Agricultores Minifundistas to help farmers in Guatemala work organically and sustainably, and the effect they have had on local Mayan farmers on a financial, educational and emotional scale.

An exploration of the overlapping worlds of music and faith through the eyes of a choir and its conductor, and the power of music in building a community of faith.