Author: James Edward Mills

Adventure Activism, Diversity, Film Review, National Parks / 03.07.2015

  Even with its Kickstarter campaign still in progress the Rewilding Film Project is already underway. Produced  by social entrepreneur Jesse Spiegel and his partner Vitek Linhart the documentary film project which aims to follow the adventure inspired travels of formerly incarcerated New York City native Anthony DeJesus launched its pilot episode this week on Vimeo. “We’ve been working on the development of the Rewilding program for well over a year now,” Spiegel said. “This first documentary series aims to draw the attention and support needed to grow our program’s...

Adventure Activism, An American Ascent, Breaking News, Expedition Denali, The Adventure Gap / 29.06.2015

Way back when we first started planning the Expedition Denali project I had one secret goal. And during one of the most remarkable weeks in recent history that objective was finally realized. In a private screening before almost 200 high school students and representatives from several youth-focused nonprofit organizations our film An American Ascent was presented at the White House. Expedition Denali team members Rosemary Saal, Tyrhee Moore and Billy Long made the long journey to Washington D.C. along with my co-producer Andy Adkins. Although I had never mentioned...

Adventure Activism, Adventure Media Review, Cool on Kickstarter, Diversity, Film preview / 19.06.2015

Anthony DeJesus is a product of his environment. Raised in the Bronx borough of New York City his life circumstances were defined by poverty, crime, drug abuse and violence. Confined first to the failed social infrastructure of low-income housing and foster care Anthony found himself on an inevitable course that like many young African-American men led to incarceration. But since getting out of prison this ambitious youth aspires to rise above his upbringing and hopes to achieve something more. “I’ve been looked up all of my life, mentally and spiritually,”...

5Point, Adventure Media Review, Film Review, mountainfilm / 09.06.2015

[caption id="attachment_2063083" align="aligncenter" width="610"] ©2015 Ben Moon collectionbenmoon.com[/caption] There is nothing in life more profound than the love of a dog. Without condition they give us more affection and devotion than we could ever return. They are empathic, compassionate, loyal and kind. And despite our less noble character they seem to derive their greatest joy just to be in our company. The mind of a dog is a curious thing. But if we could only imagine their thoughts and give voice to those behaviors we adore so much, we...

Adventure Activism, Adventure Media Review, Cool on Kickstarter, Film preview, People with disabilities / 08.06.2015

The world of adventure is too often defined by the exceptional accomplishments of extraordinary people. Exploits on high mountains or epic ocean excursions mark the gold standard of compelling action narratives. But after decades now of first ascents and record-breaking conquests little remains to inspire the audience toward higher expressions of the human experience. Even stories and films that depict the journeys of those struggling against impossible odds and adversity leave much to be desired as characters make their way toward the forgone conclusion of a successful achievement....

Commentary, Fly Fishing / 31.05.2015

The strike took me by surprise. As the fish tugged on the line beneath the brackish water I was slow at first to set the hook and draw my quarry from the lake into the warm evening air. Its green/yellow scales flashed in the low angle light of the setting sun as I gently removed the fly from its mouth. With a sharp snap of its tail the first bluegill of the season slapped the palm of my hand as I released it back into the rippling pool....