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UNDERSTORY NOUN - un·der·sto·ry - /ˈəndərˌstôrē/
a layer of vegetation beneath the main canopy of a forest.
Our production company's name is inspired by our overall goal as filmmakers – to get the truth under the surface. Much like the forest, everything is connected and only one word can describe how this dedicated team of writers, directors, filmmakers, and mental health professionals came together: serendipity.
Dawn McCord (executive producer / Producer)
Dawn McCord (executive producer / Producer)
Dawn McCord is a wife, and a fiercely loyal and protective momma bear of two sons. During their teen years, the boys did what most teens do, they experimented with drugs and alcohol. However, one son quickly opened the door to addiction and the chasing began. As her family endured the ups and downs of substance use and the ins and outs of rehab, Dawn wanted to know what “in the world” was different with this age group and their use and why overdoses were becoming the norm. Dawn has a passion to help other parents not feel so alone in their journey by sharing their story and resources. She greatly desires to continue the conversation on how to educate our adolescents about the disease of addiction.
Currently, Dawn and her film partners are producing this film which is an in-depth documentary that shares the stories of families who have been positively and negatively impacted by the often-misunderstood industry.
DR. WILL WHITE (executive producer)
DR. WILL WHITE (executive producer)
Dr. Will White is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and a leading historian in the field of outdoor mental health treatment. He holds a Doctorate of Arts in Leadership and has over 30 years of experience in wilderness/adventure therapy and other mental health treatment,
Will is the author of Stories from the Field: A History of Wilderness Therapy and is the host of the Stories from the Field Podcast.
VINCE DIXON (co-director / Producer)
VINCE DIXON (co-director / Producer)
Vince Dixon is an award-winning writer and director, known for his recent overdose awareness short film 'Sometimes I Imagine Your Funeral' which is based on his relationship with his sister Lauren who died of fentanyl poisoning in 2021. Originally from Indiana and with a degree in film from the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts, Vince works with Paramount+ as a Producer and Editor, and has a wide breadth of film experience under his belt. Vince hopes that 'Forest for the Trees: The Truth About Wilderness Therapy' is able to connect with audiences through an empathetic and holistic approach to showcasing the broad spectrum of Wilderness stories – the good, the bad, and everything in between.
Mark Strauss (co-director / producer)
Mark Strauss (co-director / producer)
Along with being an award-winning screenwriter and filmmaker, Mark Strauss has been a Business Consultant for over 25 years. With a professional focus on building brands through communication training and certified leadership coaching, Mark has worked with some of the top brands throughout the U.S. including Whirlpool, The University of Notre Dame, Motorola, Disney, the NFL, and many more. While this work has been done in a business context, this experience has shown how common it is for people to have challenges with anxiety, substance abuse, depression, and even suicidal ideations. Mark is excited to be part of this team to tell the truth about what can very often be a life-saving solution for so many young people.
catherine dal canto (line producer)
catherine dal canto (line producer)
Catherine Del Canto is a filmmaker currently based out of Albuquerque, New Mexico after over seven years of industry experience in Los Angeles, California. Originally from New Jersey, she founded her production company in 2014, Vulcat Studio and vulcat.com, a portfolio of her work as a writer, director, producer, and assistant director telling stories of "come of age at any age", often incorporating themes of travel, music, and/or visual poetry. She has worked in the studio world on HBO and Netflix films and series, as well as independent production companies like LAMA and White Whale Pictures in a variety of production roles around the United States.
christopher wells (producer)
christopher wells (producer)
Christopher works as a director, producer, screenwriter, editor, and photographer. Over the years he has collaborated with a wide range of clients including Pepperidge Farm, TOMS Shoes, Betsey Johnson, Columbia University, and Sirius Satellite Radio. Projects have included everything from fashion shoots and corporate videos to narrative films and socially conscious documentaries. Most notably, his documentary Stories for My Children’s Children: Lessons from the Holocaust premiered at the Catalina Film Festival and was nominated for Best Documentary at the Big Apple Film Festival.
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