Overview
Resilient Asheville is a 10-part documentary series capturing the resilience of Asheville, NC, in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Each short episode (3-5 minutes) highlights the personal stories of Western North Carolina residents affected by the hurricane, showcasing their grief, perseverance and recovery journeys.
The first episode features Asia Suler, winner of the 2022 Nautilus award for her beloved book Mirrors in the Earth, whose apothecary One Willow Apothecaries was destroyed when Helene flooded her studio at the old Marshall High School.
Purpose
Resilient Asheville not only provides an intimate look at the impact of natural disasters, but also positions Asheville as a model of resilience, covering themes of individual, community, climate, and post-disaster resilience. This series will serve as a rallying cry for the Asheville media community, producing content that will reach and inspire a broad viewership. We’re excited this project will provide consistent work for local creatives. After these episodes are launched, fundraising will continue for the Resilient Asheville Fund to provide grants for local businesses, artists, and residents impacted by Hurricane Helene and future natural disasters.
Distribution & Reach
Episodes will be ready to distribute immediately and aim to draw virtual “visitors” to Asheville through compelling storytelling, ultimately compensating for decreased tourism due to the hurricane’s aftermath.
How to Support the Project
Resilient Asheville is fiscally sponsored by The Gleanings Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit. Donations help fund episode production, providing tax-deductible options for contributors.
$25,000: Lead sponsors receive full-season branding rights.
$10,000: Episode sponsors.
$1,000: Resilient media sponsors.
Creative Team
Production Company: Temple of Seaweed
Executive Producers: Brett A McCall, Reggie Tidwell
Supervising Producer: Jean-Paul Lausell
Producers: Scott Kirschenbaum, Naomi Lee, Kai Lendzion
Director: Scott Kirschenbaum
