Cast / Riders
Carly J. Grigg
Carly is a gregarious, visually impaired para-athlete who has medaled internationally in downhill ski, and now hopes to podium in the Paralympics for equestrian dressage. Carly suffers from mitochondrial disease, and though sight-impaired since grade 2, she has always looked beyond her own limits.
Ruth Bieber
Philosophical Ruth knows how to read a room. A professional counseling and rehab therapist, Ruth focuses her practice on clients with disabilities, in search of innovative therapeutic modalities…hence her curiosity about horses. A published author and painter, Ruth’s artistry has led her to a deeper insight about the human condition.
Terry Kelly
Terry is passionate about accessibility and the fullness of sensory experience. He works as a motivational speaker, professional musician and outspoken advocate for literacy. Terry lost his sight at the age of 2. Now he considers himself a “whole-body seer” through the use of echolocation. A gifted fireside raconteur, Terry’s unique way of interpreting the world is infectious.
Cast / Expedition Crew
T.A. Carrithers • Expedition Leader
Lifelong outdoorsman T.A. is the expedition leader. He divides his time between his Californian eco-ranch, and his working cattle ranch and permaculture farm in Argentina. A professional bush pilot and an expert horseman, T.A. is often above the ground, yet he is the most down-to-earth person you’ll ever meet.
Victor Callesen • Expedition Leader
Victor’s introduction to nature came as a child in Denmark, growing up in the countryside. He studied carpentry, then started his own company in Copenhagen, with projects in Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Victor works closely with T.A., guiding visitors around the Ranquilco ranch and leading pack trips into the Andes.
Kyala Shea • Guide
An accomplished equestrian and back-country guide, Kyala is a proponent of natural horsemanship. Horsewoman by vocation, rancher by trade, Kyala established a therapeutic farm environment in Mendocino that facilitates horse / human partnerships.
Brett Lovelace • Guide
When not sharing his knowledge of botany, Brett is playing in the dirt overturning rocks in search of new life forms. Brett tirelessly encourages his biology students to embrace the idea that horses can connect us to our better selves.
Stephanie Fillekes • Guide
As a certified Equine Assisted Therapy practitioner, Stephanie has focused her efforts within the blind community. A volunteer with Outward Bound, a competitive equestrian and a student of neuroscience, Stephanie’s affability can spark a campfire.
Hugo Monterola • Cook
Hugo came to Ranquilco in 1979. A master stoneworker and mason, he led the crew that built the Ranquilco lodge. Hugo grew up on an estancia and carries a deep pride in the gaucho lifestyle. He embodies and upholds all of the skills, values and traditions from previous generations.
Creators
Stefan Morel • Producer / Director / Writer / Editor
Stefan is a veteran filmmaker with 25+ years of experience, who brings multiple skills to all of his projects. He’s a director, a cinematographer, a photographer, an editor, a designer, and a writer who creates content for TV, web, mobile, digital OOH, radio and print.
Stefan’s recent filmography includes the award-winning short films “A Century of Horses” and “Voluntary Gestures”. In 2014, he directed, shot and wrote the TV/web series pilot of Free Rein.
In January 2012, Stefan travelled to Argentina for a horseback expedition through the Andes. He was deeply influenced by the gaucho culture, the criollo horses and the breathtaking landscape.
Leslie Haller • Producer / Associate Director
Leslie is a producer with 30+ years of experience in the production and development of documentaries, entertainment programming, multi-platform content and live events.
At CBC, Leslie was Associate Director and Producer of arts documentaries. As a Production Executive, she oversaw programming in arts, comedy, drama, variety and reality. Leslie is now an independent producer and has returned to making docs with an artistic flair.
Recent projects: producing an TV+ web series pilot, Free Rein; consulting on two arts specials with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra (OSM) and on Season VIII of the Rick Mercer Report; producing a live concert at Toronto’s Koerner Hall with indie music stars Patrick Watson and Amy Millan; and developing a theatre project with artistic director Veronica Tennant.
Heather Marshall • Executive Producer / Business Affairs
Heather’s career spans many aspects and genres of the film, television and digital content business over the past 30 years, including 10 years in banking and a 19 year stint at the CBC in Business & Rights for all genres.
In addition to Blind Spot Moments Unseen, her past documentary credits include “Half the Kingdom”, which was nominated in the Geminis’ Best Documentary Program, Shared Rhythm and Full Circle as well as drama series such as Danger Bay and Inside Stories and live telecasts of past Genies and Geminis awards shows.
Kris Belchevski • Director Of Photography
Kris’s work can be best described as visual, contemporary and cinematic. Kris earned a CSC nomination (Best Cinematography/Dramatic Short) for “Malody”, directed by Philip Barker. Kris also boasts a number of television credits including the TV series “The Travel Guy” and “Gourmet Escapes with Massimo Capra”. Kris has shot TV commercials for Starbucks, The Royal Canadian Mint, Pepsi, and a Louis Vuitton campaign starring Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def). Recently, he traveled to Ghana to shoot a spot for Cadbury’s “Bike Factory.”
Sean Embury • Interactive Producer / Denman Digital
Sean has been creating innovative broadcast and interactive media for 20 years. His company, Denman Digital, works with Canada’s leading broadcasters, film and television producers, publishers, and cultural institutions to tell and extend their stories on emerging digital platforms. The company has a produced a deep portfolio of award winning interactive arts, news, and documentary projects for the NFB, CBC, documentary, APTN, and Knowledge Network.
Whitehorse • Original soundtrack
Whitehorse’s signature sound of love-knotted vocals and risk-taking, blistering guitar work backed by complex layers of percussion, keyboard and telephone receiver amplification makes for captivating listening. Two solo artists, Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland, form this duo, which is unquestionably greater than the sum of its formidable parts.
Additional team members:
Co-producer
Lucy Stewart
Audio
David Guerra
Camera Assistant / DMT
Dwain Barrick
Ryan Czyzewski
Sound Design + Mix
Lance Schibler / Imprint Music
Foley Artists
Tim O’Connell
John Seviert
Foley Recordist
Ron Mellegers
Recording Engineer (music)
John Dinsmore / Lincoln County Social Club
Colour Supervisor
Greg Edgar / Alter Ego Post
Colour Coordinator
Jane Garrah / Alter Ego Post
Colour
Conor Fisher / Alter Ego Post
VFX Supervisor
Cheyenne Bloomfield / Alter Ego Post
VFX Coordinator
Caitlin Schooley / Alter Ego Post
VFX Artist
Michelle Demelo / Alter Ego Post
Production Manager
Nora Cooper
Legal Services
Daniel J. Henry
For CBC documentary
Annette Bradford
Bruce Cowley
Jordana Ross
Expedition Crew:
Miranda Ciotti
Jennifer Sofie Gulick
Silvana Manterola
Aly Moyer
Georgia Stewart
Lulu Waks
Alyssa Young
Thanks to:
Marilyn Blanchette
Ashley Carrithers
Bob Culbert
Marcia Douglas
Pam Ennis
Don Ferguson Productions
Silvana Frenquel
Santiago Jara
Robin Mirsky
Mountain Equipment Co-op
Rose Reid
Paisley Statten
Sergio Teubal
Michael Wees
Kristine Yanoff
Produced with the participation of:
A Note on Accessible Web Design
We’ve given careful consideration to the inclusive nature of our website design; simplicity is key.
Our objective is to offer the best possible experience for all audiences without resorting to a “retro-fit” design for visually impaired users. Our accessibility research with visually impaired user-groups led to the development of simple technological solutions to complex navigational and narrative challenges.
Our website features:
- Text-heavy narrative content
- Screen reader accessible
- Descriptive Alt-Texts
- Large adjustable type sizes
- High contrast graphical layouts
- Colourblind accessible palettes
- Platform flexible and responsive layouts
- Image magnification tools
- Enhanced audio
- Easy-to-read typeface
- Scrolling content