Documentary

You Got Everything, Honey

We had the privilege of sitting down and listening to the heart-wrenching story of Maria Colon, an amazing woman who grew up in poverty in Puerto Rico. She tells of the tragedies she faced as a child as well as the struggles she faced when moving to Detroit.

Directed and shot by John Coates.

Awarded “Best Spirit of Puerto Rico” at the Rincon International Film Festival in 2019

Nominated for “Best Picture” at We Make Movies International Film Festival and Splice Film Fest in 2019

Screened at an additional 6 festivals across the country

Composition

This process film was shot in extreme closeup with macro lenses in order to get a closer look at the process of the simple task of putting on makeup. The goal of the piece was to “elevate the mundane” by presenting an everyday activity in a fresh and beautiful way.

The Canary in the Coal Mine

We got the chance to interview Oksana Mirzoyan, an accomplished filmmaker and producer. She told some of her backstory as well as her philosophy on creativity and filmmaking.

Cinematography and Editing by John Coates

Elmwood

This short film is an exploration of space. The location is Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit, a historic spot that is home to the burial sites of war heroes dating back to the Civil War.

Homeschooling in America

This short info-graphic outlines some of the statistics showing the utility and effectiveness of home education, as well as refuting some popular misconceptions.