SYNOPSIS
When the University of Virginia asked us to help launch its groundbreaking new initiative—the Contemplative Sciences Center (CSC)—we didn’t hesitate. With only weeks to concept, shoot and deliver, we pulled together an ambitious production blending both humor and education. The launch didn’t just introduce a building—it sparked curiosity and drove students and faculty to explore a whole new way of learning on campus. The short film debuted on the ‘jumbotron’ at UVA’s John Paul Jones Arena to sold out crowd featuring Maggie Rogers and Zac Brown Band.

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA’S CONTEMPLATIVE SCIENCES CENTER MISSION
The University of Virginia’s Contemplative Sciences Center (CSC) fuses contemplation, connection, and research to enhance flourishing. Situated within the Contemplative Commons, the center creates opportunities that center mind-body practices for well-being, insight, and compassion in all aspects of life—social, emotional, physical, and professional. An innovator in multidisciplinary collaboration, the center's CIRCL: Contemplative Innovation + Research Co-Lab, conducts research on initiatives that combine contemplative and experiential learning to generate novel solutions to a wide range of personal and global challenges. Additionally, CSC works toward systems change to transform educational institutions and the policies, processes, and mindsets that support them to better prioritize, promote, and enable student well-being. The Contemplative Sciences Center believes that contemplation, connection, research, and system change are the keys to realize well-being on a personal, community-wide, and global scale.

CREDITS

Brandon Bray, Director
Tim Sessler, Director of Photography
Chris Tuss, Assistant Director
Sam Stapleton, Producer
Eric Simon, Writer
Eric Hurt, Grip
Brian Sarvis, Grip
Jason Mitchell, Gaffer
Andrew Uvarov, Sound
Asa Reed, 1st AC
Shane Alcock, Gimbal Operator / Swing
Andrew Carmwath, Art Department
Rachel Armstrong, Wardrobe
Wendy Brown, HMU
Melissa Charles, Kids Talent Coach
Nick Miles, Production Assistant
Dan Tundis, HOMETEAM Post Supervisor
Karl Amdal, HOMETEAM Editor
Kelli Bechtol, HOMETEAM Post Assistant
Debbie Fife, Event Associates Inc.
Katherine Sewell, CSC
Christina Margaret Kelleher, CSC