Upstanders is a Starbucks original series featuring a collection of short stories, films and podcasts sharing the experiences of ordinary people doing extraordinary things to create positive change in their communities.

About the Films
In April, I received a call from Joshua Trujillo, former photojournalist and current manager of photo and video for Starbucks Digital News, asking if I’d be interested in working on a 10-part documentary video series for Starbucks highlighting citizens creating positive change in their communities. There would be no coffee stands or product placement, just documentary storytelling. I was immediately interested and left three days later on the first shoot of the series in Cordova, Tenn. with Rajiv Chandrasekaran, who produced the series and was on nearly every shoot. This first film, The Mosque Across the Street, would be used as a “pilot” episode as a proof of concept for the rest of series.

I brought Andrew Hida on as a second shooter on the next shoot for Breaking the Prison Pipeline, focusing on Susan Burton, who I had filmed with before. Andrew was also with me on the third shoot in Salt Lake City, Utah and the editor for Homes for Everyone. The last film we worked on, The Empathetic Police Academy, was filmed by Josh Trujillo and Andrew edited the episode. After the series published, Starbucks held an event at the SIFF Egyptian theater screening the series to the community and hosting a Q&A afterward.

Credits
The Mosque Across the Street
Executive Producer: Howard Schultz
Client Side Producer: Rajiv Chandrasekaran
Director of Photography: Jessey Dearing
Editor: Jessey Dearing
Composer: Jim Greer
Photography: Jessey Dearing

Breaking the Prison Pipeline
Executive Producer: Howard Schultz
Client Side Producer: Rajiv Chandrasekaran
Director of Photography: Jessey Dearing
Cinematography: Andrew Hida, Jessey Dearing
Editor: Jessey Dearing
Composer: Jim Greer
Photography: Jessey Dearing

Homes for Everyone
Executive Producer: Howard Schultz
Client Side Producer: Rajiv Chandrasekaran
Director of Photography: Jessey Dearing
Cinematography: Andrew Hida, Jessey Dearing
Editor: Andrew Hida
Composer: Jim Greer
Photography: Jessey Dearing

The Empathetic Police Academy
Executive Producer: Howard Schultz
Client Side Producer: Rajiv Chandrasekaran
Associate Producer: Jessey Dearing
Director of Photography: Joshua Trujillo
Cinematography: Joshua Trujillo, Jordan Stead
Editor: Andrew Hida
Composer: Jim Greer
Photography: Joshua Trujillo