The "Something in the Water" feature documentary is a striking mosaic that gives voice to 200 Americans from 30 states. It chronicles a 16,500-mile journey across America at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, before, during, and after the 2020 presidential election. Their thoughts and perspectives reflect some of the most pressing and relevant issues of our time in the United States. The film centers on a search for common ground in America during unprecedented challenges and societal changes. It captures the stories of Americans from all regions of the country who faced political division, police, and racial tensions, a sharp economic downturn, and a lethal and global pandemic that altered their lives. It also reveals the resilience and hope of Americans who love their country and want to make it better.
"Something in the Water" is a catalyst for respectful curiosity and meaningful dialogue. It delves into American perspectives on a range of issues, from racism and economic disparities to democracy and leadership. The film's exploration of the Black Lives Matter movement, the American Dream, and the impact of COVID-19 is a call to action for viewers to find common ground. 100 minutes long. "Something in the Water" documentary is a production of Important Films Media.
The Filmmakers
Joseph C. Stillman (Producer/Director) is an Emmy-winning filmmaker, producer, director, cinematographer, writer, editor, and co-founder of Important Films Media. Born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas, Stillman brings over four decades of filmmaking experience to create substantive documentary films, motion pictures, television programming, and other video and film projects for clients worldwide. His feature documentary works include the internationally acclaimed, "Citizen Clark... A Life of Principle", the story of former U.S. Attorney General and Human Rights activist Ramsey Clark, "From Mills River to Babylon and Back... the Jimmy Massey Story,", a film about a returning veteran from the 2003 Iraq war, and the motion picture "Bear" (2023), which he wrote, produced, and directed. A consummate artist dedicated to human rights and social justice, Stillman's impactful works have been seen around the globe. Stillman is a Brooks Institute of Photography graduate in Santa Barbara, California, majoring in Major Motion Picture Production.
Jeri Wachter (Producer/Director) is an NYC and Southern-raised filmmaker, producer, director, camerawoman, speaker, and equity advocate. Following two decades in scientific and scholarly publishing, she has created compelling films, raising voices from diverse communities to tell critical and unique human stories. Her award-winning feature documentary, "Something in the Water," is a stunning mosaic of America searching for common ground through unprecedented challenges and change amid the 2020 U.S. presidential Election. "Rural Matters: Poverty in the Other America" is an intimate documentary portrait of people living on the edge of economic insecurity. Wachter co-founded Important Films Media and, previously, Workplace Equity Project (WE Survey). Wachter co-founded William Andrew Publishing, creating seminal works on materials science, energy, ecology, and toxicology. She graduated from Baruch College, CUNY, New York, NY, with a Bachelor's in Biology and a minor in Sociology.
Americans across the country have many concerns, and depending, of course, on their individual and family situations and connection to history, their viewpoints represent tremendous diversity, which is, as we found, the great American experience. As filmmakers, we take this responsibility seriously and are confident that our film offers an opportunity to learn from others what we rarely see.
It captures Americans' nuances, perspectives, and experiences across the United States. It is the story of America set against the backdrop of a contentious 2020 Presidential Election, nationwide social unrest, and a global pandemic. From economic challenges to political polarization, growing racial and economic disparities, to healthcare hurdles, across ages, people were angry, hopeful, sad, betrayed, depressed, optimistic, concerned, hurting, feeling despair, and all the above.
Our documentary seeks to find common ground in America. We feel privileged that people trusted us with their stories and the challenges they faced during this unique period in our Nation’s history. Their testimonies inspire respectful curiosity and an atmosphere of caring deeply about our fellow Americans, thus engaging viewers to begin a process to bridge misunderstandings about each other and around challenging and critical issues in our country.
The film is intended for broad audiences, ages 14-103, in high schools, colleges, universities, businesses and organizations, legislative policymakers, and communities across our land to screen and hold forums. Closed Captioning (CC) is available.
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The 'Something in the Water' documentary is a celebration of the American spirit during a dark and critically important period in the recent history of the United States. Between October 2020 and April 2021, Americans everywhere faced an acute and permanent change to the very structures of their social, domestic, and working lives. The film, in its celebration of the extraordinary diversity of the American people, seeks to find common ground amid political division, social unrest, and a global pandemic.
It is an immersive and historical portrayal of the American experience through a non-binary and empathetic lens. The collective testimonies of two hundred people in thirty states, representing all regions of the U.S., bring real hope to this story about a country ridden with negativity and cynicism that are deeply embedded in the very social fabric of our daily lives.
The film is a compelling, illuminating, and moving experience that elicits the viewer's closer examination of the same questions the interviewees discussed. It reveals uncomfortable truths from America's past and the admirable strengths of present-day Americans. As filmmakers, we believe in the power of diverse voices to foster dialogue, raise hope, and bring positive change to some of the most challenging issues of our time.
Jeri Wachter and Joseph C. Stillman, Directors the "Something in the Water" documentary
WINNER! 31st BVFF GRAND FESTIVAL AWARD DOCUMENTARY - STATE OF THE NATION was presented to Jeri Wachter and Joseph C. Stillman for their documentary, "Something in the Water" for the film's courageous look at the state of the Nation, on October 28, 2022, at the East Bay Media Center. Thank you, Mel Vapour, Executive Director | Co-founder the Berkeley Video Film Festival, and your team for this tremendous honor and recognition.
WINNER! 10TH STUFF BEST OF THE FESTIVAL CORPUS CHRISTI “Something in the Water” has been selected in the feature documentary category for the 10th South Texas Underground Film Festival (STUFF), screening on December 4, 2022, at the Alamo Drafthouse, Corpus Christi, TX. Thank you, Mariella Salinas Perez, Co-Founder | Festival Director of STUFF for the honor.
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SEMI-FINALIST! Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival "Something in the Water" has been listed as a semi-finalist in Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival, from August 8-14, 2022, in Providence, RI. Thank you, George T. Marshal, Executive Director, and your team for all you do to bring important films to light.
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OFFICIAL SELECTION Morehouse College Human Rights Film Festival "Something in the Water" has been selected in the full length documentary category for the 4th annual Morehouse College Human Rights Film Festival, September 20 – September 24 on the campus of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. Thank you, Kara Walker, Executive Director and your team for the honor.
NEW YORK PREMIERE Two nights of music, film, and community conversations with filmmakers Jeri Wachter and Joseph C. Stillman at the NY Premiere of “Something in the Water,” their stunning and thought-provoking look at Americans in the present era, at Foothills Performing Arts Center, on April 21 & 22, in Oneonta, NY.
Special thanks to:
The Major’s Inn, Gilbertsville, NY, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Voice of the Experienced (VOTE), New Orleans, LA, Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Okmulgee, Oklahoma, Bark Productions, Kansas City, MO, East Rock Creek Village, Washington, DC, Hire Art, NYC, Braver Angels, USA, Chagrin Documentary Film Fest, Chagrin Falls, OH, The Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford, IL, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, MN, Northland Country Club, Duluth, MN, UU Church of Fargo Moorhead, Fargo, ND, Turtle Mountain Band of the Chippewa, Belcourt, ND, The Roman Theatre, Red Lodge, MT, St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, Salt Lake City, UT, John Scott Real Estate, Des Moines, WA, Answer Coalition, San Francisco, CA, East Bay Media Center, Berkley, CA, Kingston 11 Cuisine, Oakland, CA, First Unitarian Church of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, J Feldman Studio, Albuquerque, NM, El Paso Community Foundation, TX, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, The Park Foundation, Ithaca, NY,
Center for Independent Documentary, Boston, MA
Special, special thanks to:
Gaila Reyna-Arguell, Jamie Azure, Bob Babcock, Robert Blanton, Reginald Bullock Jr., Elizabeth & Brian Burns, April Chatham-Carpenter, Tamara Childs, Lisa & Ruel Cowles, Wanda Davis, Paul Driftmier, Leigh Eckmair, Maria Farrington, Phil Farrington, JoAnn & Lee Fisher, John Feldman, Christopher Forbes, Ben & Diana Friedell, Bev Gibbons, John Gill, Terry Gomez, Patricia Griffith, Roberta Griffith, Mimi Grolund, Darrell Gunter, Cathy Hamilton, Christine Heller, Tony Hettler, Bev Hoffman, Nigel Jones, Kelly Kimball, Gloria LaRiva, Ron Lee, Kim Martinson, Peter Matthes, Deborah Merola, Robert Moreno, Diane Moseley, Shelley Moskowitz, Jim Mullowney, Barry Murphy, Kelly Noack, Eliza Oprea, Danny Ordner, Adelaide Gomer-Park, Chris Peters, Richard Pineda, Adan Plascencia, Mary Ann Ponce, Andy Puritz, Dave Rabin, Ilene Resnick, Robert Rosellini, CeCe Rowe, Jordy Sargent, Betsy Scanlin, Jack Schluep. Mark Schotte, Barbara Siesel, Ellie Stromberg, Keith Torgan, Joan Turbidy, Mel Vapour, Arthur & Lois Wachter, Beth Weinstein, Brenda Williams, Teresa Winchester, Joe & Shelley Whitworth, Aidan Woishnis
This project would not have come this far without you!
"Something in the Water"
Important Films Media
P.O. Box 289 Gilbertsville, NY 13776
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