Short Documentaries
These are a few of my longer short documentaries, created as final projects during my time at Montana State University.
Each film reflects my passion for storytelling — from thrilling adventures to emotional, character-driven narratives. I aim to highlight the truth and heart of every subject, while showcasing a wide range of themes, topics, and creative approaches.
Awards
- 2024 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival Official Selection
- 2024 Hunter Mountain Film Festival Official Selection
01
Racing the Dream
Narrated by: Charmanye Morrison
Run Time - 14:58
Completion Year - 2023
Second Year Final Film
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Logline:
Attempting a 300-mile dog sledding race for the first time in Northern Montana, a young female musher struggles to grant herself a qualifying run for The Last Great Race.
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Synopsis:
Twelve dogs, one musher. Charmayne Morrison is a 23-year-old musher competing in her first 300-mile attempt at Race to the Sky in Lincoln, Montana. Her training will push her and the team closer to the finish line as they go up against drowsiness, illness, and freezing temperatures. Crossing the finish line would place her closer to her dream by qualifying for the 1000-mile Iditarod, also known as “The Last Great Race,” where she and her canine companions would face the unforgiving Alaskan wilderness.
02
Second Chances
Run Time - 06:20
Completion Year - 2022
First Year Final Film
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Logline:
People finding solace alongside beautiful draft horses, who are equally healing as they live out their retirement years at the United in Light Draft Horse Sanctuary.
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Synopsis:
The film is set in Livingston, Montana, at a Non-Profit Draft Horse Sanctuary called United In Light. UIL serves as a draft horse safe haven. They save draft horses from slaughter and death by bringing them to their sanctuary built for them to live out the rest of their lives in peace and harmony. Through interviews, the film explores the different healing tendencies of people and animals as both deal with their issues together. Second Chances illustrates why healing is a crucial step toward finding your inner happiness once more.
Awards
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- 2023 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival Official Selection
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- 2023 Kino Film Festival Official Selection
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- 2023 Student World Impact Film Festival Official Selection
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- 2023 Student World Impact Film Festival Nominee for Best Short
03
Soaring Through Life
Run Time - 05:59
Completion Year - 2021
First Semester Final Film
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Logline:
Follow a Montana State University professor in a short portrait film about her life up to present day.
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Synopsis:
The film follows an Ecologist and Montana State University professor Mikaela Howie. Howie's career started as a field Ecologist and then, to a University Professor. Howie talks about her childhood and how her love for birds blossomed into a career full of travel, fieldwork, conservation, and teaching.