The short documentary The Sugar Maker, produced by Factory Underground Studio, is set to screen at the 5th Norwalk Film Festival on 12 January, 2025, at 3 p.m. Directed by Ethan Isaac, the film tells the story of Pete Campbell, a Ridgefield, CT farmer and maple sugar producer. Campbell, originally from Darien, CT, shares his passion and intricate process of maple sugaring, offering audiences an intimate glimpse into this traditional craft.
Filmed on location at Campbell’s Horseshoe Farm in Ridgefield, The Sugar Maker has already made waves, premiering at the Ridgefield Independent Film Festival in May 2024 and receiving positive reviews at the Bridgeport Film Festival later that year. It was also a semi-finalist at the 2024 Indie Short Festival in Los Angeles and earned an Honorable Mention at the Awareness Festival, showcasing its growing acclaim.
Director Ethan Isaac expressed pride in the film’s inclusion in the Norwalk Film Festival. “We couldn’t be more proud to have our film featured in this year’s Norwalk Film Festival. It’s become quite a prestigious event, and that it’s being shown at the District Music Hall is also quite significant, because the theater is an integral part of our local creative community,” said Isaac.
The documentary’s editing and principal cinematography were handled by William “Billy” Fitzgerald, an experienced producer and director with an Emmy-winning background. Fitzgerald’s extensive television and film experience brought depth and precision to the project.
Isaac, a Ridgefield resident and co-owner of Factory Underground Studio, is a multifaceted creative with a background in music production, songwriting, and vocal performance. His previous work includes Bulletproof Wings, a film about his rock band Edisun’s tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Isaac’s collaboration with Campbell, also a singer-songwriter, began at Factory Underground Studio and evolved into the documentary after Isaac was captivated by Campbell’s stories of maple sugaring.
“It’s a part of our own passion and process at Factory Underground Studio, helping unique artists like Pete tell their stories to the world,” Isaac remarked.
Fitzgerald shared his enthusiasm for the project, said, “I was thrilled when Ethan brought me this project, and I enjoyed the process immensely. I enjoy deep character studies, and the documentation process. The Sugar Maker was an opportunity to do both.”
Following the success of The Sugar Maker, Isaac and Fitzgerald have launched Factory Films, a collaborative production company with several projects in the pipeline, further cementing their commitment to storytelling and creative exploration.
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