UNTAMED produces human-centered and emotionally true international documentaries. They care about risk, narrative depth, and immersive, beautiful cinematography.
This current series of six films is the first of more to come, with a next iteration of films currently in production. The next films include stories from Jewish and Muslim scholars, as well as a feature documentary shot in Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa.
After earning a degree in philosophy and pursuing graduate studies in theology and psychology, Sean first picked up a camera in 2000. Equipped with a first-generation digital film camera and a plane ticket, he flew to Sudanese refugee camps in Northern Uganda to document indigenous music among survivors of one of the longest civil wars in modern history.
Sean went on to build a career in international NGO work, partnering with rural communities in post-genocide reconstruction; supporting the economic development of landless farmers across Central America; aiding in the rehabilitation of former child soldiers in Uganda; and combating malaria throughout East Africa.
His advocacy campaigns have reached millions, using film and photography to illuminate stories of resilience, hope, and healing in the aftermath of trauma.
Sean is an avid sailor and lives in Seattle, WA.
John’s films have screened in the world’s most prestigious film festivals and won numerous awards, including an Oscar Nomination (KAVI, Best Live-Action Short Film Nominee, 2010) two Student Academy Awards, and jury prizes from SXSW and Tribeca Film Festival.
In 2002 he saw James Longley’s documentary GAZA STRIP and was moved by its remarkable combination of beautiful images and deeply human moments. Since then, his work has been strongly influenced by other great vérité filmmakers, especially the camerawork and filmmaking philosophy of Albert Maysles.
He is a graduate of the University of Southern California’s Film Production Program (MFA) and lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and three children.
An academic entrepreneur with four degrees in theology, as well as an early career working as a marketing manager for a Fortune 500 company, Christopher R. Brewer (PhD, St And) has gone on to work in nonprofit and philanthropic worlds, most recently as a program officer for Templeton Religion Trust where he led the Art Seeking Understanding grantmaking initiative while developing a new initiative exploring the conditions of possibility for progress in theology. The “At the Threshold” film series grew out of the latter, and was developed collaboratively with UNTAMED. The editor or co-editor of seven volumes (with three more in the works), Christopher is close to finishing his first book: Understanding Natural Theology (Zondervan Academic). An enthusiastic gardener and art collector, Christopher now serves as Principal Advisor to Templeton Religion Trust, and lives in Grand Rapids, MI with his wife Rachel, their two boys, John and Samuel, and a black standard poodle named Charley.