James Headrick – Producer
James is an independent filmmaker out of Austin, Texas. Originally, James got his start in St. Louis, MO, working as a video editor for a church and roadie for a local classic-rock band. Over time, he found his true niche in photography and video production. He’s spent the past seven years working in production on both documentary and commercial projects. Pursuing a Bachelors of Communications degree from Concordia University in Austin, Texas, he anticipates graduating in December of 2012. While working on another project in Bastrop, he saw the need for stories to be told. It was not until he stepped foot in the middle of the devastation until he started to understand the true scale of what happened. In every direction, there are only burnt trees, thick ash on the ground, and piles of debris where homes once stood. The thought that this destruction went for miles was almost incomprehensible. Over 1,600 families lost their homes while the fires raged. It was only after experiencing this that James decided that the stories of the victims needed to be told. There are many sides to the story from victims to the firefighters, and this documentary will help bring greater understanding and awareness to what the residents of Bastrop experience every day as they continue to rebuild.
David Reece – Director
David is an independent filmmaker and artist living in Austin, Texas. Discovering his love of film at a young age, he began to create dozens of short movies with his younger brother. Over time he began to develop a keen eye for photography and art as well. In recent years David has honed a unique style in which he taps into the very essence of the human experience and blends it with film and art in order to truly connect with his audience. He is pursuing his Bachelors of Behavioral Science from Concordia University Texas and expects to graduate in the Spring of 2014. When approached to bring his insight, experience, and creativity to the project, he was enthralled at the opportunity. David is excited for “Bastrop: Rising from the Ashes” to not only tell the stories of the heroes and the victims, but to paint a portrait of the pain, beauty, and triumph of human life.