Stray Embers, 2026, 94 min
Role: Co-Director/Cinematographer/Producer
STRAY EMBERS is an intimate, vérité portrait of resilience, community, and climate crisis in rural Northern California. In the wake of the 2018 Camp Fire- the deadliest wildfire in California history- Brad Weldon, a fifth-generation resident of Paradise, saves his home with little more than luck, some garden hoses and sheer determination. What begins as a personal act of survival soon transforms into a makeshift communal experiment when Brad opens his doors to over 20 displaced neighbors, friends, and their many dogs, creating a sprawling, improvised household. The film follows this multi-generational household over five tumultuous years.
FESTIVALS
Big Sky Documentary Film Festival - Best Feature Competition
SF DocFest - Best Feature Competition
RiverRun Film Festival - Official Selection
Nashville Film Festival - Official Selection
Monadnock International Film Festival - Official Selection
CREDITS
Director, Producer, Cinematographer: Erin Brethauer & Tim Hussin
Editor, Composer, Co-producer: Daniel Freeman
Audio Mix: Hasan Studios
Color: Away Team Films
Fiscal Sponsor: The Redford Center