Timeline

Development:

November 2024-April 2025

Over the past year, Craving Community has taken shape through research, writing, and deep conversations. We’ve built a solid foundation—story structure, character profiles, release forms, visual tone, survey, and an evolving pitch deck that reflects both the heart and critique at the center of this project.

Pre-Production:

April 2025→ May 2025

Right now, we’re laying the groundwork: confirming interviews, scouting locations, building partnerships, and assembling a lean, intentional crew. We’re also finalizing gear logistics and refining our narrative structure to ensure every frame supports the film’s emotional and cultural arc.

Early Filming:

April → May 2025

Filming begins with intimate interviews and vérité footage in Santa Fe—starting with characters at Roots & Leaves Casa De Kava and Jiujitsu Dharma Academy. These early shoots will shape the tone of the trailer and give audiences a first glimpse into the world of sober third spaces.

Trailer Editing & Securing a Fiscal Sponsor:

May 2025

After capturing the first wave of footage, we’ll begin editing a trailer to support outreach. Simultaneously, we’ll secure fiscal sponsorship, laying the groundwork for crowdfunding, grant applications, and impact funding.

Primary Filming:

May → August 2025

This is our core production phase. We’ll travel to key locations across the Southwest—New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona—capturing stories from kava bars, zero-proof bars, wellness communities, and everyday people rethinking what it means to connect without substances. Expect a mix of composed interviews and raw, observational moments.

Post-Production:

September → November 2025

Once filming wraps, we enter the editing room. Here we’ll shape the story’s emotional rhythm, layering together interviews, narration, archival material, and music. We’ll also cut a polished trailer and press kit in preparation for festival submissions and promotional outreach.

Festival Submissions:

December 2025→Spring 2026

We’ll submit Craving Community to a range of top-tier and mission-aligned festivals—including Santa Fe International Film Festival, SXSW, DOC NYC, Hot Docs, True/False, and Big Sky. Our goal is to launch the film where it can spark conversation and cultural reflection.

Community Screenings & Impact Launch:

Winter 2026→Spring 2026

Beyond festivals, the film is meant to live in real-world spaces: kava bars, yoga studios, college campuses, recovery centers, tea lounges, and anywhere people gather with intention. We’ll host guided screenings, panel conversations, and grassroots events that extend the film’s purpose: to reconnect, reimagine, and reclaim community.