HEADWATERS DOWN

The adventure that started it all. This two-part series exploring the entirety of the James River is available for free in two different formats: stream shortened, family-friendly versions on PBS, or watch our directors' cuts on YouTube — both provided here.

We recommend the directors' cuts as they represent our original vision for the films, contain an additional 15-20 minutes of adventure, original music, and camaraderie per film, and offer the most unfiltered look at the James River.

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Part 1: A 13 day, 250 mile canoe adventure from the headwaters of the James River to the Fall Line in our hometown of Richmond, VA. Seen through the eyes of five friends, this film explores the environmental history of a troubled yet beautiful river. Featuring original music, footage, and narration, this is love-letter to the river that changed our lives.

TIDAL RIVER

Part 2: Headwaters Down: Tidal River is our second feature-film on the James River and tells the story of the final 110 miles of the James, stretching from Richmond to the Chesapeake Bay.

Tidal River focuses on the widest and most historic section of the James. A place of environmental disaster and recovery, the tidal waters of the James surprise us with their beauty, complexity, and wisdom.

ALL FORWARD!

In late winter, raft guide hopefuls join an intensive training program to learn to navigate the nation's only Class III/IV urban whitewater in Richmond, Virginia. Through trials, tough lessons, and sometimes dangerous adventures, a handful of the group become guides in time for the summer season, only for their journey to be interrupted by an environmental disaster affecting one of the featured rapids.

A STURGEON STORY

We go searching for the endangered Atlantic Sturgeon - a giant leaping dinosaur fish - attempting to capture never-before-seen footage of breaching sturgeon in the James River. Atlantic Sturgeon can grow to 15 feet, weigh 800 pounds, and breach 10 feet out of the water. While footage exists of sturgeon in tanks and hooked on a line, almost no high-quality footage exists of sturgeon breaching as part of their natural behavior - until now.