Today we’d like to introduce you to Greg Reitman.
Greg, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
In 1995, I was hiking with three friends in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, near Sydney, Australia. In the interior of the mountains, they came upon lush waterfalls and stunning cascades. It was there, under the most spectacular Blue Mountain waterfall, that I had the epiphany of creating a production company called Blue Water Entertainment. Harnessing that passion, drive, and endurance, I began my filmmaking journey toward creating and producing environmentally conscious films for the big screen that would capture the hearts, minds, and souls of the audience.
Today, Blue Water Entertainment is a leading independent production company, developing and producing content in narrative, television, animated and documentary format. The mission of Blue Water Entertainment is to tell cinematically compelling, intentional, and empowering stories that make a difference in our world. Cinema is the place where dreams are made and where life stops. In the magic kingdom of storytelling, Blue Water Entertainment‘s slate of films focuses on current issues that impact our daily lives — from politics, social justice, and poverty to religion… and of course, the environment.
What began as inspiration for me has come to fruition with three award-winning documentary films: “ROOTED in PEACE” noted as Best Feature Documentary at New York Festival (“Reitman’s authenticity is what makes the film worth seeing” — Herbert Paine, Broadway World). The award-winning documentary debut at the United Nations played at film festivals around the globe before being released theatrically thru the Art House theaters. Prior to producing ROOTED in PEACE, Greg produced the Sundance Audience Award-winning feature documentary Fuel (“A vital, superbly assembled documentary.” — Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times).
Prior to producing Fuel, Greg wrote, produced, and directed the feature documentary Hollywood’s Magical Isle – Catalina (“A charming and nostalgic slice of Americana that beau fully recreates a sense of place.” — Andrea Harrison, American Public Radio). The award-winning documentary was shown at over a dozen film festivals before being shown nationally on PBS.
From my documentary & activism & journalism work led me to speak and write for social change, alternative energy, and transformative thought. My speaking engagements range from the Aspen Renewable Energy Summit, David Lynch Masters Film Program, Julia Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability, Oracle Corporation, United Nations, UNOPS, to name a few.
I became a journalist for the Huffington Post and my recent work, ROOTED in PEACE: An Inspiring Story of Finding Peace was published by Lleywn Publishers. The audible will be made available via Brilliance Books, An Amazon Company this Earth Day.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
When producing content that makes a difference in the world, one is always confronted with obstacles and challenges when bringing one’s vision to the big screen. In every production, I ask myself, ‘what is the lesson I’m here to learn,’ and in the end, I always draw from my mentors, friends & collaborators, and now most recently I draw divine inspiration from myself. For truly, if one is to change the world, he/she must first start with oneself. Change always begins within.
Blue Water Entertainment – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Greg Reitman is an American Film Director, Producer, Screenwriter, Activist, an active member of the Director’s Guild of America. He’s been written up in Movie Maker Magazine – One of the top ten filmmakers in the Entertainment industry producing content that impacts our world. Widely regarded as Hollywood’s “Green Producer, Greg is the founder of Blue Water Entertainment, Inc., an independent production company focusing on environmentally conscious entertainment.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success means the achievement of desired visions and planned goals. For me, the measurement of success is not how much money is in your bank account but rather, how do you serve Mother Earth and what is your higher purpose.
For many success can be a certain social status that describes a prosperous person who gained fame for its favorable outcome but on the contrary, it can also be used as a yardstick for humanity to learn & grow from as in the case of Mahatma Gandhi who stood for his country for the sake of Peace.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3400 Airport Avenue, Suite 75 Santa Monica, CA 90405
- Website: http://gregreitman.com/
- Phone: 310=234=2583
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregreitman/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GREGSREITMAN/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/GREGREITMAN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Eembeddedtimeline%7Ctwterm%5Eprofile%3AGREGREITMAN&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fgregreitman.com%2F
- Yelp: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Reitman
- Other: http://bluewatercompany.com/
Image Credit:
Photos by Greg Reitman
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