Full Color, A Seed For The Future: The Story Behind The Spectrum Keeper Short Film

This year marks my third entry into the Green Screen Environmental Film Festival — a space that has continually pushed me to see storytelling not just as art, but as action.

In 2022, my short film 1% won the competition, exploring the power of just putting 1 percent of our time & energy to fight for climate justice, social evolution and aim for post capitalism. We too will bring about change. Then in 2024, I returned with Nature’s Hum An Interactive Short film, a poetic experimental film which invited the audience to partipate in mindfulness and reflection on the subtle frequencies of nature and our place within them.

Now, in 2025, I return with The Spectrum Keeper — a one-minute short film that explores the shift from digital distraction to purpose, connection, and environmental responsibility. From seeds breaking through concrete to the drawn scarlet ibis symbolizing the unity needed to push forward together, the film reminds us that protecting seeds is protecting our future. 

The Theme of “Full Color” & The Creative Process

The Spectrum Keeper was created for the Very Short Shorts Mobile Film Competition 2025, where the theme was Full Color. I wanted to explore this concept not just visually, but spiritually — the full spectrum of life itself. Throughout the film, you’ll see me dressed in different colors: red as I bury technology, and purple as I read Back to Eden a book with original classic text (with more than 5-million copies sold) that helped create the natural foods industry. It remains today one of the major texts on herbs, natural diet and lifestyle and wholistic health. Each color in the film reflects a stage of awakening — from disconnection to reconnection, from consumption to creation, from digital to organic.

The project was shot entirely on a mobile phone, a creative limitation that pushed me to think deeply about framing, movement, and natural light. Every prop had meaning, and every frame was crafted to feel both intimate and universal.

The biggest challenge? Overshooting. I captured so many beautiful moments that didn’t make the final cut — moments that will resurface in an extended version. The Spectrum Keeper was one of those rare projects where I felt fully aligned: my art, my environment, and my purpose all moving in rhythm!

Watch the full film here :

The Meaning Behind The Spectrum Keeper

I created the title The Spectrum Keeper to honor those who feel deeply connected to nature — those who plant, grow, nurture, and protect. A Spectrum Keeper can be anyone who plants a tree, an idea, or a creation for a future we may never see — trusting that others will one day sit under its shade. 

This film was my way of exploring color, consciousness, and the power of seeds. It’s a visual poem told through movement, contrast, and reflection — from burying old technology

to watering a rare red pineapple plant (grown by my neighbor Julie — big thanks to her!).

Every shot carried intention, from the red and purple tones in my clothing to symbolize transformation and purpose.

Community Spirit: The Solar-Powered Street Light

One moment that truly shines in The Spectrum Keeper is the solar-powered street light I used to illuminate Olivia Stephens’ beautiful scarlet ibis drawing. Shoutout to Rodney and Sunshine of Gibbons terrace, who led the initiative to bring and install solar-powered street light too the local community park. I had so much fun coloring the drawing under the bright light, and even more laughs and joy shooting the scene while standing and sitting under the solar light. That spirit — local, collaborative, and forward-thinking — is exactly what The Spectrum Keeper celebrates.

Small Details, Big Meaning

Every detail in the film was consciously chosen. The red pineapple you see me watering came from my neighbor Julie — a simple gesture and kindness from a neighbor allowing me to water her plants. I’m particularly proud of this scene for having the presence of Eco Sky Water in the film — I’m an avid buyer of their water, and I wanted to feature it because it perfectly embodies the spirit of what this film stands for.

Small Acts, Big Impact — Featuring ECO Sky Water

Eco Sky Water is a small Barbadian company that uses solar-powered hydropanels to extract fresh, drinkable water directly from the atmosphere. On an island where droughts and changing weather patterns have strained our water resources, their technology is both practical and visionary.

The company produces, stores, and distributes its own supply using renewable energy, achieving near-zero carbon emissions and zero waste. Their bottles are backyard compostable and returnable, helping to reduce plastic waste across the island. In 2020 alone, Eco Sky Water saved roughly 50,000 plastic bottles from landfill or ocean pollution — a number projected to grow into the hundreds of thousands as they expand operations.

What I love most is that Eco Sky Water welcomes the community to visit and learn about how they’re turning sunlight and air into clean water — a reminder that innovation and sustainability can coexist beautifully.

So if your from the eco sky team and your reading this and you ever want to collaborate, I’d be honored! Hit me up.

The Caribbean Context: Seeds After the Storm

The recent Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica hit close to home — a reminder that the winds of change are no longer distant for us in the Caribbean. When the storm passes, it leaves more than debris; it leaves silence, and the unspoken grief of what was lost. Yet after the skies clear, what remains are the roots we’ve planted — and the strength to grow again. 

In the aftermath of hurricanes, aid often comes as food, water, and supplies. But what about the seeds — the beginning of tomorrow’s food, forests, and hope? That question inspired me to create an app, a digital and physical seed bank that allows individuals and communities to document, share, and mobilize seeds. People can photograph a seed, learn what it is, track its growth, discover the best planting seasons, and connect with others who need seeds after natural disasters.

Hurricanes often strip the land bare, leaving behind loss — but also the chance to regrow. This app helps communities recover by not only storing seeds but also turning them into seed kits that can be shared with others. Whether it’s food crops, trees, or native plants, the goal is simple: to rebuild ecosystems and restore hope. Planting a seed might seem small, even time-consuming, but it is one of the most radical acts of restoration. Seeds are time capsules of life, memory, and possibility. They remind us that growth doesn’t happen overnight — it happens through care, patience, and belief.

You can explore the app in its beta version here: https://base-44-the-spectrum-keeper-6e110cad.base44.app

 — a platform empowering communities to collect, identify, store, and share seeds, creating a global network for planetary renewal and food security. Subscribe to the blog’s newsletter to stay updated on its development and future features.

The goal is simple: to make seeds as essential to aid as food and water. To rebuild not just homes, but ecosystems — delivering resilience, not just relief. 

Being a Spectrum Keeper is about this moment — when we choose how to support, how to rebuild, and how to begin differently

Reflections on Fellow Finalists

One of the most inspiring parts of this year’s Very Short Shorts Mobile Film Competition was seeing how other filmmakers used their one minute to spark reflection and action. Each piece reminded me that our region’s creativity is deeply intertwined with care for the Earth. Ill share few stand out ones that moved me below :

Active Travel by Chad Lue Choy

This short film features Pradeep Latchman, a travel advocate from Trinidad and Tobago, who promotes cycling as a practical, everyday mode of transportation rather than just a sport. Latchman highlights multiple benefits of active travel: it incorporates exercise and leisure into daily routines, allows people to experience their environment at “human speed,” strengthens community connections, and supports both physical and mental health — benefits he personally enjoys at age 64.

The film also addresses cultural challenges: in Trinidad and Tobago, cycling is often stigmatized as an activity for the poor, with car ownership seen as aspirational. This perception diminishes recognition of active travel’s benefits and renders transportation cyclists largely invisible.

I’ve always felt that low-key, cycling around Trinidad would be so dope! I really appreciated this film for highlighting how much fun it could be. If more people embraced biking, moving around the island could be healthier, more social, and just genuinely enjoyable.

“Rubbi” by Tahira Adams & Devi Ramnath

– A short film with a wicked perspective that follows a discarded plastic container longing for purpose. When Rubbi is picked up and repurposed as a flower pot, it transforms from waste to wonder — a touching reminder that everything (and everyone) can find renewal through care and creativity. 

“We Breathe Together” by Romario Patrice

This poetic film highlights the interconnectedness between humanity and the Earth, framing the planet as having two lungs — the forests and the oceans. It’s a striking metaphor that illustrates how deforestation and coral destruction are suffocating both the planet and ourselves. Romario’s visual rhythm and voiceover create a haunting yet hopeful experience — a reminder that when the Earth struggles to breathe, so do we.

“R.O.O.T” by Joseph & Johnette Brown

A vibrant and witty short about Jane, a young environmentalist who creates a sentient tree-being named R.O.O.T (Regenerative Overseer Of our Terrain). Coded with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, R.O.O.T humorously bridges the gap between technology and ecology. It’s a smart, optimistic take on how we might teach future generations that sustainability is about connection, not perfection.

“Become the Change” by S. Praisingh & S. Ayoung

Created by Sangeeta Praisingh of The Last Straw and by her husband Stefan Ayoung, this ASMR-style short film was such a joy to see. I know them personally and have always admired both of them for their creativity. Their film follows a young girl moved to action after witnessing plastic pollution online and in her community. It’s a powerful example of how small choices — like replacing plastic straws with bamboo — can ripple outward into lasting change. Amazing job by them both.

“Mother Earth: A Mother’s Plea” by Tarun Balgobin

This film personifies Mother Earth as a graceful yet wounded being, reacting to humanity’s neglect. Through scenes of pollution, burning, and eventual renewal, it vividly depicts the restoration of both land and sea. It’s a poetic call to collective healing — showing that the conservation of one always sustains the other.

“We Should Go Outside More Often” by Sean Sorias

A heartfelt short that tackles our digital disconnection with humor and sincerity. Following two individuals who leave their screens behind to rediscover outdoor spaces, the film encourages us to see health and learning as lifelong investments. It reminds us that stepping outside is sometimes the first step back into balance.

These films are but a few of the ones that stood out to me by just first impressions. I just want to shout out and say Congrats to everyone else who made it in the finals as well you can watch the full set of films here :

Gratitude and Closing Thoughts

A massive shout-out to the Green Screen Environmental Film Festival in Trinidad & Tobago for their incredible platform and ongoing commitment to bringing filmmakers, activists, and dreamers together. Your dedication to environmental storytelling is cultivating not just films, but giving indivuals a voice is truly inspiring. The festival  is such a powerful platform — one that brings together filmmakers, artists, and communities to share stories that matter.

To the entire Green Screen team: thank you for creating a space where creativity meets climate consciousness. Your work is nurturing a movement — and it’s deeply felt across the region. 

Catch the Green Screen Environmental Film Festival 2025, happening October 31 – November 6, 2025: https://greenscreen.film

For me, The Spectrum Keeper is more than a short film — it’s an ongoing project, a philosophy, and soon, a living app. The goal is simple: plant seeds of change, online and offline.

Because to see the full spectrum of life within a single seed is to understand that regeneration truly begins in our hands. Im looking forward to pushing this concept more throughout the rest of the year and beyond.