ABOUT THE FILM

On behalf of Griffyn.Co Productions and Friends of Redhead Pond, we invite you to join us in supporting the creation of “Ullberg: Wind in the Sails,” a cinematic tribute to the life and artistic odyssey of Kent Ullberg, a Swedish naturalist and wildlife sculptor who has called Corpus Christi home for 46 years. This film unveils Kent’s remarkable journey from Sweden to America, celebrating the intersection of art, history, environmental science, and the pursuit of passion.

Kent Ullberg’s monumental sculptures capture the essence of nature’s majesty, bridging the realms of artistry and the environment. Our film unlocks the untold narrative behind these masterpieces, highlighting the enduring connection between nature and artistic expression.

The Coastal Bend of Texas -particularly the cities of Corpus Christi, Rockport, and Port Aransas, and the communities of Flour Bluff and North Padre Island  –  plays an essential role in this story, serving as a primary backdrop to Kent’s life and artistry. His journey defies conventions, inspiring artists and dreamers to pursue their passions relentlessly.

“Ullberg: Wind in the Sails” is not just a documentary; it’s a cinematic portrait that breathes life into Kent’s extraordinary legacy. Join us on this transformative motion picture journey in celebrating resilience, passion, and the enduring pursuit of dreams. Contribute today and be a part of this captivating narrative.

MISSION

The major intended outcome of this documentary film project is threefold. First, it will highlight the history  and culture of Corpus Christi, Texas, and other Coastal Bend communities while honoring an artist who has  given his life and talents to create works of public art that do the same. Second, it serves to help bring the past  into the present and leave a mark for the future so that the audience can come to understand the historical  connection among man, his culture, and his surroundings. Lastly, it will stand as a beacon of hope for the  struggling artist and/or the school children who are in need of role models who have turned a passion into a  living.

MEET THE ULLBERG TEAM

Director, Matthew Thornton, a native of Corpus Christi, Texas, and a Texas-based filmmaker, possesses a unique talent for weaving captivating narratives through the power of audio/visual media. As the co-owner and creative director at Griffyn.Co Productions, he has played a vital role in shaping numerous commercial,  documentary, and narrative film projects. An accomplished author as well, Matthew shares his wealth of  experience and insights as an actor in his book, Imitating Life: The Art of Modern Acting. Furthermore,  with 15 years of teaching history, English, and film studies under his belt, he has imparted valuable knowledge to over 2,000 young scholars. Alongside these contributions to film and education, Matthew co-hosts the podcast, “Creative Moonlighting,” offering guidance and uplifting fellow artists hoping to  transition into full-time artistic careers. Committed to pushing his artistic boundaries, Matthew Thornton leaves indelible impressions on viewers and fellow creators alike. He has received multiple  awards for his work in film, including the following: 1) Feature Film Production, Silverfish (San Antonio  Film Festival; Grand Prize / Best Picture / Audience Award; South Texas Underground Film Fest; Best  Picture; Influx Film Awards: Best Picture Nominee / Best Actor; San Mauro Film Festival: Best Picture  Finalist; Film Egypt Festival; Stockholm Independent Film Festival; Blow-Up Arthouse Film Festival  Chicago); 2) Short Film Production, “Psycho Soliloquy” (San Antonio Film Festival; South Texas  Underground Film Festival); 3) Short Film Production, “Hero Complex” (San Antonio Film Festival;  Flathead Lake International Cinemafest); and Feature Film Screenplay. Tug (pre-production) ScreenCraft  Writing Fellowship Competition Finalist. 

Executive Producer, Denise Thornton, a Flour Bluff High School graduate who grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas, is the executive producer and co-founder of Griffyn.Co Productions, a script-to-screen film production company based out of Austin, Texas. Denise spearheads the planning, coordination, casting, directing, finances and marketing of “Ullberg: Wind in the Sails.” She is the co-host of the “Creative Moonlighting Podcast”, a platform that delves into the connection between creativity and the arts, sharing invaluable insights for artists who aspire to  transition into full-time artistic careers. Prior to launching Griffyn.Co Productions, she earned her Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, and a Master of Arts in Mathematics Education from California State University-Northridge. She has over 23 years of experience as an educator and educational leader, currently serving as the Manager of Professional Learning and Implementation at the Charles A. Dana Center at the University of Texas at Austin. In this capacity, she plays a pivotal role in shaping the educational landscape, working to advance effective mathematics  teaching practices and educational policy. In 2022, she received the University of Texas President’s Outstanding Staff award. She has been featured on the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics Podcast (2023) for her expertise in convening leaders of mathematics, statistical and mathematics educational organizations to strengthen and advocate for improving the experience and outcomes for students transitioning from high school to post-secondary education. 

Writer, Executive Producer, Shirley Thornton, a resident of Corpus Christi, Texas, since 1969 is a writer, lead grant writer, interviewer, and executive producer of Griffyn.Co Productions and serves as vice-president of the  Friends of Redhead Pond and Environmental Stewardship Association. She is a retired Texas public  school teacher who holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Communications and a lifetime  teaching certificate with GT and ESL endorsements. She has devoted 30 years teaching English and the  humanities in a public school where she helped students recognize their gifts, provided them with  reading, research, writing, speaking, and thinking skills to assist them in their analysis of literature and  art as they worked to answer the question: What is man? She was named Region II Teacher of the Year  in 1996 for her work at Flour Bluff ISD and received the Women in Education Award in 2022 for her  continued commitment to education. She was employed as a newspaper writer and editor and worked  as chief copy editor on three books that were published and sold. She writes screenplays and produces  short films on the side. Shirley loves her community and works to preserve its history through  interviews, recording of personal accounts, collecting of photographs, documents, and memorabilia and  by sharing this information on social media and in local podcasts and community events. Shirley loves  her community and volunteers to garner political and financial support for community projects that enhance the quality of life and instill cultural pride in Corpus Christi residents. 

Friends of Redhead Pond Partner, Dr. Larisa Ford is retired from the Department of Interior and in her last post served as the Project Leader for the Mariana Islands Refuges and Monument Complex, and Superintendent of the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument. Dr. Ford is a remote Board Member and resides in Texas. She has been passionate about ocean resources her whole life and even received an Oceanography Award during her senior year in high school. She pursued a B.S. in Marine Biology at Texas A&M University at Galveston and then completed a Masters in Microbiology focusing on diseases of cephalopods. She continued her education at at Lousiana State University and received a PhD in Veterinary Microbiology with a minor in fisheries. Later she also completed a Master’s in Public Administration – Environmental track – Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi. Dr. Ford has over 40 years of experience in marine biology, aquaculture, fisheries, aquatic animal health, wildlife conservation policy, national federal policy, and federal budget formulation and implementation. She has worked throughout the United States and collaborated with scientific projects in Germany and Russia. Her interests include travel, fishing, bird watching, and volunteering to help with environmental stewardship and outdoor education projects.

Our Journey

The inspiration for “Ullberg: Wind in the Sails” began over a dinner with Kent and Veerle Ullberg and the Thornton family at the beloved Snoopy’s Restaurant and Pier on Padre Island, Texas in the Fall of 2022. Kent shared his story about how he visited Corpus Christi in the seventies and fell in love with the fair city the moment he drove over the Harbor Bridge and saw the sparkling Corpus Christi Bay. It reminded him of his home in Sweden, and he knew that it was where he wanted to live and complement the beauty of the city with his monumental works of art, of which there are 24 currently.  The dinner led to the recording of the Creative Moonlighting Podcast, Episode 46: A Lifetime of Sculpting Nature and Wildlife with Kent and Veerle Ullberg.

PROJECT STATUS

Production began in January 2023, including interviews and podcasts with:

• Kent and Veerle Ullberg
• Paulette Tomlinson, Director of Fine Arts, Tomball ISD
• Luis Puron, Executive Director, Rockport Center for the Arts
• Dr. Guy Harvey, Marine wildlife artist and conservationist
• Brenda Dooley, Vice President, First National Bank of Omaha
• Paulette Guajardo, Mayor of Corpus Christi
• Skyler Stevens, Marine artist
• Coastal Bend community residents

Interview with Dr. Guy Harvey at Guy Harvey Gallery in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Kent and Veerle Ullberg and Director Matthew Thornton receiving the Certificate of Commendation from Mayor Paulette Guajardo and Councilwoman Sylvia Campos, City of Corpus Christi.

Interviewing young marine artist, Skyler Stevens, at his art exhibit at Lazy Beach Brewing, Corpus Christi, Texas. 

Director, Matthew Thornton has traveled to shoot Kent working in his studio in Loveland, Colorado, and across the nation to capture the beauty of Kent’s monumental pieces on location in Florida, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Wyoming and across South Texas. 

Kent Ullberg and Director Matthew Thornton at Kent’s studio in Loveland, Colorado.

Kent Ullberg and a group of students at Snow Mastodon, Denver Museum of National History, Denver, Colorado.

Shooting Waiting for Sockeye, National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Filming with Kent and Veerle Ullberg at the installation of Kingfisher, Rockport Center for the Arts. 

Shooting Deinonychus, Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Filming community residents attending Feathers & Flippers Exhibit, Rockport Center for the Arts. 

Capturing Kent Ullberg’s iconic Marlin statue that welcomes residents and visitors to North Padre Island, Corpus Christi, Texas. 

PROJECTED TIMELINE*

MARCH 2024, Test Audience Screening, Corpus Christi, Texas, date and time TBD 

MARCH 2024, Analysis of feedback for revisions, staff and advisory committee 

MAY 2024, Test Audience Screening, location, date and time TBD. Analysis of feedback for revisions, staff and advisory committee 

JULY 2024, Begin Festival Submission Process, staff and advisory committee decides on festival submissions

FALL 2024 Begin festival run, festival dates and times TBD 

WINTER 2024, Begin marketing and distribution for broadcast delivery process; sell and deliver film streaming on-demand services as determined by staff and advisory committee 

HOW DOES INDIEGOGO WORK?

Indiegogo is a funding platform dedicated to making creative projects possible with direct support.  When you back our campaign, you’re saying that this is a film that you want made. We’ve chosen Indiegogo because it’s designed to make donating as convenient as possible.  Here’s how it works: We set a funding goal.  Our supporters make donations. Your donation will be processed by Indiegogo, and we can finish up the work! Best of all, since we have partnered with 501(c)(3) Friends of Redhead Pond, your donation is tax-deductible!