Vibrant Nation

my bio

Award Winning Producer/Director/Filmmaker and Educator with more than 25 years leading teams in education, technical and film endeavors.
Carolyn was chosen this year by the National Women’s History Project as one of 100 women worldwide for the 2009 ~ Women Taking the Lead To Save The Planet!

Carolyn spent many years as an educator authoring and implementing environmental curriculum in schools in Northern California. She won the prestigious 2003 Roy W. Dean Writer’s Grant which began her career in documentary filmmaking. Carolyn directed and produced TEXAS GOLD, which profiles the brave and ballsy actions that have earned Diane Wilson the title of “unreasonable woman”: a fourth generation fisher woman who has been fighting the giants of the petro-chemical industry in the most toxic place in America.  Diane believes that “…putting your life at risk is where change happens." the film has screened at more than 40+ film festivals worldwide and won numerous awards including BEST DOCUMENTARY at the New York City Short Film Festival, an official selection for BEST OF FEST at the prestigious Palm Spring International Short Film Festival and has been an official selection for more than 40 film festivals worldwide. TEXAS GOLD was acquired by Sundance Channel for Robert Redford's THE GREEN AND PBS Emmy winning Series Natural Heroes and Link TV.

In 2001-2002 Carolyn’s organizational and design instincts lead her to spearhead a software compatibility program which she then sold to a large IT company. Currently she is co-founder of a web based climate change platform Cool Planet Labs whose mission is to galvanize millions of people to address climate change. Carolyn’s non-profit REEL COMMUNITY ACTION is producing short films for environmental campaigns and organizations. Her short film SPREAD THE RUMOR premiered at the Jackson Theatre in Santa Rosa, CA to support the 350 international climate change campaign.

Carolyn lives and works at her mountaintop retreat with her husband in a solar house he built. They are founding members of the biofuels research cooperative and run their cars on 100% carbon neutral organic vegetable oil. Carolyn serves on the advisory boards of Patchwork Farm, Todd Pratum Literary Services and the National Women's History Project.

my VN interview

• How did you get to where you are now?

  I followed my heart.  I decided to serve early on in life working in low-income areas of San Francisco.  I applied my skills in the arts and integrated science, ecology and nature education.  I became a filmmaker because I saw the need for people to understand what is happening to our planet.  I was fortunate that my first film has traveled around the world.  Currently I am focused on developing a climate change engagement platform so we can quickly connect people to the solutions around this issue.  I continue to work with people who are passionate, bright and committed to making a difference in the world.  This is a source of joy and satisfaction for me.

a postcard to my younger self

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my role models

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