The Merrimack: River at Risk ~ Cast & Crew

Jerry Monkman, Director & Co-Producer

Jerry Monkman is a conservation photographer, filmmaker, and writer. While he has written 10 books and directed a feature-length documentary film, you will usually find him shooting nature and outdoor lifestyle imagery (stills and video) for non-profit, editorial, and commercial clients. His images, books, and films have told adventure- and conservation-themed stories for more than 20 years for clients such as The Trust for Public Land, The Nature Conservancy, National Geographic Adventure, L.L. Bean, and Timberland. Monkman and his wife, Marcy, run EcoPhotography, a Portsmouth, New Hampshire-based stock and assignment photo business and video production company. The company’s books include two National Outdoor Book Award winners: 2012’s The AMC Guide to Outdoor Digital Photography, and 2017’s Outdoor Adventures: Acadia National Park. Their work has appeared in publications worldwide including National Geographic Adventure, Audubon, Men’s Journal, The Washington Post, Outdoor Photographer, and Yankee Magazine. Jerry’s first feature-length film, The Power of Place, explores the potential impacts of a controversial energy project proposed for New Hampshire, and was an official selection of the 2015 New Hampshire Film Festival. He began working on The Merrimack: River at Risk in 2016.

 

Leah E. Hart, Host

Leah Hart serves as a Land Protection Specialist for the Forest Society and is responsible for partnering with landowners to conserve natural lands for future generations. As a New Hampshire native, she brings with her a love for this state's landscapes and its communities, as well as many years of experience working in conservation easement stewardship both for the Society for the Protection of NH Forests and the Lakes Region Conservation Trust. Leah holds a Bachelor of Science in Conservation Biology from St. Lawrence University. While not working, Leah resides at the foothills of the White Mountains in the town of Tamworth and can be found skiing, running, and gardening.

 

Ryan Smith, Co-Producer

Ryan Smith poses in front of trees near the Conservation Center.

Ryan W. Smith is the communications manager for the Forest Society and the editor of Forest Notes, New Hampshire's conservation magazine. He is the founder and owner of Rooted In Light Media, specializing in creating authentic multimedia ranging from photography and content creation to large-scale video and branding initiatives.

 

Credits:

Four members of the crew of the film walk down a street in Portsmouth with their equipment.
Members of the cast and crew on location. (Photo: Emily Lord)
The Forest Society’s documentary, The Merrimack: River at Risk, has a list of credits that includes: directed by Jerry Monkman; produced by Jack Savage; written by Ryan Smith and Jerry Monkman; hosted by Leah Hart; cinematography by Jerry Monkman; sound recorded by Ethan Sager; second camera and gimbal operation by Miles Woodworth; second camera by Ryan Smith; production assistants include Michael Penney, Kirsten Gehl, and Emily Lord; edited by Jerry Monkman; motion graphics by Amy Larkin and Shaun Donnelly; and sound design and music research by Ethan Sager.