Old Dog

DESCRIPTION

New Zealand farmer Paul Sorenson has a unique connection with his colleagues — a team of sheep dogs. For 40 years, he's worked to develop smarter and more intuitive training methods for fellow farmers, while grappling with memories of a difficult childhood. Reaching retirement, the veteran dog whisperer passes his knowledge to the next generation of shepherds, and reflects on the sacrifices he's made to pursue his intense passion for dogs.

Film Makers 

SALLY ROWE, DIRECTOR / PRODUCER

New Zealand-born Sally Rowe is an independent filmmaker based in New York. Her Emmy-nominated documentary A Matter of Taste: Serving up Paul Liebrandt won a James Beard Award. The film screened at numerous festivals, including SXSW, Tribeca, and Full Frame, and aired on HBO, BBC’s Storyville and Arte France. Before directing her own work, she served as a script supervisor on numerous independent features, commercials and the entire run of Comedy Central's Emmy nominated "Chapelle's Show."

REGINA SOBEL, EDITOR / PRODUCER

Regina Sobel is a Brooklyn-based film editor. She served as editor and co-writer on Fail State, a feature documentary about inequality in higher education produced by Alan Oxman. She worked as editor and co-producer on a series of science documentary shorts which are being distributed by Vice. She was the associate editor on Alex Ross Perry’s Queen of Earth, which stars Elisabeth Moss and was released by IFC Films. Regina has been a recurring teacher for The Edit Center's Six-Week Art of Editing course. Previously, she produced and directed graphics for film and TV, including PBS's Park Avenue: Money, Power & the American Dream, Showtime’s "Years of Living Dangerously," and HBO’s "Game of Thrones."

ALAN OXMAN, PRODUCER

Post-production supervisor on Inside Job (Academy Award for Best Documentary 2011) producer on Hot Coffee (Sundance 2011, HBO Summer Doc Series) producer on A Matter of Taste: Serving up Paul Liebrandt SXSW 2011, HBO 2012, Emmy Nomination 2013, James Beard Award 2013. His editing credits include Welcome to the Dollhouse (Grand Jury Prize, Sundance Film Festival), Happiness (International Critic’s Award, Cannes Film Festival) and Storytelling (Cannes Film Festival), all for director Todd Solondz.

ROLAND ROJAS, PRODUCER

Roland co-founded the production company “Hand in Hand Entertainment”  Utilizing his wide-ranging experience in the financial sector, Rojas advises and delivers financing for independent film projects extending to foreign distribution contracts. Rojas is the co-founder of BidSlate®, a digital platform transacting global media rights and distribution for buyers and sellers.

HANNAH BEATON, ASSOCIATE PRODUCER

Hannah Beaton is a New York-based editor and the Head of Operations at The Edit Center, a film school in Brooklyn, NY. She oversees the school's acclaimed Art of Editing workshop, a six-week program which brings together independent filmmakers, award-winning film editors, and students pursuing a career in editing. Past participants in the workshop include Golden Exits (Official Selection, Sundance 2017), Women Who Kill (Jury Prize, Tribeca 2016), Donald Cried (SXSW 2016), Listen Up Philip (Official Selection, Sundance 2014).

ISABEL PONTE, ASSOCIATE PRODUCER

Isabel Ponte is a New York-based film editor and producer. She started her career as an editorial intern at Alex Gibney's Jigsaw Productions, working on the films Zero Days and Elian. She was the associate editor and researcher of Fail State, a feature documentary about inequality in higher education produced by Alan Oxman and Adam Bolt.

PAUL SORENSON, DOG TRAINER / FARMER

Paul Sorenson has been training sheepdogs since he was fourteen. His unique connection to these complicated animals has made him one of the most sought-after trainers in New Zealand. Paul has won many dog trial competitions and appeared regularly on the popular 80’s New Zealand TV program “The Dog Show.” Paul is now semi-retired, but offers free clinics for farmers and still judges dog trail competitions. He lives with his wife Honey on the East Coast of New Zealand.