The Film

reNEWPORT documents the pandemic experience and eventual revival of Newport. Even before the onset of COVID-19, this small and beautiful city struggled to balance preservation and development, cope with exploding seasonal tourism, address poverty amidst wealth and come to terms with its complex history of religious tolerance, slavery, Gilded Era extravagance and military importance.

Lockdowns and quarantines necessitated by COVID-19 have upended locals’ lives, decimated Newport’s tourist-based economy and simultaneously created an influx of affluent new homebuyers seeking escape from more urban settings. reNEWPORT documents how the city and its residents weather and emerge from the impacts of this seismic public health crisis.

Tree of Life Productions

Tree of Life Productions, founded in 2010 by Susan Sipprelle, produced Soldier On: Life After Deployment and Set for Life. Both documentaries are distributed by American Public Television and have been shown thousands of times on public television stations across the country. Soldier On chronicles the readjustment of three women as they confront the challenges of civilian life after their post-9/11 military deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Soldier On premiered during Women’s History Month in March 2017 on Channel 13 in New York, the largest U.S. public television station. Set for Life follows three Baby Boomers who struggle to recover from the devastating impact of job loss during the Great Recession. Set for Life won several film festivals and, as a result of the film, Sipprelle was asked to testify before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee in 2011 about unemployment among older Americans.

Team

Susan Sipprelle

Founder and Director

Award-winning documentary filmmaker and founder of Tree of Life Productions. Produced and directed the award-winning films Set for Life (based on the multimedia project Over 50 and Out of Work) and Soldier On: Life After Deployment. Both documentaries are distributed by American Public Television and continue to be shown on public television stations nationwide.

Cara Sipprelle

Digital Director

Cara Sipprelle is a digital marketer with a decade of experience leading online campaigns that activate thousands to reach and inspire millions. She helped launch and grow Success Academy Charter Schools' digital presence and was elected and served as Communications Chair for the NYC Chapter of the Women's March on Washington. Today, Cara is a freelance consultant who partners with mission-driven organizations.

Joe Lavallee

Director of Photography

Cinematographer working in film and commercials. Recent credits include Showtime's promos for Smilf: Season 2, award-winning short film "Snowflake", "Aesop Rock: Kiln", and 2nd unit DP and A camera operator for Sony's "Professor Marston and the Wonder Women." Lavallee frequently shoots broadcast spots for Puma, Reebok, Shark/Ninja, McDonald's, and Delta.

Darryl Byrne

Additional Photography

30-year veteran of the camera department, who started working in Ireland and the UK, now based on the East Coast.

Steve Cerilli

Sound

Location sound ninja, Renaissance man, garlic farmer, musician.

Mike Viele

Media Manager

Audio engineer, field audio technician and composer. 18-plus years’ experience offering audio-related production services to a myriad of film projects, as well as media management / transcription role, organization and backup.

Andre Rocke

Drone Photographer

Filming and editing video professionally for over 20 years. Skilled in all aspects of video production from live studio to aerial to on-location work.

Madison Benson

Intern

High school student, planning to study environmental science and film in college.

Press

The Newport Daily News

Filmmaker turns camera on Newport to document COVID pandemic, recovery in city

NEWPORT — Having grown up in Newport, documentary filmmaker Susan Sipprelle thought of no better place to which to move after living in New York City for the majority of her adult life.

Once back in her hometown, Sipprelle planned to launch a documentary project on drug addiction and recovery in the city. The move date was set and Sipprelle returned to Aquidneck Island.

That was in January of this year. (Read more…)

The Preservation Society’s Headlines of the Week

Documenting Newport During COVID

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit this area in March 2020, local filmmaker Susan Sipprelle found her mission that continues today: to document the effects on the Newport community and how people are coping, with an eye toward the eventual recovery.

The project is called reNEWPORT. In November, Sipprelle and her two-person crew recorded video segments at The Breakers and The Elms, asking visitors why they came to the mansions and being told (we are glad to hear) that they believed the houses and grounds were safe.

Since then, Sipprelle’s project has grown tremendously, with new videos and photos being posted nearly every day. They feature local political and civic leaders, business people and entrepreneurs, working folks, students, older residents – and everyone is invited to share their own stories.

reNEWPORT is produced by Sipprelle’s Tree of Life Productions.

David Mark Erickson’s Travel & Photography

Client Feature: Susan Sipprelle

This month's feature is a slight departure. I’d like to focus on a project by a client. I enjoy learning about all of the interesting things my clients are up to and it’s one of the main reasons that I love doing what I do! It's fun to highlight these projects with this newsletter and I hope that it provides enjoyment and inspiration for you too.

My long time client, Susan Sipprelle, is an accomplished film maker and avid Lightroom user. Sue splits her time between Newport, RI and NYC. At the start of the pandemic, she and her team started documenting how the pandemic was affecting Newport. Through a series of interviews, she illuminates how Newport, which was already struggling with balancing tourism, has handled the pandemic and recovery. It's a great project.