The Earthkeepers
A short documentary by Mitch Teplitsky and Gabriel Lantz
A husband-wife team in Southern Indiana are on a mission:
to heal the planet through compost, one bucket at a time.
to heal the planet through compost, one bucket at a time.
The Earthkeepers from Indiana Humanities on Vimeo.
"A really fine and important work"
– Ed Arentz, Greenwich Entertainment
"A fine piece of work, inspiring and encouraging!"
– Scott Russell Sanders, author, "The Way of Imagination"
"A gem of a film!"
– Beth Dembitzer, founder, Social Cinema Series
"Awesome short doc — it filled me with hope!"
– Ruxandra Guidi, public radio journalist
"Inspiring — let's spread the compost love!"
– Priscilla Borges, community educator
"This film is tres cool!"
– Robert Breunig, Economist
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Screenings
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More Reactions
Well done! I love how hopeful and positive it is. When I studied environmental science at IU the tone was often so hopeless and depressing. I'd always feel like we're so doomed. It's work like yours and the work of Earth Keepers and those high school students that remind me things are not hopeless. Good people with good ideas will always prevail no matter how bad things are.
Kylie Abrams, Ecosystem Manager, Velocities
Wow. Really well done! What an amazing couple! I had no idea of the connection between Earthkeepers and MUM and Cook. I love seeing businesses partner like this. I learned a lot by watching your film.
Kathy Romy, WFHB host, "The Golden Age of Radio"
"Great film. Important work. I attended a year of high school in the DC area and volunteered at one of, if not the first recycling programs…that was in the 60’s! I also attended the first Earth Day event in DC in 1970. I’ve been a militant non-consumer/recycler for over 50 years. I was never able to think in any other terms. In oneness."
- Kevin Locke, Lakota Hoop Dancer and flutist, Citizen of the World
"I watched the Earthkeepers today. It’s awesome! Great message, very inspiring. I love how you brought in different people, different stories, how that couple created the EarthKeepers business, and how we are blessing the earth by composting."
- Leticia Schwartz, Healthy cooking and lifestyle expert, author and TV host
"Great job! I really enjoyed it….I thought it was interesting that in the school, all of the people on the volunteer team in the cafeteria were female. What doe that tell you?!
- Shelley Goldberg, investment & environmental sustainability advisor, New York City
"Un gran trabajo, así mejoraremos nuestro planet"
- Haydee Loayza, teachers assistant, Lima Peru
"I loved your film,! Really heartwarming and inspiring. Great job!"
- Melissa Elstein, urban environmental activist & yoga teacher, New York City
"Great doc! Such a tribute to the wonderful work being done. Since we're out here on Long Island, I'm going to see if there's a composting operation that's open. In the city, I'm too bug-phobic to keep food in the house" 😃
- Nancy Zinn, Business Development, HBO, New York City
"I just watched it. It’s great! Definitely inspirational. Do The EarthKeepers have a site? Do they have info to use in schools and how to do a waste audit? Thanks for this!"
- Leda Duif, Realtor, Jersey City, NJ
"Congratulations — really cool!"
- Alex Crowley, Director, Economic & Sustainable Development Department, City of Bloomington, IN
"Nice doc! As someone who grew up in rural South Dakota and who has been composting most of his life (and is an academic!), it struck many chords for me. Hope you are well and safe in these nutty times."
- Jonathan Ritter, ethnomusicologist, University of California at Riverside, CA
"Nice! I love composting. I believe it's one of the most important actions we can take to impact climate change."
- Sonia Pena, clothing designer, New York City
"So cool! This is such an inspiring film, and inspiring people. Thanks for sharing this with the world!"
- Chi Tasha Coppinger, Organizer, Hoosier Action, Bloomington, IN
"This was fabulous. Loved how one idea could draw so many in to make a bigger impact!"
- Wendy Kalman, Atlanta Jewish Times
"Hooray, Mitch! So great to see your film and the amazing work that EarthKeepers, Made Up Mind and Sage are doing."
David Lasuertmer, Social Worker, Bloomington, IN
"Thanks for this, Mitch, and team! Our building in NYC started composting this year — it feels so good. Crazy to think we ever didn't."
- Annie Berman, Interdisciplinary media artist, New York City
"Wonderful job to everyone involved in this film! It was such a pleasure to work with you all!"
- Clara Scheutz, film subject; President, Students for A Greener Environment club (SAGE)
"Love this! I am doubling my pollinator garden. It is ready for planting."
- Terri Gorney, Geneva, IN
"I find it so cool that a business is hiring the formerly incarcerated and providing jobs that have dignity and are doing good in the world!"
- Claire Mauschbaugh, non-profit communications, Indianapolis, IN
Great short, congratulations! Let's spread the compost love!
- Priscilla Borges, web designer & yoga teacher, Bloomington, IN
"Very well done. I think the students at my alma mater (Hanover College, Hanover, IN) might be interested in this and want to participate."
- Mahlon Barash, Microfinance Expert, Lima, Peru
"Finally got a chance to watch The EarthKeepers today and really liked it. Awesome job — Thanks!"
—Bruce Solomon, Math Professor, Indiana University, Bloomington
Watch it
"Love it! So empowering for the individual, the community and our environment. Small actions having a huge impact. I know when I compost weekly, it makes me feel like I'm doing something positive for our planet. Sadly, NYC has just stopped their compost program until June 2021. Too bad, as we were just making so much progress, 2 months before Covid-19 the city nearly mandated composting. I hope your film catches people’s attention, BRAVO, to you Mitch + team!"
- Carole Levy, film executive and chef, New York City
"I was so happy to be able to watch the premiere of the Earthkeepers. What a wonderful, inspiring film! A healthy dose of hope. Just what is needed in these times."
- Chandra Bossard-Kruger, environmental educator, W. Dummerston, VT
"Thank you Mitch for showing your film and reminding people to compost — very cool!"
- Opal Fly, Singer-songwriter, Spencer, IN by way of Kentucky
"Amazing how this one couple decided they needed compost, partnered with the municipality to keep more out of landfill, partnered with industry and schools to do the same, and employed ex-offenders. The way this snowballs to do so much good is inspiring….The other part that struck me is how documentaries are such a different creature than scripted work. It's like a blank canvas that needs a vision and execution to give it form and direction and impact and pull it together. Kudos!"
- Wendy Kalman, Strategic Planner, Atlanta, GA
"Wow! So much more positive and inspirational than Michael Moore's latest! And shorter! Actually I wish it was longer — would love to learn more about both MUM and get a deeper dive into the whole composting thing (pun intended). Maybe it can be a a feature!"
- Nina Birnbaum, project manager, New York City
"Mitch, this was so inspirational! Thank you for bring in this light, especially during this dark time. It was really well done, and I have shared it with other people already."
- Sonia Voynow, Psychotherapist, Philadelphia, PA
About the Filmmakers
Mitch Teplitsky Producer-Director
Mitch is a director, producer and distributor specializing in cross-cultural films (Soy Andina and Return to the Andes). He is also a marketing strategist for other filmmakers and non-profits. He is the former marketing director for the Film Society of Lincoln Center.
Gabriel Lantz Co-Director • Director of photography
Gabriel is a producer, director and Emmy-nominated videographer for TV, documentaries and branded content. His credits include projects for PBS/WTIU, MTV, and independent films about climate change in China, and yoga pioneer Amrit Desai.
Hannah Hodges Editor
Hannah Hodges co-founded and runs Hodges Marketing Solutions, a digital marketing agency, with her husband Mark. She is involved in the Indianapolis film community and has a variety of experience ranging from work on documentaries and narrative shorts to corporate videos and live events. She loves nature and is an avid composter herself.
Mitch Teplitsky Producer-Director
Mitch is a director, producer and distributor specializing in cross-cultural films (Soy Andina and Return to the Andes). He is also a marketing strategist for other filmmakers and non-profits. He is the former marketing director for the Film Society of Lincoln Center.
Gabriel Lantz Co-Director • Director of photography
Gabriel is a producer, director and Emmy-nominated videographer for TV, documentaries and branded content. His credits include projects for PBS/WTIU, MTV, and independent films about climate change in China, and yoga pioneer Amrit Desai.
Hannah Hodges Editor
Hannah Hodges co-founded and runs Hodges Marketing Solutions, a digital marketing agency, with her husband Mark. She is involved in the Indianapolis film community and has a variety of experience ranging from work on documentaries and narrative shorts to corporate videos and live events. She loves nature and is an avid composter herself.