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Martin Horn: We Build Stuff
Martin Horn, Inc. | Event Presentation
Celebrating 40 years of building stuff in Charlottesville, Martin Horn takes a look back at the two men who began it all. | Learn More >>
Betsy has the uncanny ability to capture the heart of any subject. [We] have partnered with Betsy and her team on several projects, and in every instance, she delivers captivating films where the call to action is loud and the impact is lasting.
Rozita Green
Chief Strategy Officer, Commonweal Foundation, Inc.
The House D.C.
Commonweal Foundation | Promotional Film
Two-minute piece on a comprehensive program for inner-city youth in Washington DC.
A Call to Care
Catholic Health Association/Video Action | Documentary Feature
Emmy-Award winning historical documentary profiling the extraordinary contributions of Catholic sisters to America's health.
The Crime of Domestic Violence
International Association of Chiefs of Police | Training Video
Four-part series addressing the realities and complexities of responding to and investigating domestic violence. | Learn More >>
[Red Spark's] approach to our video was thorough from the start. Together, our collaboration resulted in an effective educational tool for law enforcement that has earned acclaim.
Aviva Kurash, MSW
Project Manager, Police Response to Violence Against Women
The Crime of Human Trafficking: A Law Enforcement Guide
International Association of Chiefs of Police | Training Video
Three-part roll call video on how to identify the crime, appropriately respond to its victims and conduct a successful investigation.
That Was Then
Society for the Advancement of Women's Health Research/Video Action | Event Presentation
An historical look at how women fared at the hands of the medical profession at the turn of the 20th century. Narrated by Lauren Hutton.
It is really just perfect and beautiful....I am so excited to share it! Thank you.
Laurie Jean Seaman
Director of Prevention
SafeChurch
Sexual Assault Resource Agency | Promotional Film
SafeChurch is an innovative program to train faith communities in how to safeguard against, identify and respond to child sexual abuse. The Sexual Assault Resource Agency of Charlottesville, VA is proud to offer this program to area churches. | Learn More >>
National Museum of the United States Army
Maguire-Reeder/United States Army | Promotional Film
Two-minute 'movie trailer' to generate interest in and support of the museum.
I couldn't imagine working with anyone other than Betsy Cox. She helped me share the most intimate and sensitive information.
Olga Trujillo
Speaker & Consultant, Olga Trujillo Consulting
A Survivor's Story
Olga Trujillo Consulting | Training Video
Hour program - presented in four stand-alone segments - chronicling one woman's journey to understand the impact of violence on her life.
Working with Betsy was a true joy. She intuitively knew the look and feel we were after.
Monica Coenraads
Former Director of Research, Rett Syndrome Research Foundation
Urgency/Passion/Hope
Rett Syndrome Research Foundation | Fundraising Video
10-minute film underscoring the pressing need for research into Rett Syndrome, a debilitating neurological disorder affecting girls.
The process was a joy. The product is terrific!
Anne Wallace
Executive Director, OLLI at American University
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at American University
OLLI at American University | Promotional Film
Short film promoting a dynamic continuing education program for seniors.
Beautiful and captivating....It is very difficult for an outsider to respectfully depict the inner-city black American experience. You have pulled off the rare trick of painting the Dreamers as they are: fully fleshed out human beings who have managed against daunting odds to create meaning from their lives.
Steve Bumbaugh
Former Program Coordinator, Southeast 67 Dreamers
Southeast 67
Red Spark Films | Documentary Feature
Spanning twenty years, the story of sixty-seven students struggling to reconcile the dream of college with daily survival in a community rife with violence, poverty and addiction. | Learn More >>
Pat Sitar Center for the Arts
Video/Action | Promotional Film
Profile of a community arts program in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, DC.
Betsy Cox's creative vision has truly emulated the services and programs of Covenant House New York for the past decade.
Bruce Henry
Former Executive Director, Covenant House New York
Covenant House
Covenant House New York | Event Presentation
Series of short films on a program providing comprehensive services to homeless and runaway youth.
Discovery Education Techbook Series
Paladin Media/Discovery Education | Educational Video
Series of fun, lively science videos for middle schoolers.
Betsy combines artistic sense, attention to detail and great feel for her subjects – and clients.
Fred Mael
Principal, Mael Consulting
Making the Call
American Institutes for Research | Discussion Piece
Fifteen minute discussion piece on the pros and cons of army versus civilian life.
Miller Center of Public Affairs: A National Meeting Place
Paladin Media/Miller Center | Promotional Film
A profile of a nonpartisan institute that seeks to expand understanding of the presidency, policy and political history. | Learn More >>
Fit Team Power Hour: Family Balance
Cortina Productions | Television Program
Episode four of a six part series for the Discovery Health Channel profiling elite athletes, including former NFL quarterback Jim Kelly, US National Women's Soccer players Joy Fawcett and Carla Overbeck and WNBA superstar Cynthia Cooper.
Modular Forces
Maguire-Reeder/US Army | Event Presentation
Multi-panel video display at the annual convention of the Association of the United States Army.
Betsy gives personal attention to a project in a very professional way.
Harold Sharlin
Former Executive Director, ReSET
ReSET: The Volunteer Experience
Retired Engineers, Scientists & Technicians | Training Video
Volunteer recruitment and training film on a program which brings retired scientists into the classroom.
A truly collaborative, authentic vision….Betsy handled each inevitable challenge with professionalism, honesty and diligence. I am very grateful for her talent and creativity.
T.R.
Chairman, Heritage Committee
Anonymous
Private Client | Documentary Feature
One family's story spanning two centuries and five generations.
Have you had your folic acid today?
Spina Bifida Association of Kentucky | Public Service Announcement
30 second PSA on the importance of folic acid in reducing spina bifida
Honoring the Past, Reshaping the Future
Video Action/Office for Victims of Crime, Department of Justice | Event Presentation
Theme video for 2011 National Crime Victims' Rights Week
Betsy Cox's creative vision has truly emulated the services and programs of Covenant House New York for the past decade.
Bruce Henry
Former Executive Director, Covenant House New York
Restoring Rights
Covenant House New York | Event Presentation
Series of short films on a program providing comprehensive services to homeless and runaway youth.
Whistle Words
Red Spark Films | Documentary Short
Whistle Words is writing project empowering women facing a cancer diagnosis. It is now a replicable model - bring the project to your own community. | Learn More >>
Love, love, love this!
Lizzie Clark
Owner, Hot Yoga Charlottesville
Hot Yoga Charlottesville
Hot Yoga Charlottesville | Mini-Dox
A 2-minute introductory piece to the unexpected and life-changing benefits of yoga. | Learn More >>
The film captures the essence of what we do in a stunning and succinct way.
Erika Viccellio, MEd
Executive Director, Charlottesville Free Clinic
Charlottesville Free Clinic
Charlottesville Free Clinic | Mini-Dox
Profile of one of the first free clinics in the country.
[Red Spark] captured the identity and soul of a vibrant and growing young non-profit, and made it a story we are proud of telling.
Kelly Eplee
Executive Director, Building Goodness Foundation
Building Goodness Foundation
Building Goodness Foundation | Mini-Dox
A series of our signature mini-dox on an innovative non-profit bringing skilled construction volunteers to communities in need.
Betsy made a fantastic, moving short film for us that has been tremendously helpful in drawing visitors to campus.
Todd Barnett, Ph.D.
Head of School, Field School of Charlottesville
Field School of Charlottesville
Field School of Charlottesville | Mini-Dox
Profile of an innovative middle school for boys in Charlottesville, Virginia.
A Sister's Story
Kelly & Susan Eplee | Mini-Dox
The story of Annie Eplee, as told by her sister Rachael.
We are thrilled with the mini-doc. Impressive, very professionally done and cost-effective.
Charles J. McElroy
President, WorkSource Enterprises
WorkSource Enterprises
WorkSource Enterprises | Mini-Dox
A profile of a non-profit providing job opportunities and training for people with disabilities.
Raise We Our Voices
St. Anne's Belfield School | Mini-Dox
A short kick-off video for the school's national capitol campaign.
Friendship Court: Myrtle
Piedmont Housing Alliance | Mini-Dox
Friendship Court is a public housing community in Charlottesville, VA. Meet Myrtle Houchens, a former resident, in the first of what will be a series of profiles. | Learn More >>
The Ti Kay Project
Building Goodness Foundation | Mini-Dox
Since the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Building Goodness has built nearly 1000 ti kays - Creole for small houses - in Haiti....but the project's future past 2018 is dependent on funding. | Learn More >>
Welcome
At Red Spark*, we create films on issues we care passionately about and we’ve been doing it for nearly two decades.
Whether the project is a documentary, a promotional film, an event presentation, a training video or one of our affordable mini-dox, every film combines seamless storytelling with the highest production values.
* Formerly Betsy Cox Productions
I couldn’t imagine working with anyone other than Betsy Cox. She helped me share the most intimate and sensitive information…
Olga Trujillo
Speaker & Consultant | Olga Trujillo Consulting
About Us
Documentary storytelling is our passion and we take that approach with every film, whether it is for broadcast, promotion, fundraising or training. Our focus is social issues, including poverty, education, family violence, justice and healthcare.
Collaboration is paramount. We join forces with activists and advocates, non-profits and foundations from the initial concept through final delivery and distribution. The true experts are those experiencing the issues first-hand. Our job is simply to serve as the vehicle through which those stories are shared.
Why Red Spark
The red in Red Spark is dedicated to those who have entrusted us with their stories, stories frequently very difficult to tell. Doing so requires bravery and often a leap of faith. (And if courage were a color, we think it would be red.)
A spark is what we hope will result. A well-crafted film can open minds. Illuminate ideas. Dispel stereotypes. Create conversation. Empower the storyteller. Breach a divide. Light a spark.
Who We Are
We are a collective of independent filmmakers committed to producing media to effect social change.
Betsy Cox is the principal and creative director of Red Spark Films. She has been producing and directing for more than two decades, and still can’t believe how lucky she is to have a job that never, ever feels like a job.
Michael Haley/Editor is the best short-form editor we know with over twenty-five years of experience. His signature style can be seen on our Covenant House films, Fit Team Power Hour and Honoring the Past/Reshaping the Future.
Ryan Hill/Director of Photography is the guy behind the lens in Southeast 67. (This was our first collaboration with Ryan, but it won’t be the last.) In 2011, he won the coveted Sundance Cinematography Award for The Redemption of General Butt Naked.
Jane Hutchins/Graphic Designer has some of the most prestigious industry awards to her name, and creates for PBS, Discovery and National Geographic, among others. Her layered, nuanced style can be seen in That Was Then, Making the Call, and National Museum of the United States Army.
Toni Jannelli/Graphic Designer is a multi-media artist who is a talented painter and sculptor as well as a designer of print and motion graphics. Red Spark is thrilled to have her on board, most recently for Southeast 67.
Michael Josephs/Composer has created original scores for over 200 films, and was nominated for a National Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music. He has collaborated with Betsy for nearly twenty years, most recently on Southeast 67.
Bob Kanner/Editor has been editing documentaries for PBS, the History Channel, National Geographic, A&E and BBC for thirty years. He’s worked with Betsy on too many projects to name, including A Call to Care and Southeast 67. His list of lengthy accolades includes five Emmys.
Rodney Patterson/Director of Photography has more than thirty years’ experience (and a bunch of Emmys in his closet, too) filming for Dateline, 20/20, Frontline and 60 Minutes, among others. He has collaborated with Red Spark on numerous projects for more than ten years.
Films
Whatever your end goal, we will work with you to produce a film to achieve it.
Documentaries and Television Programs might just be our favorites. We love the storytelling potential of long-format films.
Event presentations are the perfect way to both educate and emotionally engage your audience, and we have found 4-6 minutes to be the ideal length. A short film accomplishes so much more than someone espousing at a lectern! (And once the event is past, these films make terrific promotional pieces.)
Promotional and Fundraising films are short programs designed to create awareness of an issue or organization, generate support and promote action. In today’s media savvy world, a compelling film that captures your story is a necessity, not a luxury.
Training videos are all too often a boring recitation of facts, illustrated by predictable graphics. What can you possibly learn when you’re fighting to stay awake? We believe training videos should emotionally engage your audience while educating them, and our documentary approach to these videos has proven effective in doing just that.
Sample Projects
Discussion Piece
Documentary Feature
Documentary Short
Educational Video
Discovery Education Techbook Series
Event Presentation
Honoring the Past, Reshaping the Future
Fundraising Video
Promotional Film
Miller Center of Public Affairs: A National Meeting Place
National Museum of the United States Army
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at American University
Public Service Announcement
Have you had your folic acid today?
Television Program
Fit Team Power Hour: Family Balance
Training Video
ReSET: The Volunteer Experience
Mini-Dox
We created mini-dox for non-profits with limited resources. We shoot one to two days on a DSLR camera with a stripped down crew, and edit and deliver a two to three minute film in two weeks. Limited graphics. Stock music. Just good storytelling. (Our mini-dox model can be adapted to accommodate a longer running time, depending on your needs.)
Sample Projects
Kudos
- Capitol Region Emmy for Outstanding Documentary
- CINE Golden Eagles
- Gold Cindys, Association of Visual Communicators
- Gold Awards, Worldfest Charleston International Film Festival
- Gold Award, LEVA Shield Video Awards
- Gold Award, Aurora Awards
- Gold and Bronze Awards, Worldfest Houston International Film Festival
- Crystal Award of Excellence, The Communicator Awards
- Silver, 2015 DC Peer Awards, TIVA-DC
- Silver and Bronze Tellys
- Silver Apples, National Educational Film and Video Competition
- Helen & Martin Schwartz Award for National Excellence in Humanities Programming
- Silver Plaque, 2005 Intercom Awards
- Finalist, 2001 Time Inc.’s FREDDIE Awards
- Honorable Mention, The Chris Awards
- Best Feature Documentary, Our City Festival
- Audience Award, Alexandria International Film Festival
- Award of Merit, International Film Festival for Peace, Inspiration & Equality
- Rosebud Award, Rosebud Film Festival
- Official Selection, Virginia Film Festival
- Official Selection, San Diego Black Film Festival
- Official Selection, Capital City Black Film Festival
- Official Selection, Washington DC Independent Film Festival
- Official Selection, New Hope Film Festival
- Official Selection, Louisville International Film Festival
- Official Selection, Urban Mediamakers Film Festival
- Official Selection, Frederick Film Festival
- Official Selection, Chicago International Television Festival
- Official Selection, Atlanta International Film and Video Festival
- Official Selection, San Francisco International Film Festival
- Official Selection, Silver Images Film Festival
- Official Selection, James River Festival of the Moving Image
- Official Selection, Roxbury International Film Festival
Betsy takes the time to really understand the client’s needs and goals, and then makes it happen!
Nancy Chandler
Former Executive Director | National Children’s Alliance
Get In Touch
Red Spark Films
Betsy Cox | 434.996.8616