FreeTheo, LLC
FreeTheo is a new production company that aims to create content that inspires. We are committed to creating positive films that aid in awareness and ultimately lead individuals to help with the preservation of environments, individual's rights and cultures.
Crystal Thornburg-Homcy
Director / Producer/ Environmentalist
Born and raised in Hawaii, Crystal's earliest memory is hanging out at the beach with her parents. Suffice it to say, Crystal was raised surfing: her dad used to push her into waves at Waikiki and by elementary school her mom was taking her to the beach to surf after school.
Crystal is an accomplished longboarder, but she is also an all-around ocean athlete who races outrigger canoes, competes in long-distance swims and paddleboard races, kayaks, bodysurfs and freedives. Crystal has a bachelor's degree in Environmental Science with a minor in Fine Art from Chaminade University in Honolulu. She volunteers with the Audubon Society at Waimea Valley and has recently worked with other nonprofit environmental groups including Conservacion Patagonia, Save Our Seas, Surfrider Foundation, Kokua Hawai'i Foundation andThe North Shore Community Land Trust, among others.
Being raised by artistic parents, art has been a major part of her life. Her art – which includes ceramics, sandblasting, acrylics, watercolors, mixed media, and photography.
Seven years ago Crystal and her husband, Dave Homcy, started an organic garden with the desire to bring fresh organic produce to the tables of friends and family. From then on the business of greens took off. Now called Crave Greens, the name was inspired by the combination of Crystal and Dave, and has become an institution on the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii.
She travels the world to test Patagonia products, and participate in environmental and humanitarian project such as; teaching English and sharing information on environmental issues to Buddhist Monks in Thailand, building a community organic garden in Laos, discovering new surf breaks and civil unrest in Liberia, and propagating and air-layering endangered plant species in Waimea Valley, on Oahu, to name a few.
http://cravegreens.tumblr.com
Born and raised in Hawaii, Crystal's earliest memory is hanging out at the beach with her parents. Suffice it to say, Crystal was raised surfing: her dad used to push her into waves at Waikiki and by elementary school her mom was taking her to the beach to surf after school.
Crystal is an accomplished longboarder, but she is also an all-around ocean athlete who races outrigger canoes, competes in long-distance swims and paddleboard races, kayaks, bodysurfs and freedives. Crystal has a bachelor's degree in Environmental Science with a minor in Fine Art from Chaminade University in Honolulu. She volunteers with the Audubon Society at Waimea Valley and has recently worked with other nonprofit environmental groups including Conservacion Patagonia, Save Our Seas, Surfrider Foundation, Kokua Hawai'i Foundation andThe North Shore Community Land Trust, among others.
Being raised by artistic parents, art has been a major part of her life. Her art – which includes ceramics, sandblasting, acrylics, watercolors, mixed media, and photography.
Seven years ago Crystal and her husband, Dave Homcy, started an organic garden with the desire to bring fresh organic produce to the tables of friends and family. From then on the business of greens took off. Now called Crave Greens, the name was inspired by the combination of Crystal and Dave, and has become an institution on the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii.
She travels the world to test Patagonia products, and participate in environmental and humanitarian project such as; teaching English and sharing information on environmental issues to Buddhist Monks in Thailand, building a community organic garden in Laos, discovering new surf breaks and civil unrest in Liberia, and propagating and air-layering endangered plant species in Waimea Valley, on Oahu, to name a few.
http://cravegreens.tumblr.com
Dave Homcy
Co-Director / Director of Photography
Born and raised in Florida, Dave Homcy moved to Hawaii, following his passion for surf cinematography and photography.
After twenty years in the film business, working on notable projects such as Sliding Liberia, Shelter, A Broke Down Melody, Surfwise, Come Hell Or High Water, and the TV shows Lost and Hawaii 5-0, Dave is still living his dream, traveling around the world with like-minded surfers, and experiencing different cultures.
www.davehomcy.com
Born and raised in Florida, Dave Homcy moved to Hawaii, following his passion for surf cinematography and photography.
After twenty years in the film business, working on notable projects such as Sliding Liberia, Shelter, A Broke Down Melody, Surfwise, Come Hell Or High Water, and the TV shows Lost and Hawaii 5-0, Dave is still living his dream, traveling around the world with like-minded surfers, and experiencing different cultures.
www.davehomcy.com
Ishita Malaviya
Anytime she’s away from the sea, Ishita is like a fish out of water. Born and raised in the coastal city of Mumbai, India, she was introduced to the ocean at a very young age. Growing up, she always dreamed of becoming a surfer someday. Surfing being practically unheard of in India, she hoped to travel to California, and learn how to surf. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine that she would one day, not only end up learning how to surf in India, but also go on to become the first female surfer in her country.
It was six years ago, while she was pursuing Journalism at a University in the small town of Manipal, Karnataka that her surf dream was realized. Ever since she caught her first wave, her life has never been the same. She gave up her city life of Mumbai, to live the more peaceful lifestyle near the ocean. Now a dedicated ocean woman, Ishita C0-Founded The Shaka Surf Club with her partner Tushar Pathiyan to share the stoke of surfing in India. She is passionate about educating local communities about water safety in an effort to reduce the overwhelming number of drowning deaths in her country. She continues to inspire women not only in India, but worldwide, to set aside their gender and racial issues, and enjoy the healing powers of the water.
http://theshakasurfclub.wordpress.com
It was six years ago, while she was pursuing Journalism at a University in the small town of Manipal, Karnataka that her surf dream was realized. Ever since she caught her first wave, her life has never been the same. She gave up her city life of Mumbai, to live the more peaceful lifestyle near the ocean. Now a dedicated ocean woman, Ishita C0-Founded The Shaka Surf Club with her partner Tushar Pathiyan to share the stoke of surfing in India. She is passionate about educating local communities about water safety in an effort to reduce the overwhelming number of drowning deaths in her country. She continues to inspire women not only in India, but worldwide, to set aside their gender and racial issues, and enjoy the healing powers of the water.
http://theshakasurfclub.wordpress.com
Emi Koch
Beyond The Surface International Founder / Humanitarian
As the daughter of a lifeguard, Emi Koch was introduced to the ocean at an early age. Her dad pushed her into her first wave when she was two years old. All she wanted to be was a professional surfer. But one day in her senior year in high school everything changed. Her teacher pointed out a statistic: “If the world’s population was condensed into a village of 100 people only one of that 100 would have a chance at a college education and (own) a computer." Upon hearing that statistic, Koch felt that she was that one person in the village, and that she needed to fight for the rights of the other 99 people so that they would have the same opportunities that she had.
Emi enrolled at Georgetown University upon graduating from high school. She started out as an International Politics Major with her career goal to be a US Diplomat. The summer after her freshman year in college she went to Nepal and lived with Buddhist monks and taught street children in the monastery school. This was when she realized what she wanted to do with the rest of her life.
Emi still had the passion for surfing inside her and tried to figure out a way to combine that passion with her passion for social justice. While volunteering in Nepal she heard about a non-profit founded by a professional skateboarder. He combined his passion for skateboarding with his passion for helping kids in Afghanistan. When Emi came back home she bought “How to Form a Non-Profit in California” and “Beyond The Surface” was born.
Beyond The Surface is a non-profit organization started by Koch. Their mission is to eradicate youth homelessness in global coastal regions worldwide and empower street children through the sport of surfing.
BTS is her dream, she chose to start a non-profit and devote her life to helping it grow into an even greater agent of change.
http://www.beyondthesurfaceinternational.org/
As the daughter of a lifeguard, Emi Koch was introduced to the ocean at an early age. Her dad pushed her into her first wave when she was two years old. All she wanted to be was a professional surfer. But one day in her senior year in high school everything changed. Her teacher pointed out a statistic: “If the world’s population was condensed into a village of 100 people only one of that 100 would have a chance at a college education and (own) a computer." Upon hearing that statistic, Koch felt that she was that one person in the village, and that she needed to fight for the rights of the other 99 people so that they would have the same opportunities that she had.
Emi enrolled at Georgetown University upon graduating from high school. She started out as an International Politics Major with her career goal to be a US Diplomat. The summer after her freshman year in college she went to Nepal and lived with Buddhist monks and taught street children in the monastery school. This was when she realized what she wanted to do with the rest of her life.
Emi still had the passion for surfing inside her and tried to figure out a way to combine that passion with her passion for social justice. While volunteering in Nepal she heard about a non-profit founded by a professional skateboarder. He combined his passion for skateboarding with his passion for helping kids in Afghanistan. When Emi came back home she bought “How to Form a Non-Profit in California” and “Beyond The Surface” was born.
Beyond The Surface is a non-profit organization started by Koch. Their mission is to eradicate youth homelessness in global coastal regions worldwide and empower street children through the sport of surfing.
BTS is her dream, she chose to start a non-profit and devote her life to helping it grow into an even greater agent of change.
http://www.beyondthesurfaceinternational.org/
Kate Baldwin
Truth Seeker/ Project Manager
Kate is a renowned Yogi and teacher as well as the founder of True Union and True Union Events. Her teaching style blends strength with grace revealing a practical yet inspiring fusion of Western Movement and Eastern Principals. Kate’s athletic background combined with her realistic approach to the practice offers a masterful harmony of power and discipline paralleled with vulnerability and Self Discovery. Her 10+ years of practice and study include Certifications in Hot Yoga, Hot Vinyasa, Advanced Vinyasa, Hatha Yoga, Yoga Philosophy, Bhakti Yoga, and Thai Yoga Therapy. She has also studied with countless teachers during her travels and continues to seek out opportunities to learn and grow.
Kate first stepped onto a surfboard on a yoga vacation to Hawaii, and an entire new definition of yoga was unveiled. The practice of being present and uniting with Self through nature was undoubtedly available on a surfboard. A bold and instant relocation from Virginia to Hawaii took Kate to a new chapter in life. Yoga shifted from asana to a complete way of life and surfing was absolutely going to remain part of it.
Kate's passion encompasses more than sharing yoga through classes and teacher trainings, but in strengthening the communities in which she lives. In addition to traditional community service through organizations such as Team in Training, Ronald McDonald House, and The Make A Wish Foundation, she has orchestrated and produced the Hawaii Spirit Festival and the East Coast Spirit Festival. Her mission with these events is to expand yoga awareness while providing space for collective consciousness and a breeding ground for Truth.
www.trueunion.org
Kate is a renowned Yogi and teacher as well as the founder of True Union and True Union Events. Her teaching style blends strength with grace revealing a practical yet inspiring fusion of Western Movement and Eastern Principals. Kate’s athletic background combined with her realistic approach to the practice offers a masterful harmony of power and discipline paralleled with vulnerability and Self Discovery. Her 10+ years of practice and study include Certifications in Hot Yoga, Hot Vinyasa, Advanced Vinyasa, Hatha Yoga, Yoga Philosophy, Bhakti Yoga, and Thai Yoga Therapy. She has also studied with countless teachers during her travels and continues to seek out opportunities to learn and grow.
Kate first stepped onto a surfboard on a yoga vacation to Hawaii, and an entire new definition of yoga was unveiled. The practice of being present and uniting with Self through nature was undoubtedly available on a surfboard. A bold and instant relocation from Virginia to Hawaii took Kate to a new chapter in life. Yoga shifted from asana to a complete way of life and surfing was absolutely going to remain part of it.
Kate's passion encompasses more than sharing yoga through classes and teacher trainings, but in strengthening the communities in which she lives. In addition to traditional community service through organizations such as Team in Training, Ronald McDonald House, and The Make A Wish Foundation, she has orchestrated and produced the Hawaii Spirit Festival and the East Coast Spirit Festival. Her mission with these events is to expand yoga awareness while providing space for collective consciousness and a breeding ground for Truth.
www.trueunion.org
Lauren Hill
Equality Activist
Style comes from a raw, natural part of a surfer in ways that make them unique. Lauren Lindsey Hill is a surfer that exudes grace, humility, depth, fun and meaningful direction in all of her expressions. Her style, in turn, gifts those same qualities to the surfing world in a way that is uniquely her own and a treasure for the art of riding waves.
After surfing for less than five years Lauren acquired a handful of competitive titles, including U.S. Women’s Amateur Longboard Champion in 2001. Upon graduating high school, Lauren was faced with the decision between continuing her education and pursuing professional longboarding.
Lauren went on to earn degrees in Environmental and Social Science from Stetson University. While at college, her passions for surfing and environmental activism coalesced. She has since published academically on the intersections of surfing, sustainability, and gender issues.
Her work and activism continue to revolve around marine conservation and gender as they relate to surfing culture. Most recently, Lauren participated in the Transparentsea Voyage, traversing 270 miles down the Californian coastline on an 18-foot kayak to raise awareness about coastal environmental issues there. She serves as an ambassador for Women for Whales and Surfers for Cetaceans.
Between travels, Lauren splits her time between her childhood home in St. Augustine, Fl and the world-class point breaks of Byron Bay, Australia.
www.MerSeaBeaucoup.com
Style comes from a raw, natural part of a surfer in ways that make them unique. Lauren Lindsey Hill is a surfer that exudes grace, humility, depth, fun and meaningful direction in all of her expressions. Her style, in turn, gifts those same qualities to the surfing world in a way that is uniquely her own and a treasure for the art of riding waves.
After surfing for less than five years Lauren acquired a handful of competitive titles, including U.S. Women’s Amateur Longboard Champion in 2001. Upon graduating high school, Lauren was faced with the decision between continuing her education and pursuing professional longboarding.
Lauren went on to earn degrees in Environmental and Social Science from Stetson University. While at college, her passions for surfing and environmental activism coalesced. She has since published academically on the intersections of surfing, sustainability, and gender issues.
Her work and activism continue to revolve around marine conservation and gender as they relate to surfing culture. Most recently, Lauren participated in the Transparentsea Voyage, traversing 270 miles down the Californian coastline on an 18-foot kayak to raise awareness about coastal environmental issues there. She serves as an ambassador for Women for Whales and Surfers for Cetaceans.
Between travels, Lauren splits her time between her childhood home in St. Augustine, Fl and the world-class point breaks of Byron Bay, Australia.
www.MerSeaBeaucoup.com
Liz Clark
Ocean Adventuring Conservationist
Liz Clark is a professional free surfer, writer, environmental activist, and adventurer who has captained her 40ft sailboat, Swell, over 18,000 miles on a surfing expedition in the Pacific since 2005. Through her website/blog, she shares her journey with the world in an effort of inspire people to live out their passions, spend more time in nature, engage in self-awareness and personal growth, and develop a consciousness of their everyday planetary impact.
www.swellvoyage.com
Liz Clark is a professional free surfer, writer, environmental activist, and adventurer who has captained her 40ft sailboat, Swell, over 18,000 miles on a surfing expedition in the Pacific since 2005. Through her website/blog, she shares her journey with the world in an effort of inspire people to live out their passions, spend more time in nature, engage in self-awareness and personal growth, and develop a consciousness of their everyday planetary impact.
www.swellvoyage.com
