About | Her Hope Haven

about her hope haven

Her Hope Haven is based on the poignant real-life stories of women who have lived experiences in residential recovery facilities as they work to get back their dignity, avoid jail, and stay alive. Series co-creator Tijah Bumgarner seeks to show a broad audience the pain the drug crisis has wrought in Appalachia through the humorous and joyful moments that are part of the recovery process.

Filmed in June 2021, Episode 1 features a cast of non-professional actors from West Virginia in recovery from substance use disorders.

The ongoing drug crisis has affected families across our region and even touched this project: Series co-creator Ashley Ellis died in November2021 at the age of 34. The stories in Her Hope Haven were based on Ellis’s time spent in treatment facilities in Kentucky and West Virginia.

Meet the team

Angela Lopez

Hair & Makeup | Wardrobe

Make up Artist

Anthony Greene

1st Assistant Camera

Film lover, slightly above average book reader, wanna-be home cook.

Ashley Ellis

Casting | Co-creator

This project would not exist without Ashley and I am forever thankful to her and grateful for knowing her. Please consider making a donation to The Healing Place in Louisville, KY in honor of Ashley Ellis. www.thehealingplace.org

Braylie Smolder

Production Assistant

Dylan Smith

Grip/Gaff

Film Director and owner of Good Trouble Video

Emilee Pyrtle

Assistant Director

Emilee, a Production Assistant, based in Orlando, has 3 Production Assistant credits and 1 Assistant Director credit, and has been a member since 2021.

Jena Seiler

Producer

Jena Seiler is an interdisciplinary artist and scholar.

Mahaley Brown

Production Assistant

Max Ross

Sound Mixer

Max Ross is an audio visual technician with over 8 years of experience working in the field. He specializes in event production and commercial installations.

Molly Born

Script Supervisor | Media Liaison | Casting

Journalist based in Appalachia

Noel Seiler

2nd Assistant Camera

Noel worked on Her Hope Haven as 2nd Assistant Camera.

Saja Montague

Production Design | Props

WV Artist, Appalachian Photographer, Capturing mundane magic.

Shane Pierce

Production Design | Props

Taylor Napier

Director of Photography - Editor - Colorist

Taylor Napier has over a decade of film & photography experience under her belt. She is originally from West Virginia and has made her way back home to tell the stories of Appalachia.

Tijah Bumgarner

Director | Producer | Creator |

Tijah Bumgarner is a filmmaker and professor. She teaches narrative and documentary video production at Marshall University. Bumgarner holds a BFA in film/video from the California Institute of the Arts and an MA in Media Studies from West Virginia State University.

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behind the scenes

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