Plot

In the remote California ghost town of Death Valley Junction (pop 10) stands the Amargosa Opera House, where for the past 33 years former New York dancer and artist Marta Becket has performed her own ballets in the theater she spent seven years handpainting with stunning murals. For Becket, the creative life is an obstacle course of self-doubt, criticism and abandonment—a high price to pay in the pursuit of self-expression. But for the seventy-six-year-old dancer and painter who is isolated in the badlands of Death Valley, the process of creating and performing is her refuge. In this Emmy™ awardwinning documentary, Becket recounts how she first came to live in this unlikely desert oasis, and describes her unquenchable need to create and perform her work. Marta Becket's life is an inspiring testament to dreams and creative endeavors everywhere.

Reception

Awards:
(Winner)Gold Award Independent Theatrical Feature Films - Documentary,
(Winner)Cinequest San Jose Film Festival Best Documentary,
(Winner)Nashville Film Festival Best of Festival Award - Honorable Mention,
(Winner)Newport Beach Film Festival Audience Award,
(Winner)Emmy Awards Outstanding Individual Achievement in a Craft: Cinematography,
(Nominated)Emmy Awards Outstanding Cultural & Artistic Programming - Long Form,
(Winner)Rhode Island International Film Festival Positive Lifestyle Award,
(Winner)Wine Country Film Festival Documentary Film Prize

Reviews:
The Boston Globe (5.0) ""...Amargosa is a remarkable documentary about an even more remarkable life...""

The Hollywood Reporter (5.0) ""...an ethereal dreamscape...""

San Francisco Chronicle (5.0) ""The film is an engaging testament to the pursuit of dreams.""
Film Festivals:
Cinequest Film Festival

Trailers and Artwork

Key Art:

Key Frames:

Quotes and Credits

Credits

Director Todd Robinson

Writer Todd Robinson

Executive Producer Traci Robinson

Producer Kenneth A. Carlson

Producer Sidney Sherman

Himself Paul Becker

Herself Marta Becket

Himself Ray Bradbury

Himself Omar Felix

Sound Effects Editor Michael Mullane

Supervising Sound Editor Roland N. Thai

Production Sound Mixer Roland N. Thai

Production Sound Mixer Ken King

Film Editor Clarinda Wong

Cinematography Curt Apduhan

Original Music Randy Miller

Himself Tom Willett

Best Boy Tom Holm

Camera Operator: Second Unit Douglas S. Holgate

Key Grip Randy Hodges

Steadicam Operator Bruce Alan Greene

Additional Cinematographer Frank Q. Dobbs

Camera Loader Andre de Castilho

Crane Operator Daniel Canamar

Grip Craig I. Burns

Himself Paul Lyday

Narrator (voice) Mary McDonnell

Camera Operator Todd Robinson

Colorist P.J. Marsiglia

Color Timer Chris Regan

Assistant Editor Heather K. Weide

Steadicam Operator Kurt Jones

Gaffer Kent Turansky

Assistant Camera Ryan Jay

Assistant Camera Steve Madigan

Production Companies Sundance Channel

Production Companies Triple Play Pictures

Camera Equipment Keslow Cameras

Scoring Mixer Jeff Vaughn

Technical Consultant Frank Q. Dobbs

Helicopter Pilot David Gene Gibbs

Production Assistant Leah Bathe