ABOUT US

We tell stories to inspire

Visions & Values

Landmark Stories is a small award-winning documentary team that believes in the power of sharing untold stories about scientists' discoveries, struggles and life lessons. We are dedicated to producing cinematic, character-driven short and long-form documentaries that bring us closer together and closer to science.

Backed by the University of Arizona’s Division of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Veterinary Sciences & Cooperative Extension and guided by strong journalistic principles, we tell stories that help us make sense of the world.

Maintaining journalistic integrity is fundamental to our work. We are held to the highest standards of journalistic ethics and we strive to bring accurate and fair information to our audience.

On Assignment

Our Team

Dave Bogner

Production Manager

Dave Bogner

Production Manager

Dave Bogner keeps Landmark Stories running smoothly by applying his many years of communications technology in his role of Production Manager.

In his perfect world, Dave would be whitewater rafting class 5 rapids, surfing, skiing and mountain biking. But he also enjoys his day job of overseeing video production and educational technologies for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and remote education technologies for the College of Optical Sciences at the University of Arizona.

Starting in his teens as a camera operator for local TV sports and studio productions, Dave worked for Capitol Records touring rock and roll bands. After college, he worked his way up to the Director of Engineering at the Virginia Tech Instructional TV studio and grew the studio to a statewide organization with multiple studios, satellite facilities, classrooms and networking operations. He also taught courses for the Faculty Development Institute, founded a state of the art digital media lab for the University, and contributed to the development of a high speed digital network in the state of Virginia with real-time video communications.

John Casamasa

Producer
Editor
Photographer

John Casamasa

Producer
Editor
Photographer

John Paul George Ringo Casamasa, lovingly referred to by the team as “Beatles,” graduated with a bachelor's degree in film and television production from the University of Arizona in 2019. His interest in film began at a young age in Vail, Arizona with productions featuring the family cats. John is eager to hone his skills as a storyteller for Landmark Stories and take the lessons of his childhood and education to new heights.

Galen McCaw

Sound Recordist & Designer
Assistant Editor

Galen McCaw

Sound Recordist & Designer
Assistant Editor

Galen McCaw believes the medium of sound can distill the character and texture of a moment into something felt, rather than just seen. He gets to focus on this every day in his role as Sound Recordist and Editor for Landmark Stories.

While he started his passion for sound by playing piano in the third grade and garageband recording, Galen discovered the art of capturing sound for film while at college. Now, he takes his carefully trained ears and Bachelor’s in Music at the University of Arizona and applies them to sound recording and design.

His fondest moments are spent in the field, searching for sounds that capture an experience, thought and emotion, that he can share with others.

Özlem Ayse Özgür

Guest Producer

Özlem Ayse Özgür

Guest Producer

Özlem Ayse Özgür is joining Landmark Stories from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Arizona where she is a doctoral student in Human and Film Geography.

Özlem left the birthplace of her beloved Istanbul to pursue her higher education in the United States. She received her Master's in Philosophy from Stanford University and Master's of Fine Arts in Film from San Francisco Art Institute.

Her desire to become a documentary filmmaker stems from her belief that film is a compelling way to deliver ideas, ask difficult questions, challenge, and rethink conventions. Her work focus on social and environmental justice issues in the context of refugees and immigrants in the US.

Her films have received multiple Silver Telly Awards, Rocky Mountain Emmy nominations, and an Impact Docs Award, as well as official selections in film festivals nationally and internationally.

In her free time, Özlem likes painting, gardening, cooking, Pilates, and taking long walks with her husband and their Golden Retriever, Zoë!

Matt Rahr

Production Manager

Matt Rahr

Production Manager

Sandra Westdahl

Lead Producer, Senior
Editor
Photographer

Sandra Westdahl

Lead Producer, Senior
Editor
Photographer

Sandra Westdahl believes stories can help change lives. In her current role as Senior Producer at Landmark Stories, she wants to find and tell those stories that build relationships and bridge the gap between people and science.

Before embarking on a career as a visual storyteller, Sandra worked as a print journalist in her home country of Sweden.

She completed her bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism at the University of Arizona and worked as a video producer fellow with The New York Times Journalism Institute. She spent five years working for PBS 6 producing, filming and editing documentary shorts with a focus on social justice and equality.

Since making the transition to film, Sandra has received multiple Rocky Mountain Emmy Awards, as well as several regional and a national Edward R. Murrow Awards for her work. Her work has been featured nationally on PBS NewsHour Weekend and NPR Tiny Desk Contest.

ABOUT US

We tell stories to inspire

Visions & Values

On Assignment

Our Team

Dave Bogner

Production Manager

John Casamasa

ProducerEditorPhotographer

Galen McCaw

Sound Recordist & DesignerAssistant Editor

Özlem Ayse Özgür

Guest Producer

Matt Rahr

Production Manager

Sandra Westdahl

Lead Producer, SeniorEditorPhotographer

Producer
Editor
Photographer

Sound Recordist & Designer
Assistant Editor

Lead Producer, Senior
Editor
Photographer