Passionate Apprentices, The (ATOM Study Guide)

In the valley beneath Sleeping Beauty mountain, the people of the community have rediscovered the benefits of a small town economy. Families trade with one another, swapping foods they grow and things they make. Their lives are rich and varied. They value what they know and want to pass their passions on.

The Passionate Apprentices narrates the stories of John Hounslow-Robinson, Yves Ginat, John Glendinning and Shannon Ruhland. The four men are conscious of the need to live ethically and make a better world. They are passionate and proud people, keen to pass on their skills. In small communities, formal apprenticeships can be difficult to find but, through mentoring, the men are able to play a beneficial role in the lives of others who are keen to learn.

As director of The Passionate Apprentices, Roger Scholes' interest in filming the community was based on his sense of its uniqueness. Their way of living offered opportunities and allowed people to rediscover a sense of neighbourhood.

The Passionate Apprentices portrays ways of life that are about stepping more lightly on the planet. The stories of John the knifemaker, Yves the beekeeper and John and Shannon the bakers, highlight that through cooperation and collaboration a productive and viable economy can be established on far less energy – and have a positive personal, social and ecological impact.