The Storms We Carry
This film is currently in production.
We’re raising funds to continue the story.
“The Storms We Carry” is a film about what happens when the storms inside of us are bigger than the ones outside of us.
“It’s always been my dream to tell the story of the sky. “
-GabE Cox
Gabe Cox is a veteran storm chaser. Since he was a child, he has been deeply inspired by nature’s most violent forces. Most of his adult life has been spent speeding towards what others are fleeing from. It has always been his dream to tell the story of the sky.
Gabe had reached the zenith of his dreams, became a well-known storm chaser, and started a successful chasing business - only to take a giant step into the eye of his own hurricane to confront his own fears and unresolved trauma.
Gabe is left with a choice: continue pursuing the external chaos of his dreams. Or begin the journey of looking inward and chasing healing.
WHAT IS THIS FILM ABOUT?
Storm chasing is a pursuit that calls to those who embrace the unpredictable, who find purpose in the raw power of nature’s extremes. They race against time and terrain to witness the tumultuous dance of thunderheads on the horizons of the open plains. The storms, to them, are not just atmospheric phenomena but a way to connect with something larger, something wild that exists beyond human control.
When they confront a tornado or get enveloped in the winds of a hurricane, they are surrendering to a force that cannot be tamed or reasoned with. To chase a storm is to confront danger head-on, to grapple with fear, but also to seek a sense of freedom in the face of it. Yet, even in this space, the most relentless storms are the ones inside. It’s not until we come face to face with that turbulence that we can carve new channels in the landscape of who we are.
The Storms We Carry is an in-depth documentary that explores Gabe’s collision with these forces. As he is drawn into the storms, he grapples with the questions we all ask. “How can something so beautiful be so destructive?” This paradox has caused him to pause and look inward, to take a step back from his dreams, spend more time with his wife and two daughters, and to heal from the tumult inside.
The audience will witness striking imagery of natural disasters and near-death experiences, combined with poetic introspection, in the backdrop of the American West. Will Gabe return to pick up his pursuit? Is this just a temporary break or something more permanent, or will he step away from the calm of the eye of the storm and dive into the winds again?
“The storms we carry” offers something different than the typical adrenaline junkie storm show. it is a film where the power of the sky meets cinema, philosophy, and humanity.
Strategy
The production team will employ a raw, candid approach that will give the audience an inside look at Gabe’s life, his family, his joys and struggles, and yes...follow him as he’s chasing storms. The strategic aim is to humanize Gabe, which means we will be there to be a witness in his life as these events unfold.
THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF FEAR.
Why is this important?
There are plenty of storm-chasing documentaries out there, but very few of them offer anything other than the storms themselves. They can feel lackluster because they focus more on spectacle over substance. They force melodrama and manufacture scenes that become exaggerated without heart, soul, and story. “The Storms We Carry” is important because it moves past these tropes and into the space of authenticity and beauty.
Yes, “The Storms We Carry” is a storm-chasing film that will showcase heart pounding moments next to the raw power of nature, but it also captures the essence of a close-knit family, mental health, and what it means to redefine dreams. That is something truly unique. “The Storms We Carry” will stay grounded in emotional authenticity and deliver an intense yet tender exploration of the storms inside and out.
There are studies beginning to emerge that shed light on the connection between mental health issues and storm chasers. Storm chasing attracts people with a high tolerance for risk, often linked to thrill-seeking personality traits. Thrill-seeking behavior, sometimes associated with conditions like impulse control disorders or sensation-seeking tendencies, can be a way for people to regulate emotional states or cope with stress. Some storm chasers report feeling more alive or fulfilled while chasing storms, as the high-stakes nature of the experience provides an adrenaline rush that can have mood-enhancing effects and escapism.
The storm chasing community can experience high levels of depression, anxiety and even suicide. There is some speculation that the constant exposure to extreme weather and the potential for witnessing devastating damage, can lead to PTSD. “The Storms We Chase” aims to shed light on the stigma of therapy and mental health and be an encouragement to others who might need help.
timeline
The production team has filmed Gabe in a variety of circumstances. Including chasing a tornado in Central Texas, attending the National Storm Chaser Summit, teaching his daughter’s Middle School class about storms, being interviewed by The Weather Channel and more. Additionally, we have access to Gabe’s footage from decades of filming storms. We hope to document a 2 week long chase with Gabe at the end of May 2026.
A word from the director
A few years ago, Gabe and I started asking a simple question: what would it look like to tell the story of his life as a storm chaser?
From the beginning, we knew what we didn’t want. Not another adrenaline-fueled highlight reel (there’s already plenty of those). We were after something quieter…more textured. A film that lingers. A film that asks questions instead of just capturing spectacle. We wanted to see his family, his heart and have the world of storm chasing opened up through their eyes. We wanted to chronicle the beauty of what Gabe was experiencing and documenting through his lens.
Gabe said something early on that never left me: “I always wanted to tell the story of the sky.”
There’s so much inside that sentence. Beauty and danger. Wonder and fear. The way something can feel sacred and terrifying at the same time.
We thought maybe the way in was through that paradox.
So we started filming. Slowly. Patiently. In the in-between moments. Carving out what little time we had between other jobs. Chiseling away.
And like most honest stories, it changed.
Over time, Gabe began facing storms of a different kind - depression, anxiety, loneliness. Eventually, he made the difficult decision to step away from chasing and toward healing.
What’s stayed with me is this: he didn’t close the door. He invited me in.
Into the questions. Into the uncertainty. Into the vulnerability. And somewhere along the way, the film revealed what it was really about.
“The Storms We Carry,” is a film about what happens when the storms inside us grow larger than the ones outside of us.
I’m deeply honored to walk alongside Gabe and his family in this. They are as real and generous and kind as they come. They are dear friends of ours. It takes a lot of courage to open yourself up like they have and have a camera pointed in their direction.
While we’ve been quietly filming on and off for years, this is just the beginning.
This teaser is part of our effort to bring the full film to life. We’re in the process of fundraising.
If it resonates, and you want to be part of the journey, there’s a link in my bio.
Thanks for being here.
Meet the Team
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Jeremy Rodgers
DIRECTOR / PRODUCER / CINEMATOGRAPHER
Jeremy Rodgers is a filmmaker living near Austin, TX. He has won an Emmy for his work on a cultural documentary in Virginia and was a Director of Photography on the critically acclaimed, “Rising From Ashes," filmed in Rwanda. Jeremy won an Austin Film Society Grant for his directorial debut, "From The Ground Up," in which he filmed over the course of 4 years in Israel and Palestine. He has worked in a variety of countries, using film to help the marginalized, including many in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Most recently, he has filmed for Netflix's "Full Swing," and National Geographic's Emmy award winning series, "Science Fair," and holds a Masters of Fine Arts from The University of Texas at Austin. In his free time, he loves to hike, jog, read, and spend time with his wife and two young boys.. -
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Gabe Cox
PRODUCER
Gabe Cox has been a filmmaker and professional storm chaser for over 10 years. Using his background in photography and filmmaking, Gabe fulfilled his childhood dreams of storm chasing by dedicating his career to capturing nature’s wildest moments cinematically. Gabe has contributed to Emmy-nominated live tornado coverage, was featured in the Emmy-nominated Netflix series Earthstorm, and has had his footage used in original tv programing, international museum installations, and major motion pictures including the 2024 blockbuster Twisters. Gabe has also provided storm chasing consultation for major studio film crews and has worked closely with state agencies to provide storm training videos for emergency management. He currently resides in Central Texas with his wife and two daughters. -
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SCOTT WADE
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER / PHOTOGRAPHER
Scott Wade has spent a significant amount of his adult life using film and photography to help tell the stories of the world’s most vulnerable people. After the devastating earthquake in Haiti in 2010, he aligned with “Help One Now,” a non-profit dedicated to economic development in Haiti. In 2015, he and his family moved to The Middle East to continue their shared vision of committing themselves towards reconciliation and conflict transformation. His work, both local and international, has been featured around the world. Scott, a Texas native, is a husband and father of four and currently resides in Austin, TX where he is one of the Directors and Producers at Storyminute. A production company striving to create compelling, authentic, and truly human stories through cinematic filmmaking. -
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BERNIE CALCOTE
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER / FOUNDER OF STORYMINUTE
Bern is a serial entrepreneur. He is passionate about people and walking with them through the adventures of life. Storyminute was born out of his love for thoughtful storytelling and building teams that exist to improve our world. His ability to communicate vision and rally people around a common mission has allowed him to see success in a variety of ventures. He has lived in Austin since 2007 and enjoys trail running or mountain biking the many trails his fine city has to offer. You will never meet a person that loves to get lost in the woods by himself more than Bern. He loves to read, write and play guitar but most of his time is spent building memories with his wife of 20 years, Coco, and his 3 children.
DONATE TODAY
We’re honored to be an International Documentary Association sponsored film, THE STORMS WE CARRY is a fiscally sponsored project of the International Documentary Association (IDA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions in support of THE STORMS WE CARRY are payable to IDA and are tax-deductible, less the value of any goods or services received, as allowed by law.
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Reach out to find more information on how to donate via check/ACH or learn more about becoming an investor below
