Valley Under Fire

2025 | Coast Film & Music Festival

Duration: 10 min

Synopisis

When climber and National Park Service employee Nate Vince was fired under controversial circumstances, he staged a protest by hanging an upside-down American flag off Yosemite’s iconic El Capitan, an act that captured national attention.

This short documentary tells the story behind that moment and explores Nate’s deep connection to the park, his passion for climbing, and his commitment to protecting public lands and the communities built around them.

I first heard about Nate after his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. I reached out to him, and before long, he was at my place. We ended up chatting on camera about everything he'd been going through recently. We posted a short clip together on Instagram and to our surprise, it had a huge impact. At the very least, it gave us the motivation to tell the full story.

So I headed to Yosemite to spend three days with Nate. We climbed, talked with friends, met new people, and simply enjoyed our time in the Valley. It gave me a glimpse into the beautiful lives of climbers and park staffers who spend seasons—or even years—living there.

This documentary is our attempt to capture that world. It's a story we hope will inspire others to care a little more deeply about our national parks and recognize how fragile they really are. It takes a village to keep these places running. The pay isn't great, and the work is hard. But the passion for the land keeps these folks going, and that's something worth having compassion for.

Featured at Coast Film & Music Festival 2025

Production Team

Gregory Robinson: Stories connect us—they entertain, educate, and shape how we see the world. I’m a filmmaker drawn to people pushing boundaries, connecting with the planet, and finding meaning through action and adventure. My work has taken me from the ocean floor to the edge of space, always in pursuit of stories that resonate.