Cut to Create has been producing videos for a wide range of industries over the last 15 years. While many of our clients have national or international reach, we are also very Houston-centric with our client base and loyal to our community. It almost didn’t turn out that way. In fact, there would be no Cut to Create in Houston if it hadn’t all been for an astronaut and a secret he kept for over 15 years.

It was around this time that Zach become acquainted with one of his father’s neurology patients, former Astronaut Michael “Rich” Clifford. In 1996, Rich performed the first ever American spacewalk while docked to the MIR Space Station, paving the way for future spacewalks and research. While this story alone is remarkable, it becomes even more incredible when you then learn that he did it all while concealing a Parkinson’s diagnosis for over 15 years. Even though it had been many years since he retired from his position as a NASA pilot, Rich decided it was time to share his diagnosis publicly in an effort to encourage early detection and spread hope among those with a Parkinson’s diagnosis.

Zach knew that this was an important story to tell because of the intersections between science and technology, disability/disease and stigma, and the inspirational work of the scientists at NASA and beyond. Understanding the deception from Rich’s point of view sheds a light on how our passions and fears can collide in ways that are very personal, but that also can impact the larger “mission” at hand. His journey from dreamer to astronaut to advocate is an inspirational reminder that our dreams are achievable through tenacity and hope.

Over the course of 2 years, we produced the various pieces that would help tell Rich’s story, with his voice at the center.

As each piece came together, Cut to Create’s network of Houston-based creatives expanded, forging creative partnerships that have endured to this day.

Production for this project culminated in filming of NASA’s final Atlantis shuttle launch in 2011, documenting Rich and his wife’s emotional response to the historic event. It’s not often you get to film a space shuttle launch; it was an honor to be present for this event and get to know Rich and his family.

“The Astronaut’s Secret” debuted at film festivals in 2014 to highly positive reception, resulting in the following recognitions:

Rich passed away in 2021, but he will always be an important part of Cut to Create’s history. This project led us to create more opportunities with non-profit causes in the Houston area, resulting in collaborations with Holocaust Museum Houston, The Houston Area Parkinsons Society, The Global Foodbanking Network, Run for the Rose, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, the Houston Parks Board, the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston, The Tourette’s Syndrome Association of Texas, and other great organizations that exemplify what an extraordinary community of scientists and helpers there are in the Houston area.

Why would anyone ever leave, amIright? (Except to go to space, obviously.)

In addition to the work being fulfilling; it’s the community of people that have become part of the Cut to Create network that made it impossible for Zach to deny the pull of gravity back to Houston. And here we are, fifteen years later, thanks to the collaborators who became friends, the friends who have become family, and the Cut to Create families that continue to grow who have made this experience an extremely fruitful and sustaining one.

Thanks for taking this [space]walk down memory lane with us. We may have had a little more hair back then, but today we’ve got even more heart and passion for our craft. If you know of a non-profit or inspiring story that deserves to be told, we would love to hear about it. Maybe there is another documentary collaboration in our future!