Lorentz Productions

Lorentz Productions specializes in long form documentaries covering a range of human interest and historical subjects. The award-winning father and son team produced the 2002 documentary River Voices about the 1937 Ohio River Flood, and the 2014 film Beyond These Walls: Building Community Through Public Art, about the Portsmouth Floodwall Murals. The team received the Ohio Academy of History “2002 Public History Award” for River Voices, and won “Best Documentary” in the 2019 Louisville International Festival of Films for Beyond These Walls. Their latest film is Swimming in Dreamland.

OUR FILMS

Swimming in Dreamland

Swimming in Dreamland explores the role that swimming pools play in the life of communities by chronicling the story of the massive Dreamland Pool in Portsmouth, Ohio.

Bringing together multiple generations of swimmers, families, life guards, pool managers, and community leaders, the film brings to life an extraordinary gathering place for social interaction and collective joy.

Beyond These Walls

In 1992, a small group of community leaders in Portsmouth, Ohio asked, "How can we create pride in our community, improve the local economy, and change a dying part of town into the vibrant place it once was?"

Beyond These Walls is the story of the local visionaries and extraordinary artists who transformed a drab 2,200 foot section of the town's floodwall into a vast display of public art, history, and pride.

River Voices

Of the many floods that the town of Portsmouth, Ohio has experienced, none resonated with the community like the flood of 1937. The flood reached an astounding 74.23 feet, more than 12 feet over the city’s floodwall. Over 10,000 people were forced from their homes and nearly two-thirds of the city was covered in water.

River Voices is a portrait of a culture with a remarkable sense of community, and a genuinely American spirit of optimism which allowed it to thrive after such a devastating experience.

IN PRODUCTION

Sanejo: Building Tomorrow's Generation

Lorentz Films is working with Sanejo to document their exciting project to rebuild schools in Rwanda. Sanejo aims to create sustainable relationships that will strengthen fragile post-conflict societies. Founder David Mwambari's partnership with other visionary young leaders, and their relationship with local communities, is making a difference in the world.

THE TEAM

Nathan Lorentz

Director, Editor, Cinematographer

Nathan Lorentz is a director and editor specializing in documentary filmmaking. He holds a Master’s Degree in Producing for Film and Video from the American University in Washington, DC. In addition to directing River Voices, Beyond These Walls, and Swimming in Dreamland, Lorentz has served as cinematographer on a number of short films.

John H. Lorentz

Producer

Dr. John H. Lorentz is Professor of History Emeritus and formerly Associate Provost for International Education at Shawnee State University. He and his son, Nathan, have collaborated on documentary films for over two decades. Dr. Lorentz is the principal scholar and producer for River Voices, Beyond These Walls, and Swimming in Dreamland.