“We are very lucky to have bears as wild neighbors and this excellent film clearly shows that we need to learn to coexist with these amazing intelligent sentient beings. They should not pay the price for our lack of understanding of who they are and what they need to survive and thrive in what were once their homes. When we trespass into their lives and they find easy-to-get food or a pool or tub in which to flounder about, we need to do all we can to respect the lives of each and every individual. This important film also makes it very clear that it is not very difficult to do what we need to do to accept their presence. In fact, we are lucky to have this unique opportunity to learn more about them and other animals who we’ve wantonly displaced. and who simply want to find a safe place for themselves and their families.” Marc Bekoff, Ph.D., author of The Emotional Lives of Animals: A Leading Scientist Explores Animal Joy, Sorrow, and Empathy
―and Why They Matter
“A suburb of Los Angeles, California. In the backyard of a house, a bear approaches the edge of a hot tub. The animal sniffs the water, cautiously places her paws on the edge, and slowly submerges herself. Beside her, a cub watches. This endearing scene opens Bears in Hot Tubs, a short film directed by American filmmaker Claire Musser and co-created with Maddie, the bear. Why is the animal a co-creator of the film? Because the camera waits. It never chases. It accompanies the bear’s movements with a humility that allows each gesture to unfold autonomously. The short film unfolds as Maddie wants it to.
This is precisely what first draws attention to this production. The way Musser manages, from the very first seconds of the film, to make the camera a patient presence and us, the discreet witnesses of the unexpected. We see the bears walking among flowerpots, exploring domestic pathways, resting under fruit trees. Solitary cameras record them moving through gardens, crossing fences, and diving into pools. The approach feels intimate and observational, as if the viewer has been invited to sit at a distance and learn to see anew. Soon, the short film alternates these images with fluid and colorful animations.
In this seemingly unusual coexistence, a profound question about boundaries is revealed. Who decides where the forest ends and the neighborhood begins? The bears appear as intelligent inhabitants of a space transformed by human expansion. Their dark bodies against the light mosaic of the terraces trace a shared map. The film proposes an ethic of recognition: considering that the needs of these animals are part of the same urban equation. Planning, conservation, and daily life acquire a different depth when it is assumed that the city is also the territory of others.
The film makes us reflect on the language we use to name animals, to dismantle the logic that reduces them to pests or threats. It is the suburb as a territory under negotiation. In times of fires, droughts, and displacement, the presence of Maddie and her family suggests the possibility of cohabitation based on care and respect. Perhaps cohabitation begins with that simple gesture: making space, waiting, and accepting that wildlife also has the right to immerse itself in the warmth of our world, without question.” [translated from Spanish] Ecos Shorts Festival, 2026
“There’s coexistence…
and then there’s something more.
At this year’s Wild & Scenic Film Festival, we’re bringing stories that ask us to look closer and live differently.
Bears in Hot Tubs is one of those films.
Set in suburban Los Angeles, this intimate short follows black bears moving through a shared human landscape, not as intruders, but as neighbors. Through quiet, poetic moments, the film gently shifts the question from How do we live alongside wildlife? to something deeper:
How do we co-thrive?
Co-thriving asks us to move beyond tolerance and toward care, awareness, and shared responsibility for the world we all call home.”
Tamara, Desert Wildlife Center, Palm Springs, CA
“Thanks for coming to our Wild and Scenic Film Festival in Rancho Mirage and speaking to our community. Bears in Hot Tubs was the favorite with everyone I have talked to. It was my favorite as a viewer and part of the committee that chose which films to show.
What really resonated with me and others at the festival is your use of the term co-thriving to replace the term co-existing. It’s a brilliant, much needed upgrade taking us from just tolerating wildlife to celebrating wildlife. I loved it the moment I heard it!! You and Maddie’s film illustrates this perfectly. As you have said, it is moving the bar up for us humans so that we can really enjoy the natural world around us. I loved how the family in the house really did enjoy having the bears there and were so fascinated by them. I loved how you illustrated the bear’s personalities and their unique qualities.
I have now adopted co-thriving as my new standard for living with wildlife and we will be using it in our education programs at Desert Wildlife Center.” Linda, Board Chair, Desert Wildlife Center, Palm Springs, CA.
“Such inspiring words—to treat them as individuals and not curiosities.”
“This film is a powerful story of the possibilities when humans live in harmony with their surroundings.” Brian
“Wonderful film that shows “another” way of humans living in community with wildlife.” Jim & Laurie
“What a beautiful film! Well put together and a moving and impactful story. Excellent.” Scott
“Very touching. I appreciate how the bears were able to do their thing without human manipulation. Cohabitation IS possible. Thanks for sharing.” Jennifer
“Such a great film with a wonderful balance of humor and emotion. It really makes you reflect on how we interact with our natural world.” Myeisha
“A very impactful piece that highlights the vulnerability (emotional and physical) that comes from cohabitation amongst wildlife and the people who have moved into their homes.”
“Dear Maddie & Claire, we absolutely LOVED your film and can’t wait to see it on the circuit! Here’s to coexisting and making the world a better place for all of us.” ♥ Cheers, Brooke & David
“Maddie & Claire, what a beautiful story. Thank you for bringing Maddie’s story to life.”
“Dear Maddie and Claire, your film was so moving and such an important part of how we need to move forward in this world. I can’t wait to practice co-thriving with every person in the neighborhood once we rebuild our home in Altadena. Thank you for all you are doing!” Amanda
“To the Hot Tub Team, heartfelt and meaningful, to reflectreassess our relationship to nature through Maddie’s story. STORY MATTERS, BOTH HUMAN AND BEAR.” ♥ Harry
“I loved that as the audience, this film made me emotionally connected to the baby cubs. It gave me a new perspective on bear conservation.” Ale
“What a beautiful journey this film takes you on. You ride such a wave of emotions — joy & love to sorrow. My heart has opened to the bears and nature in a new way. This is a must-watch for anyone who cares about coexisting with nature around them.” Nikki
“Thank you! You showed me a new profound outlook. Co-living with creation. Thank you for letting me be a part of it. I will forever be a big fan.” Andrew
“Moving, touching, and inspirational! Thank you for your passion and offering it into a film we can all appreciate. XXX”Corky
“To Maddie & Claire, an interesting & enjoyable presentation! I learned a lot about these wonderful animals. Thank you!” Janet
“Watching the film today put a perspective on the indictment of human interference; their routines, once dictated by instinct and season, now bend around roads, waste, and shrinking wilderness. It made me realize that coexistence isn’t an abstract ideal, but a responsibility, one that asks us to take less space, make quieter choices, and remind us that we are guests in this ecosystem!” Carmen
“Dear Maddie & Claire, it was such an amazing and moving film… I truly loved the whole thing. Thank you so much for allowing us to be a part of it. With love.” Darleen & Sal
“I loved working with you, Claire! Thank you for all that you do.” ♥ Hailee
“Thank you for speaking with the bears.” Patrick
“Congratulations on this amazing achievement! What a beautiful film and amazing bears. All my love for Maddie Bear!” ♥ Alex
“The film really draws the viewer in to the personal story of the homeowners and of Maddie the bear and her cubs. It illustrates how their lives intertwine and co-exist in a harmonious way. I think the best part was being able to see how the homeowners get attached to Maddie and her cubs, empathize with her through the difficulties she faces, and it increases the awareness of the viewer to the humanity of animals and the emotions they feel. I really enjoyed the film. It put Maddie as the protagonist and I genuinely care about Maddie and her cubs.” Wendy
Best regards,