One Chance, One Meeting: The Baum-Kuchen Story //  Documentary short film by Javier Ruiz

As we wrap up Baum-kuchen's 15th anniversary, we received the loveliest birthday present from Javier Ruiz, one of the BK friends and a local filmmaker/storyteller. (We even worked on the Love for Analogue interview with him before!). The gift arrived in the form of a documentary short film about BK, wrapped with so much love and care, directed by Javier Ruiz & produced by his partner Geenah Krisht.

It blows my mind to think back on it, but our first conversation about this project started at a local coffee shop in Eagle Rock, shortly after we went through the impact of the wildfire in Altadena. It feels like yesterday and also a long time ago at the same time. We were about to move the studio from our previous location in Altadena, which barely made it through the fire, to a new storefront in Eagle Rock. Between multiple family relocations during the previous year, wildfire(s) that confronted BK and family communities, and our upcoming business move, I was probably most frail in my nervous system during the time - thus my memory feels so fragmented. Meeting Javier over a cup of coffee and hearing him share how much he believed in what we were doing at BK, despite all the challenges we were facing, felt like a warm and gentle blanket I needed.

"This film came from my own love for journaling. Writing my thoughts down on paper gives me the freedom to imagine the reality I want to create. When I first walked into BK, I felt like I was in someone’s home. Every item was handpicked and placed with intention, and I could feel that someone cared for each artifact in the studio. From the wooden tables to the leather cases, everything had value. The film was a way to honor the spirit of BK and the community that Wakako and Frido have so carefully curated. I hope that everyone who watches our film gets a sense of that feeling when I first walked inside".

- Javier Ruiz

Our collaborative work began shortly after our first coffee meeting, as our team and I were packing up our Altadena studio. Those days were long and strenuous. I am so grateful that Javier encapsulated the essence and all the feelings we were going through during the season in such a raw yet honest way, followed by beautiful milestones, including the opening of our new Eagle Rock location.

I often have a difficult time articulating who Baum-kuchen is. "Are we a shop, a design studio, a maker, a storyteller, a community, a movement… or are we all of the above?" I love the multi-facetedness and depth of Baum-kuchen and how one can’t really put a precise finger on who we are and what we do so easily (even though it challenges my elevator pitch forever). So I appreciate how Javier intertwined the various moments of BK with the intangible (or invisible sometimes to our eyes) yet very important ethos we practice every day, both at the studio and at home. I genuinely believe those values are what set us apart and also what inspire us to keep going with what we do, even after 15 years.

So without further ado, I would like to invite you to a special viewing of an original documentary, “One Chance, One Meeting: The Baum-Kuchen Story”, directed by Javier Ruiz and produced by Geenah Krischt. Please grab your favorite drink and relax into the story. 

Thank you, Javier & Geenah, for crafting such beautiful cinematography about our beloved Baum-kuchen studio. I so cherish your creativity, patience in working with us, and most importantly, your friendship.

I can’t wait to continue sharing our mutual love for analogue, storytelling, and a good cup of coffee.

-wakako

always a metamorphosis in progress...

Topanga // December 3rd, 2025

// Credits for “One Chance, One Meeting: The Baum-Kuchen Story”
Director / DP / Editor: Javier Ruiz (website & Instagram)
Producer: Geenah Krisht (Website & Instagram)
Music: Christopher Lund, You Us We Them (Instagram)
Sound Design & Mix: Sam Damask (Instagram)
Colorist: Arianna Shining Star (Instagram)
Animator: Carlos Cortes (Instagram)
Production Company: Good Good Films (Website & Instagram)

**This story is from the BK Love Letter for December 2025. If you would like to see the entire love letter we sent to our community, including links to featured stories and the new and updated BK artifacts, you can browse it via this link.