You are currently browsing the monthly archive for January 2008.
January 29, 2008
Enjoy this short film by Brendan Kiernan and Frank Pickell, Zoltan, which screened at Mountainfilm in 2006! It’s one of my favorites from my first year working for MF.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMzx830MvjA[/youtube]
Guest blog post by Chuck Kutscher, principal engineer and manager of the Thermal Systems Group at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado
January 25, 2008
At last year’s Mountainfilm Festival I gave a talk about climate change and renewable energy at the Energy Symposium. The news about climate change has unfortunately gotten worse. The National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder announced that on September 16, Arctic summer sea ice extent had set a new record low—an incredible 22% below the previous record low set in 2005. Many scientists now believe that the Arctic will be completely free of summer sea ice within just 5 to 20 years—a situation not seen on this planet for at least 100,000 years.
Ice melt in Greenland
Land-based ice sheet loss in Greenland also set a new record in 2007. Both the Arctic and Antarctic are rapidly losing floating ice, thus removing an important barrier to glaciers that are now marching much faster towards the ocean. It appears this could be the beginning of a rapid increase in the rate of sea level rise. Here in Colorado, severe bark beetle damage has been linked to warmer weather and drought, conditions that also increase the likelihood of wildfires.
Bark beetle damage
The good news is that Colorado has become a real leader in fighting climate change and developing renewable energy. In 2007 the state legislature passed a number of significant bills, including increasing our renewable electricity standard to 20% by 2020 and requiring the mapping of renewable resource “generation development areas.” I participated in the Colorado Climate Project, which issued a report in October describing 70 policy recommendations. In November Governor Ritter released his “Colorado Climate Action Plan,” and in December Environment Colorado released their “Blueprint for Action.” And lest anyone think that the only thing being produced is reports, in 2007 Colorado surpassed the 1,000 MW mark for installed wind power.
January 22, 2008
“We are running out of resources. We are using too much stuff.”
So says Annie Leonard on the web site The Story of Stuff, which I ran across the other day when I was Stumbling (Of course I would never stumble during work hours, ah-HEM).
Did you know we have less than 4% of the original forests here in the US? Ouch. That’s just one of the scary statistics Annie presents in her Story, which explains the consumptive process of turning raw materials into “stuff” like iPods, Blackberries, DVDs and cashmere sweaters.
The statistic that I found the most scary, though, is this: only 1% of all products bought in the US today are still in use 6 months after the date of purchase. One percent!! So within just a few months of purchase, we are throwing out (or recycling, if we’re just a little bit more conscious than others) a whopping 99% of what we buy. That statistic is referring only to the products themselves, too, and not the packaging (you know those ridiculous plastic packages that are so hard to open?).
After struggling to open up this package, we just throw it away
Annie, on her Story of Stuff web site, rants about the consumer system in the country. It’s not about one thing, although it’s easy for me to start railing on, for example, vile plastic bags in supermarkets. The problem of overconsumption will not be solved by one thing like hybrid cars, or using cloth bags, or eating only locally produced food products, but, as Annie recommends, a fundamental change in our consumption habits: Buy Green, Buy Fair, Buy Local, Buy Used, and most importantly, Buy Less.
Posted by Emily Long
Posted by Jonathan Browning, filmmaker, Screaming Frog Productions
January 18, 2008
When I was asked to participate on Mountainfilm’s blog, I was incredibly honored and then immediately terrified. I have nothing but the deepest respect and admiration for the people who work/participate in the festival. I was introduced to Mountainfilm last year when a short film I had done was accepted to the festival. The time I spent at Telluride genuinely changed my life and the way I saw the world. I often hear that nothing created by mankind can rival the beauty of nature. I might have to disagree. Mountainfilm, created and kept alive by passionate like-minded individuals is one of the most breath-takingly beautiful things I have ever witnessed. If you have an opportunity to see this living, breathing organism of passion, love and inclusion…you will never forget it.
The two emotions that the festival volunteers, patrons and filmmakers exuded were passion and optimism. So that is what I would like to touch on here.
Director Jonathan Browning, right, working with the crew of his short film The Job.
When I went to shoot my short film I had no experience, no equipment, no crew and no money. All I had was an idea, a lot of passion and a naïve belief that it could be done. I wish I could say that doors were thrown open and everyone that I asked to help said yes. But that’s not what happened. A great many people not only told me no but wanted to sit me down and explain in painful detail why it wouldn’t work. If I asked ten people to join me, nine said no. But that one in ten that said yes, brought an unwavering strength to the project and my life. If I had a truckload of money to pay, I could have had a cast and crew in seconds. But the moment the money dried up, I would have lost every one of them. But when I only had a dream to offer, those who signed on were there through thick and thin.
There is not one single person listed in our credits that I wouldn’t do anything in the world for today. When I reached out for help, each one of them not only gave me a hand but also gave one hundred percent of themselves. It’s a really beautiful thing to be a part of something that is completely collaborative and created by a group of people who really cared for each other.
Dedicated volunteers—the cast of The Job
I encourage everyone to surround themselves with passionate optimistic people who share a vision. If you are concerned about the quality of water in your town, get educated and get active! If there is a social issue that stirs you, get educated and get active! If you feel strongly about something, I guarantee that there are others out there who share your passion. FIND THEM! Work with them to educate and inspire others. Change…real change…doesn’t come from our government enacting laws or celebrities doing grand gestures. It comes from everyday ordinary people looking at the world and saying, “There’s something wrong here. This MUST change.” Invite others to see your passion and optimism and don’t forget to take the time to see theirs.
No experience, no money and no idea where to start? No problem. Reach out with passion and optimism…and someone will take your hand. It’s scary and a lot of people might shut you down, but those who don’t will find in you a strength and hidden talents that you didn’t even know you had inside of yourself.
Good luck and enjoy the journey.
Jonathan
January 16, 2008
I have to admit that I spent a good part of yesterday outside, not in the office…not working on confirming guests, not logging new film entries and (gasp!) not posting my regular Tuesday blog.
This was me yesterday. Ok…so maybe it’s not ME, persay…
I was also really digging Kenny’s post being the first thing you see when you come to the MF Blog. Hard act to follow! If you haven’t read Kenny Laubbacher’s post (from Invisible Children) yet, check it out here. I just uploaded some new photos today of Kenny and Fall Out Boy in Uganda, to replace the general IC photos that were up last week.
I swear I’ll put a real post up soon. But for now, check back again this Friday for our second guest blogger, director Jonathan Browning, whose short satire piece The Job played at Mountainfilm 2007. (Here’s a link to Jonathan’s Screaming Frog Productions.)
Posted by Emily Long
Posted by guest blogger Kenny Laubbacher, filmmaker and activist with Invisible Children (Photograph of Kenny, with microphone, after his screening of “Emmy” at Mountainfilm 2007)
January 11, 2008
Hey Guys,
Last year I was extremely fortunate to be a part of the festival with a film called “Emmy: The Story of an Orphan.” “Emmy” is one the shorter documentaries created by the non-profit where I work: Invisible Children.
Invisible Children is about the war in Uganda that’s been raging for 22 years. If you don’t know about it yet, you’re slipping!!! Check it out now: www.invisiblechildren.com.
Kenny filming in Uganda.
When they first asked me to write this blog, I was going to give the typical rundown of how to get involved and where the money goes, etc., but I wanted to share something with you guys that was a bit more personal. I wanted to use this space to tell you an insane story about my past summer in Uganda.
As many of you know, IC is different than a lot of nonprofits because we sincerely believe in investing in the youth of America – empowering them and encouraging them to make a difference. Think about it: if everyone not only fights for this cause, but also for whatever else their hearts lead them to, this world is going to be an amazing place in a few years.
With this mindset, there comes quite a few unconventional ways of raising awareness. Case in point: Over the past year or so, I’ve been blessed to meet some really sincere dudes from the pop band Fall Out Boy. If you don’t know about them yet, they’re HUGE right now and I guarantee you that your high school-aged daughter or niece not only knows about them, but is absolutely in love with one of the four members.
Fall Out Boy
We collaborated with these guys to produce a music video to spread the word about the war in northern Uganda to mainstream pop culture. This was a massive task. Shooting a pop video in a war-torn country about a war that’s still happening in that area is a gnarly mission. We wanted to humanize the people it was referencing, stay creative and engaging for the audience, but still remain culturally relevant and sensitive to the people in Uganda. Whew. Wasn’t easy. http://www.invisiblechildren.com/fob/index2.html
Anyways, somewhere near the beginning of the shoot I took the bass player, Pete Wentz, on an adventurous motorcycle trip through the countryside to show him the “real” Uganda! While on some back road, we ran into a group of 20 or so farmers who began to mob up and block off the road. We were forced to stop due to the shovels, picks, and slashers they laid on the road in front of us AND behind us. With gnarly, buff Ugandan farmers surrounding us and waving machetes in our faces, they demanded money in exchange for our release. I was the only one with any travel experience in this country, and my mind was blown by the way these people were acting. Normally everyone in that culture is extremely hospitable and welcoming. I guess it’s just the product of decades of war and poverty. If you see the chance to get some money, you better take it.
Pete’s eyes were as big as saucers and he was dead quiet and just as pale. He kept giving me looks like “what the …” I was worried about paying them off with so many eyes on me because they’d think I was holding out on them. I had my own money in my left pocket, Pete’s money in my right pocket, and a fat production stash in my hoodie pocket—the equivalent of a few months’ pay.
I tried to take control of the situation. I told the ring leader of the crew to hop on my bike so we could go talk. I lied to him about knowing some German guy he knew (I don’t even know how that came up), and he hopped on the back of my bike, machete and all. As we started to drive away, I noticed that Pete and the two others with us weren’t coming because they had these burly men holding onto their bikes not allowing them to move. When I stopped to make sure they were coming, the ring leader guy hopped off my bike and said he’s holding the others until we get him some money.
Which is more powerful?
As he was walking back he greeted an old man with the title LC1, which is basically the boss or landowner. I immediately hollered at the LC1 to come talk with me. This little man couldn’t have been happier. I told him that his people were being rude and not letting us pass. I told him I’d give him the money to disperse amongst his men, but he had to make sure they let us through. Not knowing what was going on, he was just super excited to be getting any sort of money and quickly agreed.
I reached into my hoodie pocket to grab a bill, and decided that whatever bill it was, I’d give it to him and hope that it’d suffice. I pulled out a 5,000 schilling bill, handed it to him, and he dispersed the crowd. We zoomed out of there so fast! The weight that was just taken off of my shoulders made me feel like I was in love or something.
I joke with Pete’s friends about that story because he’s in Forbes’s magazine, owns his own label, is in a huge band, etc. and I say, “How much do you think that guy is worth? Because on some back road in Uganda, I bought his freedom for the equivalent of about 75 cents!
Editor’s Note: Check out the Fall Out Boy/Invisible Children music video here.
January 8, 2008
We’re still going to keep posting regular behind the scenes Mountainfilm staff posts at least every Tuesday, but the MF blog world is about to expand. Beginning this Friday, January 11, and continuing weekly every Friday, we’ll be having different guest bloggers here on The Conversation, Mountainfilm in Telluride’s official blog.
Our first guest will be Invisible Children‘s Kenny Laubbacher, who brought his film Emmy: The Story of an Orphan to Mountainfilm in 2007. I’d tell you a bit about Kenny’s story, but he tells it a lot better than I do. Click to watch Kenny’s trailer for the film.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwWFiH8UXxA[/youtube]
Here’s the schedule for guest bloggers through this month:
Jan. 11—Kenny Laubbacher (Filmmaker/Activist)
Jan. 18—Jonathan Browning (Filmmaker/Comedian)
Jan. 25—Steph Davis (Climber/Author)
Feb. 1—Alison Teal Blehert-Koehn (Filmmaker/Adventurer)
Thanks for reading!
Posted by Emily Long
January 3, 2008
In researching for our Moving Mountains Symposium on Water today, I was reading a fascinating New York Times Magazine article today about water issues in the West. It begins:
“As one prominent Western water official described the possible future to me, if some of the Southwest’s largest reservoirs empty out, the region would experience an apocalypse, ‘an Armageddon.’”
Click on the picture to link to “The Future is Drying Up”
from the New York Times Magazine
And later on: “The two problems — water and energy — are so intimately linked as to make it exceedingly difficult to tackle one without the other.”
The article brings up some scary statistics about the water in the West, and discusses just briefly one idea that James Howard Kunstler brought up at our energy symposium last year: in a very brief span of time from now, and directly related to the enormous population growth of humankind, there will simply no longer be enough resources to sustain us all. As population continues to grow, we’ll need to drastically curb our consumption habits—the article mentions that our “water footprint” will soon be talked about just as much as our carbon footprint—or we frankly will not survive. Or at least, many of us won’t survive.
If we’re trying to save the planet for our children, the vast majority of us should not have children in the first place. In my opinion, the root of every potential global resources shortage we are now facing is not consumption, per say (although you could easily argue that in the States our consumption is off the charts in very selfish and hedonistic ways), but rampant unchecked human population growth. If we don’t take steps to curb population ourselves, nature will do it for us.
Posted by Emily Long
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