His film, Big River Man, won award at Sundance. Listen to him on One Greener Radio archives (click link for 1-21 show).
On Sunday, April 8, 2007, a 52-year-old self-described fat man in a Speedo by the name of Martin Strel swam 3,274 miles of the Amazon River. The Fish Man, as he was called by locals, almost died in the process several times. At the finish his blood pressure was at heart attack level, his entire body full of subcutaneous larvae, and besieged by dehydration and diarrhea and exhaustion. Strel undertook this epic swim to call attention to two issues he is concerned about: deforestation, and river pollution. Along the way he suffered from blisters, sunburn, exotic stomach illnesses, all the while trying to avoid piranhas, anacondas, crocodiles, alligators, river sharks, and a small fish known as the canduru, which when attracted by the smell of urine releases razor-sharp spines into the human orifice it has crawled into.
Showing posts with label sundance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sundance. Show all posts
Saturday, January 24, 2009
- green Sundance - saw 'The Cove' a film about the fishing dolphins, powerful; http://thecovemovie.com
Thursday, January 22, 2009
'Sin Hombre' pre-impressions
I'm here at the public screening of Sin Hombre. The crowd is buzzing and it is packed. There is talk that it will win the fest. Benjamin Bratt, a star in the movie, also performed as a chorus of readers this afternoon. ASCAP and others sponsored this event with star studded readers including Bratt, Redford and others. They took turns reading historic and current writings on war dating back as far as the 1500s. That is still heavy on my mind as I have been in conversations with filmmakers and Sundance staff throughout the early evening.
Another note, the guy next to me smells like some spice. It's a bit rank. The ethinic party is tonight. It honors all of the cultural films in the festival this year. Since my background is cultural studies, I am excited to see this film.
Here's what the Sundance site says: "It’s almost impossible to believe that Sin Nombre is Cary Joji Fukunaga’s feature debut; its storytelling is so accomplished, its visual style so crisp, and its heightened naturalism and performances so textured. A social-political thriller in the tradition of American film noir, Sin Nombre is set on the border, where Mexico becomes the crucible and the fearsome gangs of today’s Mexican countryside, the gauntlet, to freedom. The stories of Sayra, a teenager living in Honduras and hungering for a brighter future, and teen gang members Smiley and Casper, for whom the Mara Salvatrucha is nearly their entire universe, become interlaced on the train to the border, a journey that will determine the future of their lives. Young Casper is already a wary veteran of the "Mara," and his new recruit is the 12-year-old Smiley, full of bravado and looking for status. The two run afoul of the everyday violence that penetrates their world and find themselves fellow passengers with Sayra on a States-bound freight, hugging the rooftop as their precarious journey unfolds. At once a love story and a chase film, a thrill ride and a vision of an apocalyptic hell, Sin Nombre demonstrates Fukunaga's skill; he envelops us in a nightmare that is all too real for its inhabitants. Sin Nombre is a portrait of hope and desperation and announces the launching of a shining new filmmaking career."
Here's what the Sundance site says: "It’s almost impossible to believe that Sin Nombre is Cary Joji Fukunaga’s feature debut; its storytelling is so accomplished, its visual style so crisp, and its heightened naturalism and performances so textured. A social-political thriller in the tradition of American film noir, Sin Nombre is set on the border, where Mexico becomes the crucible and the fearsome gangs of today’s Mexican countryside, the gauntlet, to freedom. The stories of Sayra, a teenager living in Honduras and hungering for a brighter future, and teen gang members Smiley and Casper, for whom the Mara Salvatrucha is nearly their entire universe, become interlaced on the train to the border, a journey that will determine the future of their lives. Young Casper is already a wary veteran of the "Mara," and his new recruit is the 12-year-old Smiley, full of bravado and looking for status. The two run afoul of the everyday violence that penetrates their world and find themselves fellow passengers with Sayra on a States-bound freight, hugging the rooftop as their precarious journey unfolds. At once a love story and a chase film, a thrill ride and a vision of an apocalyptic hell, Sin Nombre demonstrates Fukunaga's skill; he envelops us in a nightmare that is all too real for its inhabitants. Sin Nombre is a portrait of hope and desperation and announces the launching of a shining new filmmaking career."
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Sundance and Sustainability on One Greener Radio
Sundance and Sustainability January 21 Show Summary
Look for the archive in 24 hours here.
11:00 - Big River Man/ USA (Director: John Maringouin mar-ing-u-in) - An overweight, wine-swilling Slovenian world-record-holding endurance swimmer resolves to brave the mighty Amazon - in nothing but a Speedo¨. World Premiere
Martin Strel swims the rivers to raise awareness for clean water.
1115 - The Cove (Director: Louie Psihoyos; Screenwriter: Mark Monroe) - Dolphins are dying, whales are disappearing, and the oceans are growing sick. The horrors of a secret cove nestled off a small, coastal village in Japan are revealed by a group of activists led by Ric OÕBarry, the man behind Flipper.
The Cove documents the annual seven-month dolphin “drive fisheries” in Japan.
1130 – No Impact Man (Directors: Laura Gabbert and Justin Schein)—The documentary follows the Beavan family as they abandon their high consumption Fifth Avenue lifestyle in an attempt to make a no- net environmental impact for the course of one year. Cast: Michelle Conlin, Colin Beavan.
The Beavan family sets out to become carbon neutral.
1145 – The End of the Line/ UK (Director: Rupert Murray) - Based on the book by journalist Charles Clover, The End of the Line reveals the devastating effect that global overfishing is having on fish stocks and the health of our oceans. The filmmaker examines the global effects of overfishing.
Today's guest: Claire Lewis is an award-winning film and TV producer; she has won two BAFTA nominations and six Royal Television Society awards as Executive Producer.
Other interviews on One Greener Television at www.onegreener.com
Other Green Films at Sundance:
All Through the Night/USA (Director: Michael Robinson)—A charred visitation with an icy language of control: "there is no room for love". Splinters of Nordic fairytales and ecological disaster films are ground down into a shimmering prism of contradictions in this hopeful container for hopelessness.
The film contains manipulated material from “The Day After Tomorrow.”
The Beekeepers (Director: Richard Robinson)—An experimental documentary on the environmental crisis surrounding Beekeeping and Colony Collapse Disorder. It explores this ancient profession in its current crisis and the implications for our environment when millions of bees just disappear.
The film focuses on the environmental crisis killing off the honeybees called Colony Collapse Disorder.
Crude (Director: Joe Berlinger) - The inside story of the ÒAmazon ChernobylÓ case in the rainforest of Ecuador, the largest oil-related environmental lawsuit in the world.
The film sheds light on the environmental impact of consuming fossil fuels.
Dirt! The Movie (Directors: Bill Benenson and Gene Rosow) - The story of the relationship between humans and dirt, Dirt! The Movie humorously details how humans are rapidly destroying the last natural resource on earth.
The film asks why humans ignore, abuse, and destroy our most precious, living natural resource.
Earth Days / USA (Director: Robert Stone)—The history of our environmental undoing through the eyes of nine Americans whose work and actions launched the modern environmental movement. World Premiere. Closing Night Film
The film explores the history of the environmental movement.
The End of the Line/ UK (Director: Rupert Murray) - Based on the book by journalist Charles Clover, The End of the Line reveals the devastating effect that global overfishing is having on fish stocks and the health of our oceans.
The filmmaker examines the global effects of overfishing.
A Film from My Parish: 6 Farms/ Ireland (Director: Tony Donoghue)—An animated film shot on location in North Tipperary. It consists of six stories by six farmers from one parish.
Tony Donaghue reminds us of the relationship that can exist with a close engagement to the environment.
Joel Stein's Completely Unfabricated Adventures (Director: Walter Robot; Screenwriter: Joel Stein)—Journalist Joel Stein takes us on an animated adventure through the waste treatment plant of Orange County.
The film is set in a waste treatment plant in Orange County.
No Impact Man (Directors: Laura Gabbert and Justin Schein)—The documentary follows the Beavan family as they abandon their high consumption Fifth Avenue lifestyle in an attempt to make a no- net environmental impact for the course of one year. Cast: Michelle Conlin, Colin Beavan.
The Beavan family sets out to become carbon neutral.
Out of Our Minds/USA (Director: Tony Stone)—A fantasy world spawned from sound. Three time periods and three narratives, one connection–blood. At the center of this life force is the heart.
The film is set in a logging camp where trees bleed when chopped down.
Treevenge/ Canada (Director: Jason Eisener; Screenwriter: Rob Cotterill)—Sometimes Christmas is worth crying over.
Treevenge explores the turbulent lives of Christmas trees.
The Yes Men Fix the World / France/ USA (Directors: Andy Bichlbaum, Mike Bonanno and Kurt Engfehr)—A pair of notorious troublemakers sneak into corporate events disguised as captains of industry, then use their momentary authority to expose the biggest criminals on the planet. Cast: Andy Bichlbaum, Mike Bonanno. World Premiere
The filmmakers expose corporations that are polluting the environment.
Look for the archive in 24 hours here.
11:00 - Big River Man/ USA (Director: John Maringouin mar-ing-u-in) - An overweight, wine-swilling Slovenian world-record-holding endurance swimmer resolves to brave the mighty Amazon - in nothing but a Speedo¨. World Premiere
Martin Strel swims the rivers to raise awareness for clean water.
1115 - The Cove (Director: Louie Psihoyos; Screenwriter: Mark Monroe) - Dolphins are dying, whales are disappearing, and the oceans are growing sick. The horrors of a secret cove nestled off a small, coastal village in Japan are revealed by a group of activists led by Ric OÕBarry, the man behind Flipper.
The Cove documents the annual seven-month dolphin “drive fisheries” in Japan.
1130 – No Impact Man (Directors: Laura Gabbert and Justin Schein)—The documentary follows the Beavan family as they abandon their high consumption Fifth Avenue lifestyle in an attempt to make a no- net environmental impact for the course of one year. Cast: Michelle Conlin, Colin Beavan.
The Beavan family sets out to become carbon neutral.
1145 – The End of the Line/ UK (Director: Rupert Murray) - Based on the book by journalist Charles Clover, The End of the Line reveals the devastating effect that global overfishing is having on fish stocks and the health of our oceans. The filmmaker examines the global effects of overfishing.
Today's guest: Claire Lewis is an award-winning film and TV producer; she has won two BAFTA nominations and six Royal Television Society awards as Executive Producer.
Other interviews on One Greener Television at www.onegreener.com
- interview with the Sundance staff who make the festival greener
- extended interviews with filmmakers
- On The Street interviews from the festival
- interview Oscar-nominated director, Robert Stone whose film, Earth Days, closes the festival
Other Green Films at Sundance:
All Through the Night/USA (Director: Michael Robinson)—A charred visitation with an icy language of control: "there is no room for love". Splinters of Nordic fairytales and ecological disaster films are ground down into a shimmering prism of contradictions in this hopeful container for hopelessness.
The film contains manipulated material from “The Day After Tomorrow.”
The Beekeepers (Director: Richard Robinson)—An experimental documentary on the environmental crisis surrounding Beekeeping and Colony Collapse Disorder. It explores this ancient profession in its current crisis and the implications for our environment when millions of bees just disappear.
The film focuses on the environmental crisis killing off the honeybees called Colony Collapse Disorder.
Crude (Director: Joe Berlinger) - The inside story of the ÒAmazon ChernobylÓ case in the rainforest of Ecuador, the largest oil-related environmental lawsuit in the world.
The film sheds light on the environmental impact of consuming fossil fuels.
Dirt! The Movie (Directors: Bill Benenson and Gene Rosow) - The story of the relationship between humans and dirt, Dirt! The Movie humorously details how humans are rapidly destroying the last natural resource on earth.
The film asks why humans ignore, abuse, and destroy our most precious, living natural resource.
Earth Days / USA (Director: Robert Stone)—The history of our environmental undoing through the eyes of nine Americans whose work and actions launched the modern environmental movement. World Premiere. Closing Night Film
The film explores the history of the environmental movement.
The End of the Line/ UK (Director: Rupert Murray) - Based on the book by journalist Charles Clover, The End of the Line reveals the devastating effect that global overfishing is having on fish stocks and the health of our oceans.
The filmmaker examines the global effects of overfishing.
A Film from My Parish: 6 Farms/ Ireland (Director: Tony Donoghue)—An animated film shot on location in North Tipperary. It consists of six stories by six farmers from one parish.
Tony Donaghue reminds us of the relationship that can exist with a close engagement to the environment.
Joel Stein's Completely Unfabricated Adventures (Director: Walter Robot; Screenwriter: Joel Stein)—Journalist Joel Stein takes us on an animated adventure through the waste treatment plant of Orange County.
The film is set in a waste treatment plant in Orange County.
No Impact Man (Directors: Laura Gabbert and Justin Schein)—The documentary follows the Beavan family as they abandon their high consumption Fifth Avenue lifestyle in an attempt to make a no- net environmental impact for the course of one year. Cast: Michelle Conlin, Colin Beavan.
The Beavan family sets out to become carbon neutral.
Out of Our Minds/USA (Director: Tony Stone)—A fantasy world spawned from sound. Three time periods and three narratives, one connection–blood. At the center of this life force is the heart.
The film is set in a logging camp where trees bleed when chopped down.
Treevenge/ Canada (Director: Jason Eisener; Screenwriter: Rob Cotterill)—Sometimes Christmas is worth crying over.
Treevenge explores the turbulent lives of Christmas trees.
The Yes Men Fix the World / France/ USA (Directors: Andy Bichlbaum, Mike Bonanno and Kurt Engfehr)—A pair of notorious troublemakers sneak into corporate events disguised as captains of industry, then use their momentary authority to expose the biggest criminals on the planet. Cast: Andy Bichlbaum, Mike Bonanno. World Premiere
The filmmakers expose corporations that are polluting the environment.
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