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Your new movie Groundswell Rising, Protecting Our Children's Air
and Water - in a few words, what is it about?
Groundswell Rising, Protecting Our Children's Air
and Water
is a film about people working together to resist the invasion of the
industrial process of fracking into their neighborhoods, schools and
lives. What
inspired you to make a movie about fracking and its consequences, and your
personal views on the subject?
I
first leaned about fracking at a teach in at a local public library.
Dr. Theo Colborn’s film What
You Need to Know About Natural Gas Production was
shown and it really opened my eyes to this threat.
I could not believe that this was going on and that there was no
huge public outcry. Also at this meeting there were 2 women who were
working on organizing communities to resist fracking and keep it out of
their towns. I was impressed
by the passion and knowledge of these ladies and decided to make a film
about the resistance to fracking and the people who are dedicating so much
to protect our environment and our future.
I believe that people have been treated with great insensitivity to put it
nicely by a giant multinational industry. I had thought that our laws
protected us from this kind of treatment, but apparently I was wrong and
our protections have been sold out along with our dignity. We all need to
know that this is going on and be made aware of what can be done to
protect our children, our quality of life and our environment. How would you describe
your directorial approach to your subject at hand?
Groundswell Rising, Protecting Our Children's Air
and Water
has no narration. The people who are being personally affected
speak for themselves. As well
as those who have dedicated so much to educate and guide those wanting to
resist and make a difference.
Do
talk about some of your principal interviewees for a bit, and how did you
find them? I
traveled to where people were demonstrating against the onslaught of
fracking into their communities. The first person I interviewed as David
Kagan, a retired English professor who was witnessing an armada of heavy
industrial traffic into his quiet, picturesque riverside home. During our
interview he began to cry as he told me of how his life has changed as a
result of fracking. He invited
me to come to his home and see for myself.
I did and the first short we put out from the film Heavy
Fraffic,
(www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZZQxe6FiGA)
moved
many people and empowered us to continue making the film. Some of your major challenges of getting your
movie made? As
with all documentaries funding is the biggest hurdle. We
basically had very little funding. Mark Lichty our executive producer was
able to bring in some funds from associates and we received a few small
grants. Most of the funds came
from small donations to our nonprofit, Resolution Media Fund.
The bulk of work was a volunteer effort or deferred payment by a
dedicated production team.
What can you tell us about the shoot(s) as
such? Most
of the shooting was done by me and our associate producer David Walczak.
Co-executive producers Mark Lichty and Matt Cohen also helped on shoots
and did some of the shooting. The
shoots were very moving, people were open and honest with us and also
passionate about getting the message out. A few words about critical reception of your movie
so far? So
far we have had very positive response.
Our film has been called one of the best on the subject.
I think people appreciate that our subjects are able to tell their
stories and that the film is not mean-spirited.
Because you see people being effective and making positive change
in †heir communities our film has been called uplifting and empowering.
The $64-question of course, when and where will
the movie be released to the general public?
Groundswell Rising, Protecting Our Children's Air
and Water
is out now. There have
been many screenings through out the US and worldwide.
We have been a select in 7 film festivals including Wild and Scenic
and The Colorado Environmental Film Festival. I believe there will be
more. In April we had a NYC theatrical premiere at the Maysles Cinema and
coming up on May 15-21 we will have an LA theatrical premiere at the
Laemmle
Music Hall 3
9036 Wilshire Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
310-478-3836
http://www.laemmle.com/theaters/4
DVDs
of the film are now available on our film website,
groundswellrisng.com,
community screenings can be arranged with our distributor Bullfrog Films -
www.bullfrogfilms.com.
We also have an international distributor, Sideways Film -
www.sidewaysfilm.com.
Groundswell Rising, Protecting Our Children's Air
and Water
can be seen on RT Russia Today, and Free Speech TV.
Any future
projects you'd like to share? I
am also a musician/composer and wrote and recorded the theme song for the
film
Groundswell Rising, Protecting Our Children's Air
and Water. A
CD with this song and 9 others of my tunes was put together to help
support the film called I See a Groundswell. This CD is available on
my music website
www.renardcohen.com,
ITunes and other outlets. What got you into
filmmaking in the first place (and documentary filmmaking at that), and
did you receive any formal education on the subject? I
went to Emerson College and NY Tech as a communications major, but got
into TV by doing music for productions my brother Matt Cohen was working
on. Over the years I have worked in all phases of production.
What
can you tell us about your filmwork prior to
Groundswell Rising, Protecting Our Children's Air
and Water?
My
brother Matt Cohen and I have had a production company, Resolution
Pictures, for the last 25 years. We
have produced for The Food Network, PBS, Fine Living,
National Geographic
and many others. We
have won 2 Emmys. One Emmy was
for a PBS miniseries called Seasoned With Spirit a Native Cooks
Journey.
This was a series where we traveled with a Native American chef
back to 5 tribes to learn about their food and culture. The other Emmy was
for a piece we did for WNET called Theater On The Edge. How would
you describe yourself as a director? I
try to look for good composition, lighting, and interesting angles.
Groundswell Rising, Protecting Our Children's Air
and Water was our first full-length doc so in many respects it
was learn as you go. Filmmakers who
inspire you? I
like Altman, Kubrick, Clint Eastwood, Zemeckis, Reiner, Howard, Woody
Allen, Scorsese, the Maysles Brothers, the Coen Brothers, and many others.
Your favourite movies? There
are many but a film I just saw again and love is Joe Versus the
Volcano.
If you never saw it, check it out. ...
and of course, films you really deplore?
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I
would not say I deplore any film. To
complete a film is quite an accomplishment even if it is not my taste. Your/your
movie's website, Facebook, whatever else?
https://www.facebook.com/GroundswellRising
https://twitter.com/GrndswellRising
https://www.youtube.com/user/respix
http://www.renardcohen.com Anything else
you are dying to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask?
Please
order a copy of
Groundswell Rising, Protecting Our Children's Air
and Water (groundswellrisng.com) and show it to
your family and friends and those who think that natural gas is a bridge
fuel to a cleaner planet. We
made the film as a tool to inform, educate and inspire and I hope people
will continue to use it that way.
Thanks
for this opportunity to share my thoughts. Thanks
for the interview!
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amazon.com
amazon.co.uk
amazon.de
eThaiCD.com
find Renard Cohen at adultvideouniverse.com
