4th Annual Fall Film Series

AU’s Center for Environmental Filmmaking and Filmmakers for Conservation
Present: The 4th Annual Fall Film Series

Hosted by Chris Palmer and Justine Schmidt
All shows are held in the Wechsler Theater at 7pm on Tuesdays
3rd Floor, Mary Graydon Center, American University
4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016-8017

Admission is FREE!

Open to the Public!

Passion that Connects
Kevin Mohs, Animal Planet
Tuesday, September 23
Kevin Mohs, Vice President of Production at Animal Planet, shares tips and insights into creating passion-based programming about animal-related topics that connect with a broad general audience. He will show examples of the network’s recent commercial and critical successes, along with previews of upcoming specials and series.

River of Hope: The Story of the Earth Conservation Corps
Bob Nixon, Earth Conservation Corps
Tuesday, September 30
Bob Nixon will screen an excerpt from a reality series about young men in Washington DC’s toughest and poorest neighborhoods. In this clip, young men in juvenile detention compete in a triathlon with DC’s Mayor Adrian Fenty. Members of the Earth Conservation Corps Youth Media Arts Team—who are producing the films—will join Nixon.

Screening of Land of Dreams: Homesteading America
Charles Dunkerly, National Park Service
Tuesday, October 7
Filmmaker Charles Dunkerly presents and discusses the making of the film Land of Dreams: Homesteading America, which explores the 130 year history of the 1862 Homestead Act. From Nebraska to Alaska, homesteading has been a part of the American landscape and history of the west. Land of Dreams portrays the personal stories of struggle and success, and shows the land that was lost and claimed, settled and tamed.

Using the Power of Humor to Change Environmental Behavior
Jan Canterbury (EPA), Fred Grossberg (Mill Reef Productions), Casey Roe (EcoSense)
Josh Hilgart (Friends of the Earth) and FOE’s President Brent Blackwelder
Tuesday, October 14
Cosponsored by EcoSense and Friends of the Earth
Come and see funny films from the Web and other places that illustrate how humor can be used to advance environmental goals. Learn how comedy is an underutilized resource for environmentalists.

The PBS System is Not The Matrix
Steven Schupak, Maryland Public Television
Tuesday, October 21
It may be more complicated than a basic cable channel, but the rewards can be impressive. Learn how to navigate the public television system: where the money comes from, how a public television station fits into the puzzle, the advantages over commercial TV, what kind of programming is succeeding, the pitfalls of producing public media and how to get started. In addition, see how your local public TV stations differ and the best way to seek employment in public media.

Getting Your Dream Job (Ten Years Before it Seems Possible)
Bridget Whalen, National Geographic Channel
Tuesday, October 28
Don’t know where to start on your career on TV and film? Bridget Whalen talks about how to get your first job, mentors, promotions, industry exposure, pros and cons of distribution, production and television gigs. She’ll go over developing and pitching ideas to cable networks, and how to build a creative dream team to develop projects that you love. She will also discuss National Geographic programming, how she got her current position, her favorite shows and how to break into the system at NatGeo.

Classroom in the Wild, Extreme HD Alaska!
Larry Engel and Students, School of Communication, American University
Tuesday, November 11
We made it! Learn how twelve brave students faced survival instructor Brian Horner, Professor/filmmaker Larry Engel and the Alaskan wilderness for eight days and came back unscathed (relatively). Professor Engel will lead a presentation of the experience that will include video, photos, and several of the students themselves.

Salmon Versus Gold: Red Gold
Travis Rummel and Lauren Oakes
Tuesday, November 18
Cosponsored by the Turner Foundation
Join us for a screening of the award-winning film Red Gold documenting the proposed Pebble Mine in Alaska's Bristol Bay, followed by a discussion with the filmmakers about Alaska's choice between salmon and gold.

The Best of the Santa Barbara Ocean Film Festival
Michael Hanrahan and Justine Schmidt
Wednesday, November 19
Details to come!

For more information, contact Chris Palmer at 202-885-3408 or Justine Schmidt at 202-413-4490, or visit soc.american.edu/cef or environmentalfilm.org or filmmakersforconservation.org.