Hello Everybody:
The campaign has ended but donations don't need to. If you wish to donate please send a cheque, payable to White Gold productions, to :
821 Tenth street
Nelson, B.C.
V1L 3C6
or an email money transfer to : captaingranitic@yahoo.com
And don't forget to include your address so I can mail you a dvd.
Thanks for the support,
Cheers,
David Lavallee
White Gold Productions
The "White Water, Black Gold" story
"WHITE WATER, BLACK GOLD" has been a passion project for me for the last three years. I have raised over $80, 000, appeared on national television and radio numerous times, and have partnered with numerous organizations- all in a bid to fight for Canada's watersheds.
It began with a realization of how dramatically glaciers were changing in the Columbia Icefields of Jasper National Park, where I work as a hiking guide, and of my realization that I was connected (by a river) to one of the industries that is changing them- the Tarsands- the 2nd largest deposit of "oil' in the world. This resource extraction industry is now one of the biggest polluters on earth, and is spiraling out of control as we speak.
Over the last three years I have uncovered evidence of major threats to half of Canada's water in what I call a "triangle of concern" which extends from Inuvik (NWT) to Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba, to Kitimat, B.C., on Canada's Pacific coast. Water liabilities from this industry include- dam breaches into the Athabasca river north of Fort McMurray(toxic waste ends up in Arctic Ocean), upgraders just east of Edmonton set to suck water out of the North Saskatchewan river (leaving farmers downstream in Sask. and Manitoba high and dry), oil tanker traffic in pristine marine ecosytems on the Pacific Coast, abnormal cancer rates in the downstream community of Fort Chipwyan, ducks on their annual migrations mistaking tailings ponds for lakes- these are some of the threats I cover in my film. My film highlights compelling evidence that Canadian watersheds,and the people that depend on them, are undergoing, and will continue to undergo, a full frontal assault from this industry.
The impact the story will have
My goal is to highlight these risks and call for action. I plan to do everything I can to reach key decision makers, which includes the Canadian and International public, first and foremost, but also politicians and industry leaders- key decision makers.
"White Water, Black Gold" will be a responsible, well researched and balanced look at what is going on in the Tarsands today. It will be a media literacy tool- how can we make sense of the non-contextualized warm and fuzzy statistics we are bombarded with from government and industry (whose messaging campaigns are disturbingly similar to each other). What does it really mean when they say "we recycle our water" or "we only use 3% of the annual flow of the river". In the words of one of the subjects I interviewed, Dr. David Schindler from the University of Alberta, "it's easy to lie with statistics, all you have to do is quote the ones that are completely irrelevant to the problem at hand".
Funding required for completion- DVD pre sales
After three years in production, "White Water, Black Gold" is very near the finish line- you can help make this film a reality. At the moment, funding is required for licensing music, stock footage to support the film's message, and various outreach tools such as a website, a speaking tour to promote the film, and advertising.
Also, an important first stop for any film is the festival circuit, and there are costs associated with submitting films to these. My immediate funding needs are associated with the deadline for getting the film into Hot Docs, the most prestigious documentary film fest in Canada, in the spring. An appearance at this film fest will guarantee a release of the type this important film deserves.
I am seeking $10, 000 in total funding by February 15th, 2011. Every little bit helps- you can donate as little as $20 or as much as $10, 000. For all donations of $25 or more, I will be providing donors with a dvd copy as soon as it becomes available. Donations of $1000 or more will entitle the donors to an exclusive advance screening. Donations of $5000 will provide donors with associate producer credit, and a donation of $10, 000 or more will garner an executive producer credit. Or donors can remain anonymous as well, if they wish to.
I have partnered with a fiscal sponsor as well, an environmental group called Wildsight, and tax receipts can be arranged.
Make some noise about the campaign. Help this link and the trailer go viral by sending it out to everyone in your address book.
Go to the following links/resources to learn more about the Tarsands and Water Issues:
Polaris Institute
Pembina Institute
"Tar Sands- Dirty Oil and the Future of a Continent", by Andrew Nikifourk (subject in my documentary).
Visit my blog on the National Film Board's website: NFB Citizenshift
David Lavallee