Crossett

CROSSETT'S STORY

A company is polluting a company town, but not without a fight first. Crossett is a small American working class town in Arkansas polluted by big business. Longtime residents and regional scientists team up to stop rural ecological decay driven by a national paper and pulp company emitting toxic carcinogenic chemicals. People in this community have cancer, neighbors live on respirators, and are breathing polluted air by the very company that has employed them for years. Some are afraid to come forward for fear of losing their jobs. Georgia-Pacific is the only plant in the community and has polluted this town for years. Georgia-Pacific produces household items like, Brawny paper towels, Quilted Northern toilet paper, and Dixie paper products all found in your home. Crossett is a full-length documentary investigating the story of a small community fighting against environmental injustice.

HOW I MET THE TOWN

I met my friends in Crossett over a year-and-a-half ago, while working on a documentary, Koch Brothers Exposed, with Director, Producer, and Activist, Robert Greenwald. I was introduced to David Bouie and Barbara Bouie, the voices of the community, after meeting Environmentalist and Ouachita Riverkeeper, Cheryl Slavant. Cheryl and award-winning chemist, Wilma Subra, are testing the air and water in this community. For over a year, I’ve spent time traveling to the south working with the community, documenting the environmental injustice, interviewing experts, doing independent research, historical archival work, and there is so much more to do. The people in this town have changed my life forever. I believe it is a human right to breathe clean air and drink clean water. This town represents all towns in America polluted by big business. Your donation will tell this story and save lives.

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT

One in four Americans die of cancer. One in three Americans will eventually develop some form of cancer. Crossett represents all small towns across America being taken advantage of because companies, like Georgia Pacific, pollute their land, air, and water. This is about short term profits, not keeping a community safe. We are talking, toxins without borders! Our big beautiful suburbs and cities are not immune to the infection in our small towns.

THE GOAL

For over a year now, my dream has been to share Crossett’s incredible story with the world. Our goal is to raise $30K, and finish production by the end of 2013. In order to start production, which is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and requires travel to document the town’s environmental investigation, we need your help.

YOUR CONTRIBUTION WILL HELP SAVE LIVES

The funds you contribute to this campaign will allow us to start production and bring this story to life. We will begin production by hiring a small crew, traveling to Crossett, conducting interviews with people in the community, experts, and scientists, advancing research, and documenting the investigation.  

Your contribution to the production will be rewarded with various perks, but no amount is too small. All support is appreciated!  

OTHER WAYS TO HELP

SPREAD THE WORD about this film and its campaign via Facebook, Twitter, email, and word-of-mouth. Please tell friends, colleagues, anyone who loves the planet, and wants to breathe clean air and drink clean water.

Website: www.crossettdocumentary.com

DISTRIBUTION PLANS

Once completed, we will pursue theatrical, television, home video, and educational distribution, as well as screenings at domestic and international film festivals. If you're part of a group that would like to host a screening, please let us know. We will help to organize events once the film is done.

MEET THE TEAM

Natalie Kottke, Director & Producer

Natalie Kottke is the Co-Producer for Brave New Foundation's latest documentary campaign, War Costs. In addition to her work in documentaries she's produced for E! Networks, Big Brother on CBS, and worked in book publishing as an Associate Editor for New York Times best-selling author, Linda Sivertsen.

Erica Sardarian, Co-Director & Producer

Erica Sardarian is a Writer/Producer who has produced shows for the Travel Channel, History Channel, E!, MTV, and the Cooking Channel. As a former publicist of the Hollyshorts Film Festival, she featured short films directed and produced by Josh Brolin, Demi Moore, Kristen Dunst, Eli Roth, David Arquette, Jessica Biel, David Lynch, and Paul Haggis. She recently wrote and produced a short film based on her blog, Unfamiliar Road. Erica has a love for filmmaking and telling stories. She currently resides in Los Angeles, California.

Edgar Sardarian, Producer & Editor

Edgar Sardarian showed signs of being a filmmaker from a very early age. Using his family’s oversized VHS video camera and editing with a VCR tape-to-tape, Edgar learned the art, process, and most importantly, love of filmmaking. He was the youngest person to host, edit, and produce his own show on the Time Warner Cable network. Through his talent and tenacity, Edgar has had the opportunity to work on box office blockbusters such as Couples Retreat, Wall Street 2, and Iron Man 2 for Marvel, Universal, and Fox Studios. He worked closely with Academy Award director, Oliver Stone, and critically acclaimed funny man, Vince Vaughn. Edgar has written, directed, and edited four independent short films of his own. He resides in Los Angeles, California and continues to work on his passion projects.

CONTACT US

Want to receive Crossett updates? e-mail: info@crossettdocumentary.com

Follow us on FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Crossett/34140693...

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NatalieKottke

Can't donate, but want to stay informed? Visit our website for more information and updates! http://crossettdocumentary.tumblr.com/