THE BOONIES TO HOST PRE-HBO PREMIERE OF “GASLAND” Live appearance by Sundance Film Festival-winning director Josh Fox
WARREN, Pa., (May 12, 2010) -- The Boonies International, an Independent Film Festival at Warren, PA announces the presentation of the Josh Fox film Gasland at the Struthers Library Theatre in Warren, PA on Sunday, June 6, 2010 at 1:30 PM (doors open 1:00 PM); and in Bradford, PA at the University of Pittsburgh at 6:30 PM (doors open at 6:00PM). Warren and Bradford are two of 20 stops on the filmmakers’ grassroots tour with his film through Pennsylvania and New York, in a run-up to its June 21st HBO premiere. The event is part of an ongoing series of independent films being screened in Warren as a means of introducing the community to the world of independent film.
Admission is $3/person suggested donation (children under 16 free). Monies will be applied directly to the costs of presenting the event. This film screening is made possible through the efforts of a coalition of conservation and community groups. The Boonies International is assisting in the presentation and is excited to have the opportunity to be involved by affording a forum for Josh Fox’s award-winning documentary film in Warren and Bradford.
The Struthers Library Theater (302 West 3rd Avenue, Warren, PA ) will host the first screening on June 6th—a Sunday matinee. Theatre doors will open at 1:00 PM. Local musician Stan Barton will perform on stage prior to the screening of the film, which will begin promptly at 1:30 PM. A panel discussion and Q& A with Fox; Ben Price, Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, and the Pennsylvania Community Rights Network Projects Director; and Paul Burroughs, Environmental Attorney. Sign-up (and tell your friends) for "Gasland" in Warren
The Environmental Studies Club at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Campus (300 Campus Drive, Bradford, PA) will host the evening show on June 6th with doors opening at 6:00 PM. There will be a short introductory performance for the film, which begins showing at 6:30 PM. The Q&A panel described above will also follow the evening show. Sign-up (and tell your friends) for "Gasland" in Bradford
The hosting coalition includes the Allegheny Defense Project, Bradford Earth Day, the Lake Erie Group of the Sierra Club Public Lands Action Team, the Niagara Group of the Sierra Club, the Environmental Studies Club at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, the Seneca Chapter of Trout Unlimited, The Pennsylvania Steelhead Association, Friends of Rimrock, Good People Gather, Presque Isle Audubon Society, Tionesta Valley Snowmobile Club, Allegheny Outdoor Adventures, Save Our Streams, Moshannon Group of the Sierra Club, Earth Action and other community groups. The 20-city screening tour is co-organized by Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Catskill Mountainkeeper and Earthjustice.
According to Cathy Pedler, Allegheny Defense Project Forest Watch Coordinator and event organizer, “These organizations have worked hard to make Warren and Bradford two of 20 communities chosen to host the filmmaker in a day of Awareness Raising of Unregulated Gas Drilling.” Pedler added, “The purpose of this event is to raise awareness about the profound impact of natural gas drilling on public health and the environment.”
Gasland tells the story of the effects of the largest domestic natural gas drilling boom in history that is sweeping across the United States. The Halliburton-developed drilling technology of hydraulic fracturing, also referred to as "fracking", has unlocked a "Saudi Arabia of natural gas" just beneath us.
But is fracking safe? When filmmaker Josh Fox was asked to lease his own land in New York for drilling, he embarked on a cross-country odyssey to learn the answer to this all-important question. His film is part vérité travelogue, part exposé, part mystery, part bluegrass banjo meltdown, part showdown. Fox encounters EPA whistleblowers, congressmen, world recognized scientists, and some incredibly inspiring and heart-wrenching stories of ordinary Americans fighting against fossil fuel giants for environmental justice. Find out more about the filmmaker and the film at http://www.gaslandthemovie.com.
Gasland is the first documentary feature film by celebrated filmmaker and theater artist Josh Fox. It is his second feature film in two years, following the narrative feature Memorial Day released in 2009. Gasland won the Special Jury Prize at this year's Sundance Film Festival; it will premiere on HBO on June 21st. Josh Fox grew up in Milanville, PA and New York City. His work is known for its mix of gripping narrative, heightened imagery and its commitment to socially conscious themes and subjects. Fox is the founder and Artistic Director of International WOW Company, a film and theater company that works closely with actors and non actors from diverse cultural backgrounds, including members of the US Military, activist communities in sustainable energy and design and actors, dancers, designers and filmmakers from around the world to create new work that addresses current national and global social and political crises. WOW company has premiered new work in 8 countries with a rotating network of over 100 actors, dancers, musicians, technical, and visual artists spanning 35 countries on 5 continents. With International WOW Company, Josh has received a Drama Desk Nomination, an Otto Award, five grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, five prestigious MAP Fund Grants, A Ford Foundation grant, an Asian Cultural Council Fellowship, among many other awards and honors. As the Artistic Director of International WOW, Josh has established himself as a significant force New York theatre. In 2004, the New York Times hailed him as “one of the most adventurous impresarios of the New York avant-garde,” and Time Out NY has called him “one of downtown’s most audacious auteurs,” citing his “brilliantly resourceful mastery of stagecraft.” On stage with International WOW Company Josh has conceived, written, directed, and/or produced over 30 productions in Thailand, Indonesia, The Philippines, Japan, Germany, France and New York City.
The Boonies Executive Director, Jeff Clark noted, “We are pleased to be involved with the presentation of Josh Fox’s critically acclaimed and award-winning documentary Gasland, and able to facilitate the screening. Even more exciting is that we are able to host the filmmaker, Josh Fox, and to facilitate a forum and Q&A after the film is shown.”
Clark added, “In the coming months, The Boonies International Film Festival will be screening more films of social conscience and community interest. Some of these films will be thought provoking; some may be shocking. Without a doubt, all will educate and inspire conversation. Gasland will most assuredly stir some thoughts and stimulate conversation in our community. The Boonies believe that such stimulation is an essential quality of education, which is a life-long process.”
The Boonies International 2011 is an annual event which will present film, music, technology and other art mediums here in Warren. The festival will also present events year round. If interested in join in the excitement as a volunteer with The Boonies, contact Jeff Clark at 723-1952.
CONTACTS:
Jeff Clark
The Boonies
Executive Director
814.723.1952
jeffclark1952@verizon.net
Cathy Pedler
Allegheny Defense Project, Forest Watch Coordinator
Lake Erie Group of the Sierra Club Public Lands Action Team
814-454-7523
cpedler@alleghenydefense.org
