#nw documentary

Voyagers Without Trace

In 1938 three french explorers, a young married couple and their friend, decided to take their canvas kayaks the wild white water rivers of and Colorado. At the time, it was an incredibly dangerous journey.

75 years later, their incredible journey is being re-created by documentary filmmaker Ian McCluskey. Not only did Ian take cameras dow the same river paths as the French trio (taking along his own your married couple), but he unearthed a treasure trove of color footage of the original journey shot by the original explorers themselves.

To put that discovery into context, in 1938, color film was just starting to come into vogue in the big budget films of Hollywood. This footage was shot on the Colorado the year before The Wizard of Oz was released.

I've seen work in progress cuts of this film. It's full of beautiful footage, but most importantly it's an incredible story that leads places I never would have expected.

I wrote about the Filmed by Bike Film Festival debut of this short film a few weeks ago and my involvement in this documentary.

NW Documentary, the group responsible for this beautitful, tear jerking and inspiring film have put it on Vimeo. I am sharing…

The first part of a three part series on social and environmental documentaries began tonight at nw documentary. A relaxed and interactive dialogue between audience and speakers followed presentations by Kate McMahon, Frontline PBS, and Ed Jahn, OPB's Field Guide. Each speaker showed dynamic pieces of documentaries they produced illustrating points on the development of storytelling and the effects documentaries can have on public debate and legislative progress. 

It was encouraging to hear of the governing and policy changes that have manifested in reaction to both speakers' work. Ed Jahn's idea for the film "The Silent Invasion" developed slowly as he noticed the increasing conversation about invading species during other projects.  He found an engaging way to illuminate the problems of these migrating "bugs & weeds."  His documentary engaged over ten percent of the Oregon population.  And without trying to be an activist rally point his advocacy film changed our attitudes in Oregon from the street to the legislative halls. 

Kate McMahon discussed the progression from local events to national consequences with the documentary The Meth Epidemic.  As addiction spread from the west coast to the dance halls of NYC, her film team followed the progression back to it's cause, or "the power."  Giving both sides of the campaign to restrict access to cold medication the documentary allowed the viewer to have their own voice in the debate and come to their own conclusions.