The Future Weather Report

Tornados, Floods, Droughts...Oh My

2011-06-28T13:05:00.018-04:00

A volunteer looks for survivors in the rubble of a home in Joplin, MO.

Source: The Independent

As an avid moviegoer, I’ve seen my fair share of disaster movies: good, bad and everywhere inbetween. What I’ve been lucky not too see are these scenarios enacted in real life. Before this year, I thought that if I stayed in the Northeast, the worst weather I’d experience is the yearly blizzard. Lately I’m thinking about stocking up on water and supplies before a regional weather disaster hits.

In the last six months, the United States has experienced town-leveling tornadoes in the mid-west and south; hurricanes in the east coast and gulf states; out-of-control wildfires in the southwest; intense drought throughout the mid and western part of the country; hail the size of baseballs in the Sunshine state; devastating flooding of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, and what some have called “snowpocalypse” which blanked states coast-to-coast.

Off the Future Weather clock, I never gave much thought to the issue of climate change. That was before all of this disastrous weather. Lately I’ve had one question on my mind: is global warming responsible?

Climate has been the key word for years now, but climate is merely the long-term weather pattern. At what point will the climate of the future be the weather of today? Are these extreme storm patterns going to be the new norm? More importantly, is there anything we can do about it?

After some research, I found that I am not the only one with these questions; articles have been cropping up in outlets from the Huffington Pos t to The New Yorker. I had expected the scientific community to be full of data pointing to global warming as a cause. Instead, I discovered that research is still in its infancy and that scientists are working to detect the “fingerprint” of global warming in specific extreme weather events. Despite a lack of irrefutable evidence, researc h has shown that there is a connection. Even though many of these disasters are naturally occurring phenomena, their frequency and intensity has been increasing as a result of higher levels of greenhouse gases (global warming).

The National Research Council advises that we take action now to reduce the level of these greenhouse gases in order to manage the risk and uncertainties. They urge governments to enforce stricter regulations on corporations, companies to increase their commitment to environmental responsibility, and average citizens to raise their level of awareness. By managing the potential for crisis, we will be better prepared to adapt to climate change. Continuing on our current path will leave us more vulnerable to devastation in the future. It is better to face this problem now. After all, Noah built the ark before it started to rain.

Report from the DRBC Hearing

2011-03-01T17:47:00.014-05:00

Even though we were unable to go to the DRBC hearings last week, our friend photographer Roger Smith has shared his experience and pictures of the event with us. Here is his report from Honesdale, PA on February 22, 2011:

Each person commenting was given two minutes to speak. There were about 100 speakers. PhDs, local government, farmers, business owners, and many concerned individuals. Newspaper and TV coverage was present. Also security personnel was there, however there appeared to be no need for them at this hearing. Although each person said their name and some additional personal information, I did not know any of them until Josh Fox of Gasland spoke.

Take Action Now on Gas Drilling in the Delaware River Watershed!

2011-02-22T16:30:00.005-05:00

DRBC Draft Natural Gas Regulations
Open for Comment through March 16, 2011

DRBC HEARINGS ARE THIS WEEK
Please be there and bring your neighbors!

Feb. 22 – Honesdale H.S., 459 Terrace St., Honesdale, Pa.
Feb. 22 – Liberty High School Aud., 125 Buckley St., Liberty, N.Y.
Feb. 24 – Patriots Theater, 1 Memorial Dr., Trenton, N.J.

All are 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Two minutes allowed per person
Arrive 1 1/2 hours ahead to sign up to speak and get a seat
Bring signs to show our unity (no sticks)—visit DRN’s table for stickers

We need to come out and speak up at these Hearings to let the Commissioners know that the public interest in this issue and the proposed regulations is HUGE. It is very effective to show up in numbers and to speak on the record; when hundreds of people packed DRBC Hearings on gas issues in the past, it mattered. We wouldn’t have a gas drilling moratorium in place now if people hadn’t spoken up. PLEASE do what you can to come to one of the sessions.

Want to carpool to a hearing? Use this link http://drn.erideshare.com and password: water to access DRN’s private carpool site at eRideShare.com. You will need to become an eRideShare member (it’s free and easy) before adding or posting a ride.

For Talking Points for the Hearing and to submit a comment to DRBC on the Draft Rules NOW go to: http://www.delawareriverkeeper.org/act-now/urgent-details.aspx?Id=66

Where the DRBC is with fracking right now.

2011-02-22T16:10:00.009-05:00

A resident of Dimock, PA demonstrates what has happened to well water in the area. Credit: Re-ENERGIZE Buffalo

Natural gas companies are drilling throughout the Delaware River Watershed; the drilling process called "fracking" is contaminating our waterways, drinking water, ecosystems, and the communities near drilling sites with literally tons of highly toxic chemicals.

The Delaware River provides water to 5% of the United States--that’s 15 million people in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware--and there is currently no regulation of these gas companies' practices.

An in-depth study of the cumulative impacts of fracking needs to be conducted. However, in a set of draft rules the Delaware River Basin Commission has given these companies the greenlight to move ahead with drilling without regulation. Their rules do not address the impacts of fracking, set limits on gas development, or institute high enough standards to protect streams and communities. They rely heavily on flawed state regulations that are filled with exemptions and loopholes.

The mandate of the DRBC is to prevent degradation of the exceptional water quality of the Delaware River. The public has until March 16th to comment on the DRBC’s draft rules. However, there are only three events left for public hearings. We really need to show up in numbers to make it clear to the DRBC that we will not stand for environmental policies that do not protect us. See below for dates, times and locations.

You can also submit comments electronically.

Who says we can't control the weather?

2010-08-30T22:43:00.007-04:00

Take five while I teach you about the new vocab I'm learning on set. Some is straightforward, some is pretty interesting, and the rest is just downright wacky.

The other day, we shot "day for night," which is fancy movie-speak for hanging black sheets over the windows so it looks dark out when it's really not. Then this morning, we filmed a scene that turned out to be "NG for sound," No Good because of a loud-mouthed lawnmower across the street (what can we do? We can't control the neighbor's chores!).

When we needed a static shot of Laduree's tree, the 1st Assistant Director told the Sound Technician that this would be "MOS." As with a lot of film set lingo, this term has its roots in 35mm film, which had a visual (or optical) representation (or signature) of sound waves printed along the frames. So, when they say a take is "Minus Optical Signature (or MOS)," that's just another way to tell Shawn the sound guy to turn his mics off and take it easy.

After that, the Director of Photography asked his Assistant Cameraman to "give some environment," and the AC immediately walked into the frame until the DP could focus the camera and establish the depth-of-field. Then later today, the Art Department was organizing Laduree's science classroom, doing their best to greek out the labels, or in normal english, cover everything up so they just look like plain ol' books.

Instead of a food table, we call it "crafty"; we shout "points!" if we need to carry sharp objects through a crowd; our "sides" are copies of that day's shooting script (not onion rings or mashed potatoes); and for goodness sake, when the camera guys ask you to hand them some "babies," please understand they just need some small tripods. It's a funky language but we understand it. Now walk it back, we're going to pick it up at one. Annnd...we're rolling.

With a little help from our friends...

2010-08-27T21:37:00.005-04:00

Anna overwhelmed by the delicious assortment provided by Yum Yum Snacks

We're doing a lot better than just "getting by." With green partners like Philly Homegrown, Hotel Palomar, and Yum Yum Snacks, our production is rolling along smoothly. And even better, all these companies are doing their best to contribute to our sustainable production plan. Here's how:

Philly Homegrown is our connection to the local eats, helping us maintain our sustainable production plan by keeping us in touch with Greater Philadelphia's network of farmers, chefs, and restaurant owners. As a special treat, they hooked us up with the DiBruno Brothers, a few Italian masters of the gourmet craft who delivered some locally-grown fruit and gourmet cheeses to set the other day. Hopefully, Philly Homegrown can scare up some more local goodies for us to enjoy during production, because after tasting what the DiBruno boys have to offer, we just might be hooked on the Philly fare.

Hotel Palomar Philadelphia is a luxury hotel in center city that has earned the rare distinction of LEED Gold certification. To earn status as a Leader in Energy and Environmental Design, Palomar cut no corners, garnering recognition for everything from their eco-friendly building materials and furniture to their efforts toward water energy and efficiency (basically, if our sustainable production were a luxury hotel, this would be it). No wonder all of our cast and crew are staying there.

The ladies at Yum Yum Snacks accept nothing short of delicious, taste-testing each product with the very Yum Yum Kids for whom they decided to go into business. With the help of their customers, the sisters peruse all existing products to amass a list of those that do not contain "crummy ingredients" such as high fructose corn syrup, trans fats, MSG, artificial colors, artificial flavors or preservatives. The ladies then sell these products through their website so busy Moms and Dads can give their little ones a healthy snack while on-the-go. It's perfect for the busy bodies buzzing around set too!

So those are our friends and really, that's just naming a few. Each and every day their impact can be felt on our production and we're doing our best to say "thanks."

Meet the Cast!

2010-08-23T00:00:00.004-04:00

Okay, fine, we admit it, we've been a bit of a tease. We've gotten so caught up with filming, we haven't even had a chance to tell you who we're filming! Since you've all been so politely patient, it's time we reveal the incredibly talented cast of Future Weather.

Perla Haney-Jardine (Laduree)
Jenny and Kristin saw Perla in Summer in Genova and her natural and nuanced performance blew them away. Immediately, they knew she would be ideal for the role of 13-year-old budding ecologist, Laduree. So they traveled to Perla's hometown of Asheville, North Carolina to shoot Save the Future for the 2009 Netflix FIND Your Voice Film Competition. Perla is both a down-to-earth kid and a precocious talent (as you saw with her roles in Kill Bill Vol. 2 and Spiderman 3), and we're very excited to be part of a role that will share her special quality with the world.

Amy Madigan (Greta)
Who better for the role of Laduree's sexy, difficult and hilarious grandmother Greta than an Oscar-nominated, Emmy-nominated, Golden Globe-winning actress? No one! You've seen her in Field of Dreams, Twice in a Lifetime, Gone Baby Gone, and Roe vs. Wade, and now she's acting on our set! We're thrilled to have this fearless actress bringing such a challenging and juicy character to life. Each day, we're mesmerized by Amy's funny, diverse performance and are confident that you'll find it unforgettable.

Lili Taylor (Ms. Markovi)
When Jenny submitted her screenplay to the Nantucket Film Festival, this accomplished actress was one of the judges. It was clear she was a fan of the script when she and the judges presented Jenny with Showtime's Tony Cox Award for Screenwriting. And when Jenny (who had been a fan of Lili's for many many years) found out that Lili had read her script, she felt like she'd won the lottery. Lili has performed in Say Anything, High Fidelity, and Six Feet Under, and after meeting Jenny in Nantucket, the two agreed she'd be perfect for the role of Laduree's environmentally-active science teacher, Ms. Markovi.

Marin Ireland (Tanya)
Tony Award nominee Marin impressed us big-time in her audition for the role of Laduree's flaky dreamer mother, Tanya. She brought humor to a role that could easily dip into cliche, and was able to make her character likeable despite her inability to take care of her child. Besides countless roles in prominent Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, Marin has appeared in films such as I Am Legend, Revolutionary Road, and the upcoming Mildred Pierce. It's a gift to have her as part of our ensemble.

Bill Sadler (Ed)
You name it, Bill has probably acted in it. From Shawshank Redemption to The Bourne Conspiracy to The Pacific, his on-screen experience is dazzling. We're very grateful to have Bill working with us; we're sure he won't have a hard time distinguishing our production with any of the other nine films he has scheduled to release within the next two years.

So when you're munching on your popcorn and Mike 'n' Ikes and watching Future Weather on the big screen, make sure you've got a box of tissues nearby - these guys aren't messing around. With all the talent in front of our camera, don't be surprised if you see a few of our actors holding a little golden statue sometime in the near future. Think we're getting ahead of ourselves? Just wait and see.

Peach Pits for a Better Tomorrow

2010-08-07T12:43:00.008-04:00

Producer Carolina Roca-Smith poses with our on-set Philly Compost bin

So all this talk about sustainable filmmaking, I figure I might as well give you an example. See, every film crew has got to eat, right? Right. But we found a way to eat and recycle at the same time (pretty sweet, I know). A local company, Cosmic Catering, has committed to providing us with one hot meal each day and when we chomp down on our free range chicken or local honey ham, we can toss the table scraps into the compost bin donated by Philly Compost. This is when it gets cool.

See, one of the primary ingredients in compost is food scraps, which Philly Compost collects from local restaurants like - you guessed it, Cosmic Catering. When the meals are being prepared by Cosmic, their bread crusts and lettuce stumps get collected by Philly Compost twice a week. Then, Cosmic shows up on set with their bounty of excellent grub and a complete supply of compostable plates, cups, napkins, and utensils to enjoy it with. After we munch, we toss our peach pits and dirty plates into our bin to be collected later by Philly Compost, and it all comes full-circle. This way, everyone gets to contribute, everyone gets something out of it, and nothing gets wasted; it's a win-win-win.

Our green production plan is re-enforced doubly by these companies who are committed to sustainable business practices such as diminishing waste, reusing materials, and using locally made and grown products. We could do everything we can to maintain a sustainable production but without the help of companies like Cosmic Catering and Philly Compost we wouldn't get very far.

Plus, we gotta eat, and well - it's delicious.

And it begins! Life on the Future Weather set

2010-08-04T15:44:00.009-04:00

Day 1

There's something funny about a guy in a John Deere hat and an undershirt talking into one of those fancy secret service earbuds. Walkie-talkies are everywhere, funky lingo's coming out of everyone's mouth, and there's an empty trailer in the middle of nowhere that couldn't be more alive. The excitement of making this film is finally realized. It's day 1 on the Future Weather set and production is in full swing. Who would've thought that 50 people running around wearing cargo pants and bug spray could be so professional? The first day went off without a hitch; things are looking great.

Day 2

Running errands this morning, I didn't get much chance to spend on-set until the afternoon. Turns out, they work okay without me (shh, don't tell my boss); but seriously, this crew is operating like a well-redbulled machine. Of course, we'd all be a bunch of zombies in this heat if it weren't for the incredible help of Cosmic Catering, Betty's Speakeasy, and some black magic. And, as always, our green efforts are rolling every time the camera does. While helping us reduce our impact on location, Golden Valley Farms is also keeping us energized, Klean Kanteens are keeping us hydrated, and the Philly Compost bin is on-set and...well, composting (but more on that later). Anyway, time to go, I need to get more ice.

A word about our green production office

2010-07-26T14:13:00.001-04:00

our good friend Carl at the Recycling Center in Pottstown

So, it turns out I don't know nearly as much about recycling as I thought.

At our inaugural new-office meeting, Jenny and Kristin went over our mission "to reduce our carbon footprint on an indie filmmaker's budget" and how it applies to our new space. We're enacting all sorts of new plans to keep our film green-friendly. Keep in mind, this is only the "office plan," our "locations plan" is still in the works for next week.

We've organized our recycling to collect every single plastic category there is, and even if Philly won't pick most of them up, we know where to bring the rest. We've got reusable cloth bags for when we need to buy something (at the local mom 'n' pop store, of course) and a bunch of friends for when we can just borrow instead. We're pulling all plugs before we leave at night (to save ourselves from vampires!) and we bring our own reusable take-out containers when we buy lunch. We even have a communal bike for running local errands - isn't that something?

We are doing our best to stay green - conserving our energy usage, recycling and reusing as much as possible, and choosing local businesses over large corporations - but in the end, we are an independent film, and we have a tight budget. So for those times when Whole Foods gets a little too expensive to feed an indie film crew, don't get too upset, we're doing the best we can!

A Man, a Plan, a Fan(tastic) new intern

2010-07-21T14:43:00.002-04:00

He's young, ambitious, and bearded - what more can you ask for? After graduating from American University, Zac moved to the Old Oak Homestead in Chapel Hill, North Carolina as part of the WWOOF program. Camera-in-hand and typing when he could, his five-hour work day allowed for plenty of interesting stories that he has already entertained us with. So without further adieu, allow me to introduce the newest member of our production team, Zac Kind.

Hello everyone, I've come to Future Weather after experiencing life working and living on an organic farm. It's been a bit of a culture shock going from a farm to a city, but I have been welcomed with open arms by the Future Weather team.

As Dan mentioned, I spent the last month and a half working on an organic farm in Chapel Hill, as part of a not-for-profit work exchange program called World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, or WWOOF. We worked four to five hours a day on a sustainable vegetable garden in exchange for room and board provided by our host, Barbara Trent. Barbara, a documentary filmmaker, directed Panama Deception, a powerful film about the 1989 US war with Panama. it won the Oscar for Best Documentary film in 1993. Barbara brought this 7-acre land 10 years ago and started with a half-acre vegetable garden. She's now expanded this into a 2-acre plot and it's still growing.

Working as a "wwoofer" was a revelatory learning experience, and I wholeheartedly recommend it. It is great to live on a farm for awhile and work with your hands, watching life grow right in front of your eyes. There's something magical about working with the soil every day, then all of the sudden things start to sprout from the ground and you're rewarded with fresh food that you can just break off and eat. We harvested kale, gold tomatoes, squash, carrots, onions, sweet peas, and bees' honey.

We extracted five gallons of organic honey! I was really excited to be a part of this process because not only is local honey delicious, it's really good for you as well. If your allergies are bad during the summer months, take a teaspoon of honey a day and your allergies will go down immensely. The bees eat pollen and then you eat the honey, and little by little your immune system breaks down the pollen which helps you build a high tolerance for it. Not a bad trade-off if you ask me.

Rally for the Delaware River Basin Watershed!

2010-07-13T13:20:00.006-04:00

Act Now! TOMORROW, Wednesday July 14th, a public meeting will be held by the Delaware River Basin Commission at the West Trenton Volunteer Company, located at 40 West Upper Ferry Road.

On June 14, 2010 the Delaware River Basin Commission(DRBC) expanded its original Executive Director Determination(EDD) that was issued on May 19, 2009 regarding the review of natural gas extraction and development in the Delaware River Watershed to cover "exploratory" natural gas wells in addition to production wells.

Just one month after the EDD was issued, activists will gather TOMORROW to tell the DRBC that they need to include ALL NATURAL GAS PROJECTS in the Delaware River Watershed study, thereby putting in place a moratorium while they address this.

Join the cause and team up with other local supporters @ 1PM to rally before the DRBC meeting. This meeting will be followed by a Public Comment session where five Commissioners, representing PA, NY, NY, DE and the Federal Government, will listen to the public. We'll have about 3 minutes each.

Buses are coming from all around the Watershed! We need your voice!

Transportation Info:

Bus from Liberty, New York: beth@catskillmountainkeeper.org
Bus from in Shohola Twp, Pike County, PA: dnwall@ptd.net
Carpooling in Philadelphia/Drexel Hill: faith@delawareriverkeeper.org
Carpooling in Delaware State: prydeca@verizon.net
Delaware Riverkeeper Network will be providing shuttles for train travelers to the West Trenton Fire House from the Trenton Transit Center and the West Trenton Train Station between 12:00 and 12:40 pm. For specific shuttle info: Faith at 610-291-1403 and faith@delawareriverkeeper.org

How Green is the Gov?

2010-07-06T15:08:00.011-04:00

In the past few years, PennEnvironment has begun to score State House Representatives and Senators on their green efforts (so much for the white house!).

In 2007, the organization launched the scorecard program, to evaluate clean energy, fossil fuels, and wind energy efforts, to name a few. By 2008, the PA State House had voted for new clean energy legislation, established policies to protect open spaces, and increased funding for public transportation.

Sadly, the PA Senator scorecards haven't been good enough to stick to the fridge. Between 2006 and 2008, the Senate halted new clean air standards, voted to raid state conservation programs, and tried to stall regulations to reduce mercury pollution.

With the elections looming this November, keep an eye out for the A+ House District Members Robert Freeman, David Kessler, and PA Senator Andrew Dinniman, and get involved in your local green government!

We finally have a home!

2010-07-06T11:58:00.017-04:00

Today, we officially moved into the Production Office!

The Future Weather team woke up early this morning for some tasty muffins at our very first team meeting at Sherman Mills in East Falls, PA! Afterward, the group dispersed for location scouting!

Stay tuned for updates as we settle in!

We won a scientist!

2010-07-05T13:27:00.008-04:00

As part of our FIND Sloan Grant, we've been awarded a friendly scientist! When Kristin and Jenny were in L.A. last week, they were finally able to meet Wolfgang Buermann, a geologist and assistant professor at UCLA, to discuss FUTURE WEATHER and the scientific issues woven into the story

Wolfgang, a movie-lover himself, enjoyed the intersection of environmental science and activism in FUTURE WEATHER. He has been an environmentalist since witnessing the formation of the Green Party in Germany in his teens (the hot topic then was nuclear power), and this sparked his interest in physics.

Wolfgang's research on carbon sinks and the terrestrial carbon cycle were the perfect foundation for the discussion of Laduree's experiment on comparing two trees' abilities to sequester CO2. He even provided Jenny with allometric equations to calculate the biomass of each tree. Plus, his studies of changing patterns in biodiversity provided an excellent background for discussing Laduree's mission to save the Ohio Pigtoe.

Jenny was a little worried when it came time to review Laduree's predictions for ways that increasing atmospheric CO2 may change our lives in the coming decades, but according to Wolfgang, her predictions were all scientifically sound. Yikes!

Wolfgang's field work has brought him all over the U.S., Finland, Sweden, and southern Africa (among other places) to research how current patterns of biodiversity are linked to contemporary environmental gradients and historical processes. Considering the fact that he's studied terrestrial hot spots around the world and performed postdoctoral research under a recognized pioneer in the field of climate research and carbon cycles, we think it's safe to assume he knows what he's talking about.

With his knowledge of topics that are at the forefront of current environmental issues, and the help he has already offered our film (after just one meeting!), we are grateful to welcome Dr. Buermann to our team.

Philly! Film! Festival! Finally! Fantastic! Fun!

2010-07-03T15:04:00.008-04:00

Attention! Attention! The Philadelphia Film Society has released the lineup for the upcoming 18 1/2 Philadelphia International Film Festival!

A half a year older and all the much wiser, the Society has appointed Michael Lerman as the new Director of Programming. Previously, Lerman served as the Associate Programmer for the Philadelphia Film Festival, so he will also curate for filmadelphiaINDEPENDENT and filmadelphiaDOCUMENTARY. As usual, Philly is filled with movie-making talent, and Lerman proudly agrees, reflecting that "the ever-growing community here of filmmakers and [film] lovers is what first made me fall in love with film."

The Festival, which runs from Oct 15 - 19th, will premiere with F. Gary Gray's Law Abiding Citizen, and will close with local filmmaker Lee Daniels' Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire. Precious received several Academy nominations, including Best Female Supporting Actress (Mo'nique) and Best Adapted Screenplay (Fletcher).

So allow me to speculate just a bit when I say that it will be well worth the wait.

Stay tuned for updates on our local film community!

Life in the Fast Track

2010-06-17T17:55:00.004-04:00

We’re sorry, Jenny and Kristin can’t come to the phone right now, they’re busy in L.A. schmoozing with fancy producers, financiers, and other highfalutin’ Hollywood pros. Please leave a message and they’ll talk to their people who’ll talk to your people, and you’ll do lunch. K bye!

Well, you guessed it. Jenny and Kristin are off to Los Angeles, this time for Fast Track, one of Film Independent's major programs to help indie productions receive funding. The program is highly selective and only seeks the most inventive, original scripts – like ours! Hopefully we can snag this nice little Sloan Grant, get a few seminars under our belt, and after Kristin and Jenny meet some moneybags at the financing conference, the film will be on the Fast Track to production. Corny pun? Maybe a little. But still! It’s exciting! Oh, and while they’re out there, they might as well check out the L.A. Film Festival with their fancy free passes, right? Right.

Stay tuned to catch ‘em tweeting from Tinseltown. Good luck, ladies!

URGENT: A Call to Action (and a few Representatives)

2010-06-16T23:05:00.009-04:00

On your toes, green commandos! Gas drilling is polluting water supplies all over New York and Pennsylvania and the time to take action is NOW! We need your help to place some calls before noon tomorrow, June 17^th. Below are the straight facts, but for more detailed information on these issues, bills, votes, and deadlines, click here.

Pennsylvanians:

Call House Speaker Keith McCall (717-787-4610 or 717-783-1375), House Majority Leader Todd Eachus (717-772-0744 or 717-787-2229), and Senate Minority Leader Robert Mellow and urge them to make sure they’re IRRC appointees vote for Chapter 102 and Chapter 95.

Call your PA legistator to express your support for House Bill 2213.

Lastly, call your PA Senator to vote for a Senate bill that mirrors Rep. Greg Vitali’s House Bill 2235.

New Yorkers:

Call Senator Smith, Chairman of the Rules Committee at 518-455-2701 or email Senator Bonacci and ask him to move out of Committee to the Senate floor the Englebright/Addabbo Bill which would impose a 2 year moratorium on hydraulic fracturing for the extraction of natural gas.

Also call Senate Leadership in support of a moratorium bill this month:

Malcolm A Smith - Chair 518-455-2701 masmith@senate.state.ny.us
Jeffrey D. Klein 518-455-3595 klein@senate.state.ny.us
Pedro Espada, Jr. 518-455-3395 espada@senate.state.ny.us
Ruth Hassell-Thompson 518-455-2061 hasselit@senate.state.ny.us
John Sampson 518-455-2788 sampson@senate.state.ny.us

We’re counting on you, commandos, help keep our water clean and environment safe!

Calling All Mollusks to Co-Star in Feature Film

2010-06-15T09:00:00.005-04:00

We’re looking for a talented young mussel to play the role of the Ohio Pigtoe in our upcoming film. Candidate must be bright and ambitious and well-versed in the sediments and freshwaters of the Midwestern United States, particularly Southern Illinois. Imperative that aspirant understand his or her crucial role in freshwater ecosystems: filtering and aerating the river or stream, creating a structural foundation and shelter for invertebrates and small fish, and occasionally playing the role of prey to larger fish, invertebrates, and even mammals (apologies).

Casting call for this position has been open for quite some time now as the freshwater mollusk is part of the most endangered family of animals in the United States with over 70% either extinct or facing extinction. But that does not mean we are desperate, we seek talented mollusks only! The applicant must fulfill role as a barometer for the health of the ecosystem and understand that their own well-being can easily be affected by poisonous runoff from land (such as pesticides, fertilizer, road salt, etc.), change in flow due to river damming, competition with nonnative mollusks for survival, and lack of fish hosts because of similar causes. If the ecosystem begins to fail, you will be among the first to feel it; faint-of-(mollusk)-heart need not apply! But don’t worry, because we are doing everything in our power to preserve the existence of the Ohio Pigtoe, which is why we need your help, so that it can also live forever on the screen.

Please send in your 8x10 clamshell shots with relevant acting experience on reverse.

Why Our Film Set Might Smell Like Onion Rings

2010-06-11T14:52:00.012-04:00

We’ve been doing our best to follow ‘The Code,’ most recently researching the possibility of using biodiesel to run our on-set generators and possibly our vehicles (like those nifty Patagonia surfers). But it sure is trickier than we thought. First of all, biodiesel is made a few different ways: directly from vegetables (virgin oil), recycled from used restaurant grease (recycled oil), or from a combination of restaurant grease and rendered animal fat (yellow oil). Now, any diesel engine can run on biodiesel, however special modifications would be needed if we were to take it a step greener, by enabling our engines to run directly on the used (unfiltered) restaurant grease. Of course, these modifications are expensive (anywhere from $900-$2500), but the combined long-term benefits of saving money on fuel and relieving stress on the environment by recycling used restaurant grease may be well worth it. Those prices are for a professional kit, however for Jacks and Janes-of-all-trades out there, you can convert your own engine following some do-it-yourself videos we found. Heck, if these guys can do it, maybe we can too. Hmm. First we need access to diesel vehicles. More on that to come!

For more information on recycled biodiesel production in the area, check out Black Gold Biofuels and Tri-State Biodiesel.

Hollywood Comes to Delco

2010-06-09T16:12:00.005-04:00

Roll out the red carpet , Chester, movie stars might be moving in across the street. With the groundbreaking of Sun Center Studios scheduled for June 10, the Greater Philadelphia area will see the construction of its very own film production studio. At the completion of this ninety million dollar project, the facility (built on the former site of the Tri-State Sports Complex) will include five studios, a tourist museum, and a 4-D Movie Theater Not only will this state-of-the-art studio provide the local area with over 1,000 jobs, but it will also provide itself with energy - Sun Center Studios Corp. has received funding to install a geothermal heat pump, which will service 153,000 square feet of the facility with renewable, geothermal heat and cooling. Now isn't that nifty? By the way, the owners are still seeking LEED certification.

Assistant Directing A Green Film

2010-05-13T14:52:00.002-04:00

With our sights set on a summer production, time is running out to create our sustainable production plan, and frankly, my palms are getting a bit sweaty over the whole idea. So when Carolina Roca-Smith, the latest addition to the Future Weather team, mentioned that she'd worked on a green film set, I begged her to share the experience with our readers. As Carolina proves, the choices your production makes don't have to be intimidating, nor do they have to compromise your production. We're glad to have Carolina's help before she moves to Los Angeles in June.

As a first assistant director on film productions, I always have two main goals in mind. Call them Carolina’s Golden Rules of AD-ing. If I don’t accomplish both, I have failed the team and the film:

Regardless of what the “Film Gods” may throw at us, we MUST make our day!
Without a happy, motivated crew, you cannot accomplish #1. So listen to the crew’s needs, treat them well, and above all get them home happy and on time.

When Director Amy Kernan-Bennett asked me to work as the 1st AD on her graduate thesis film, The Things You Lose in the Ocean, I was excited for several reasons. First I love helping other women in the director’s chair. (I love you too guys, but I get gitty when it comes to girl power.) Secondly, the producer, Laura Avila-Tascan, contacted me and told me that we were going to try our best to make this an environmentally friendly production.

I was energized by the idea of lessening the carbon footprint that this film was going to leave. Finally the opportunity to marry two things I feel passionate about, the health of the earth and film. I also saw the opportunity to educate crewmembers in the process so that they can implement some of these ideas on future productions.

For those of you interested, here’s a quick breakdown of the scope of the project:

Operating Budget: $40,000
Format: 35mm
Length: 27 minutes
Crew: approx. 50
Production Days: 11

Talking about going green was great. But I would be lying if I were to tell you that I wasn’t nervous about whether our green attempt was going to infringe on my golden rules as an AD. I didn’t want the crew to be up-set and I sure didn’t want the production to be slowed down. It took some getting use to on set but despite my trepidation, everyone adapted just fine.

Here are the four steps we took toward sustainable filmmaking.

1. Water Bottles

Laura our producer ordered stainless steel water bottles for the entire crew from Customearthpromos.com. I still use mine! The pricing starts at around $3.50 per bottle. All said and done our water bottles cost about $6.00 a piece. The only catch is that you need to purchase at least 100. For small productions this might be a problem but with the film title printed on the side, extras make a great marketing tool to hand out on the festival circuit. We chose to go with the bottle with the Carabiner. It obviously helped everyone keep track of their water, and who doesn’t LOVE to have something to hook on to their belt on a film set.

To fill up the bottles we used old school water jugs (like the ones used in football practice) and filled them with tap water and ice on location. We bought four jugs. We kept two at base camp, and transported the other two to set if it was a long walking distance. When the jugs on set got low, we would radio to base camp and two PA’s would swap them out.

2. Carpool

Southern California is a driving culture, and we shot all over from Altadena to San Pedro to Lake Elsinore. Most of the crew lived in Orange County and Los Angeles, so travel time to set everyday could be upwards of two hours depending on traffic. Shooting on location, you’re always nervous that some crew will be late because of unfamiliarity with the area. So we organized a centrally located carpool with production vehicles. In an attempt to discourage people from driving their own cars, we reminded them that parking would be limited at the areas that we were shooting.

The carpool not only saved fossil fuel, but also built community. We had great conversations while we traveled to and from set. Furthermore it gave us an opportunity to have meetings even before we arrived on set. Efficiency-LOVE THAT!

3. Recycling

We took the suggestion from the California Film Commission’s Green Resource Guide and labeled our trash receptacles “LANDFILL”. It really made people think twice before they threw something away. Right next to the trash we placed the recycling bins with a giant sign that read, “Thank You, Love Mother Earth”. It almost became a game on set. We recycled paper, plastic and glass. We could have paid a service to come and pick it up, but to save money we didn’t have, we dropped it off at the recycling center ourselves at the end of each production day.

4. Food

Meat production is responsible for about 20% of greenhouse gases. This is where my responsibility to a happy crew came into conflict with my beliefs. I would have been totally content if all of our meals were vegetarian, because I am one. But we compromised and cut the meat in half (even though less than half of our crew was vegetarian) and offered one vegetarian option and one meat option for hot meals on set. We budgeted the amount of food well and never really had any large amounts of leftovers, which is great for production cost. If we had leftovers we could have contacted Angel Harvest, a service that picks up leftover catering and donates it to homeless shelters. For leftover unopened crafty in the LA area you can also donate it to America’s Second Harvest.

So if you're nervous that making a few green changes on-set might throw off your production, my suggestion is to just go for it! We only put into practice a few initiatives because we feared the production would suffer. But if a group of grad students who aren’t seasoned filmmakers can do it, your production team can do it. Jump in with both feet, because your crew will get behind you, and when you are watching your film on the big screen you’ll feel great about what you’ve accomplished both with the film and with the mindful production.

Carolina Roca-Smith is a filmmaker currently completing her MFA in film production at Temple University. She has directed several short films including, “Members Only”, distributed by Frameline and available for purchase or rent on the “Fun in Girl’s Shorts” compilation DVD.

Tell Your Politicians: NO FRACKING WAY

2010-04-21T23:19:00.003-04:00

Currently 34 states contain natural gas drilling sites, which is quickly contaminating drinking water through the process of hydraulic fracturing. As promised, here are a few ways you can put the heat on your politicians to pass safety regulations.

1. Call your representatives and senators and tell them to sponsor the FRAC Act currently making its way through Congress. The FRAC Act (Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act) is an attempt to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to give the EPA authority over hydraulic fracturing. It would also require oil and gas drilling companies to disclose the chemicals used in fracking. Check out this article to learn more about the bill.

2. Get to know your local environmental groups to stay in touch with local legislation. The Environmental Working Group has a lot of great info about natural gas drilling around the country. And the Delaware Riverkeeper is keeping a vigilant watch over the situation with the Marcellus Shale here in PA. For a list of environmental organizations in your state, please visit Eco-USA.

3. Pennsylvanians: vote in the upcoming democratic primary. Joe Hoeffel is the only gubernatorial candidate who wants to put a moratorium on natural gas drilling in Pennsylvania. To read more about Joe's campaign to protect our drinking water visit his page on the Marcellus Shale.

4. Visit the GASLAND blog. Josh Fox has been taking his natural gas doc, GASLAND, on a grassroots tour to raise awareness of the issue, and has been updating the blog and Facebook page about drilling issues in the Marcellus Shale and around the country.

Future Weather Wins Grant From TFI's Sloan Filmmaker Fund

2010-04-14T13:05:00.002-04:00

You heard it here first, folks!! FUTURE WEATHER just won a second Alfred P. Sloan Grant--this time from the Tribeca Film Institute! We'll be attending the fest next week where the project will be featured in a Sloan Works-In-Progress series. We're honored to be working with TFI and extremely excited to be championed by such an impressive selection committee:

Julie Goldstein (Producer, Proof), Dr. Martin Chalfie (Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Professor of Biological Sciences at Columbia University), Dr. Patricia Bath (Opthamalogist and Founder of the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness), Anne Carey (Producer, Adventureland) and Dr. Gabriel Cwilich (Professor of Physics at Yeshiva University).

Stay tuned to our Twitter feed for live posts from the Tribeca Film Fest!

URGENT: Delaware River Basin Commission needs your feedback today!

2010-04-11T14:35:00.009-04:00

5pm TODAY is the deadline to voice your concern to the DRBC regarding the proposed Stone Energy Surface Water Withdrawal and Natural Gas Well Site.

Please email a statement that includes your address to: Paula.Schmitt@drbc.state.nj.us. Subject line should read: "Public Comment - Stone Energy Dockets."

Here's a sample letter you can use, compliments of the Delaware Riverkeeper.

Here's an in-depth fact-sheet about fracking in the Delaware River Basin, compliments of the Delaware Riverkeeper.

Or you can speak out via Citizen Speak, which has a handy email all set up for you: http://citizenspeak.org/node/1987

The Story of Gasland is the Story of Our Land

2010-04-11T12:38:00.010-04:00

A resident of Dimock, PA pours water that came from his well after start of natural gas fracking. Credit: High Country News

I attended a very full screening of GASLAND last night at the Prince Music Theater. It was a mesmerizing, maddening and tragic expose of an environmental issue that I suspect is going to be one of the biggest environmental issues of our time: drilling for natural gas.

The story is not a new one in America's history, and the negligence (greed, secrecy, etc. etc.) of the natural gas industry and the government agencies that should be monitoring this industry in the name of public safety, can be added to a long list of ways that America is on a fast track to making our country completely unlivable.

The problem? Hydraulic fracturing or fracking--the method for extracting the enormous stores of natural gas currently embedded in geologic formations across this country--is extremely toxic. A lethal cocktail of chemicals (among them formaldehyde, pesticides and plastics) is mixed with hundreds of millions of gallons of water and forced underground to open up pockets of gas. What happens to this wastewater afterwards?* Who cares? The gas companies are making money, and that's the bottom line, right?

But what director Josh Fox uncovers is that this wastewater is contaminating the communities who reside near natural gas wells, and doing it an a alarming rate. Polluted, flammable tap water; sick pets and livestock; reports of chronic headaches; asthma, body pain and other illnesses in humans; the list is long and chilling.

And what kind of law could possibly exist in this great land of ours that makes it possible for the natural gas industry to get away with such atrocities? An Energy Policy Bill passed in 2005 by the Bush-Cheney administration. It provided tax incentives for energy production and exempted oil and gas producers from safety regulations specified in the Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water Acts. And so began an unregulated natural gas boom across the nation. Wild west style. It may be good for reducing our dependence on foreign oil (and the Axis of Evil), but it threatens to pollute our waterways, which--as Fox so poignantly illustrates in old footage of Woody Guthrie singing "This Land is Your Land"--are literally all connected.

Currently 34 states are impacted by the natural gas industry. One of the largest regions for drilling is right here in Pennsylvania and stretches across the Delaware River Basin, a watershed that provides water to over 15 million people across Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York, 2 million of which are customers of the Philadelphia Water Department.

Click here for a GASLAND screening near you.

For ways you can make your voice heard about this issue, read our upcoming blog, "Tell Your Politicians No Fracking Way".

*To learn more about what actually happens to fracking wastewater, check out this informative blog about the fracking process from a resident of Hickory, PA.

Thanks to Delaware Riverkeeper and a March 25 Resolution by Philadelphia City Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown for other citations.

Get Smart About Natural Gas

2010-04-05T17:36:00.005-04:00

This Saturday, April 10th, is a good day to get informed about a serious issue affecting Pennsylvanians' drinking water: drilling for natural gas. At 5:30, the Philadelphia Film Fest is screening GASLAND at the Prince Music Theater. And at 8:30, GASLAND director Josh Fox and Joe Hoeffel will host a Q&A about responsible gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale at Naked Chocolate Cafe.

We've heard fantastic things about GASLAND, which won the Special Jury Prize at this year's Sundance Film Fest. We've also had the pleasure of meeting Joe Hoeffel, the only democrat running for governor of PA with a progressive agenda. With four weeks until the primary, Saturday is great opportunity to learn more about Joe's stance on the environment and what it will take to get a progressive elected in November who will protect our drinking water.

About the Film:
GASLAND follows filmmaker Josh Fox as he sets off on a 24-state journey to uncover the deep consequences of the United States' natural gas drilling boom after he discovers that Natural Gas drilling is coming to his area—the Catskillls/Poconos region of Upstate New York and Pennsylvania. What he uncovers is truly shocking—water that can be lit on fire right out of the sink, chronically ill residents of drilling areas from disparate locations in the US all with the same mysterious symptoms, huge pools of toxic waste that kill cattle and vegetation well blowouts and huge gas explosions consistently covered up by state and federal regulatory agencies. For more information about the film visit Gaslandthemovie.com.

The Marcellus Shale Region:
The Marcellus Shale runs through the western region of Pennsylvania and contains largely untapped gas reserves. This area has produced natural gas for years, however, many gas production companies are now becoming interested in the Marcellus after only recently have figuring out a way to extract it from the region. Now gas drillers are looking to lease local land in an attempt to find and remove the gas. Marcellus Shale is thought to contain enough natural gas to supply the entire United States for two years. To learn more about the Marcellus Shale region visit marcellus-shale.us.

The Effects:
Natural gas is a fossil fuel that is often promoted as "cleaner" than coal, but it has caused more cases of environmental illness than any other substance, even pesticides. The drilling process is called hydraulic fracturing. It involves millions of gallons of water and dozens of chemicals. Each well drilled can produce millions of gallons of chemical-laced, industrial waste water. Currently, the natural gas industry is not responsible for treating this waste water. To learn more about the negative effects of natural gas, please visit un-naturalgas.org.

The Campaign:
Joe Hoeffel is the only PA gubernatorial candidate who is calling for a Moratorium on issuing more Marcellus Shale gas drilling permits until we know how to properly treat the waste water and meet the standards of the Safe Drinking Water and Clean Water Acts. Joe Hoeffel has earned support of environmental leaders and activists for his sound policies in the state house and congress. Joe Hoeffel will fight for responsible gas drilling with strong environmental regulations. To read more about his campaign, visit joehoeffel2010.com/environment/marcellus-shale.

Event Info:
Screening hosted by Philadelphia Film Society. Tickets available for purchase one hour before show. For tickets to the Q&A benefit reception, visit tinyurl.com/gasland.

Copenhagen is Now

2009-12-07T14:15:00.004-05:00

Copenhagen is now. Here's a poem from the current issue of the New Yorker to kick it off:

Last Day on Planet Earth, by Simon Armitage

Learn more about the UN Climate Change Conference here.

The Globetrotting Future Weather Gals

2009-12-04T11:19:00.005-05:00

The Future Weather team has been traveling across the country in the continuing journey to get the film we so passionately believe in to the big screen. Last month, Jenny was at the Nantucket Screenwriter's colony, which was part of her Showtime Tony Cox Screenwriting Award. While she spent time meeting screenwriters and revisiting the script, I flew to California for the Film Independent (FIND) Producer's Lab. Before the Lab began, I was invited to attend FIND's Filmmaker Forum. The Forum is a 3-day event bringing together studio executives, distributors and filmmakers to discuss the state of independent film.

The message was not always a hopeful one as the prospects for funding and distributing independent film are suffering alongside the big studios popcorn features. The good news is that quality indie films are still finding their way to the marketplace. The best way to ensure that Future Weather will make it there is to continue staying informed on the state of the industry and adapting to the changing landscape. We got a great start to doing just that during the seven-week FIND Producer's Lab.

Film Independent selects ten filmmakers each year to attend the Lab where the Fellows are introduced to advisors who give valuable feedback on their projects. The goal of the Lab is to help the filmmakers get their projects into production by refining their budget, schedule and financing plans. Previous Lab projects have included the 2009 release Amreeka, which won honors at the Cannes film festival and was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance.

This has been an exciting month in our filmmaking journey! We learned so much during our travels about how to survive and flourish in the new state of indie film. Stay tuned over the coming weeks as we will be updating the blog with all the tidbits of information we picked up along the way.

Happy Fall!

Future Weather Wins a $25,000 Science Grant!!

2009-11-22T10:03:00.004-05:00

As we prepped to attend the Film Independent (FIND) Producers Lab in early October, we received news that Future Weather was selected for this year's Alfred P. Sloan Producer's Grant as part of the FIND program. The Sloan Foundation's mission is to support original work focused on science that they feel will have a positive impact on society, so we were ecstatic to receive such an honor. The $25,000 grant comes with access to a science advisor that Jenny can turn to for mentorship with script research. I had the chance to accept the award on behalf of the project at this year's FIND Filmmaker's Forum.

Age of Stupid Premieres at Philadelphia's Bridge and Around the World Tonight!!

2009-09-21T14:05:00.004-04:00

The Age of Stupid USA Trailer from Age of Stupid on Vimeo.

Indie filmmakers, environmentalists and progressive culture-vultures, get thee to a movie theater tonight to catch AGE OF STUPID's historical global premiere event!

Being hailed as the future of independent cinema, the DIY-distributed AGE OF STUPID will screen via satellite from New York City to 700 theaters in over 50 countries.

The evening will kick off with a green-carpet gala featuring climatologist James Hansen, Kofi Annan and a performance by Thom Yorke of Radiohead.

I saw the film at a preview screening in LA. It's incredibly inventive and incredibly moving. If you're in Philly, meet me for the screening at the Bridge Theater at 7:30. Or click here to find a US screening near you.

Save the Future, in HD!

2009-08-28T17:06:00.005-04:00

Future Weather's companion short is now available in HD on Vimeo. Please share with your friends!

Green Screen

2009-08-11T14:34:00.007-04:00

Check out these great green film festivals!

First, right in our hometown, GreenFest Philly is holding a Green Film Festival as part of their annual street festival. The festival will be held on September 13, 2009 on 2nd and South streets in Philadelphia. Submissions are still being accepted.

Green filmmakers in the New York Tri-State region also have the opportunity to participate in a green film series curated by Slightly Overexposed Productions' Stacey Burgay, who we met at DIY Days Philly. Burgay is looking for fiction and non-fiction films that either "focus on issues that reflect the public and the environment" or were produced using the Code of Best Practices for Sustainable Filmmaking, which we profiled in June. Films will be screened at the Oval Film Center (12 Stuyvesant Oval, New York, NY) on August 24, September 10, and September 17.

The Going Green Film Festival shows just how far along green film has come. Offering entry categories for films created using "green guidelines", films about environmental issues and films featuring hybrid or alternative transportation, the festival honors the commitment of green filmmakers to lessen their impact on the environment. The festival will be held in March 2010; submissions will be accepted until January 15, 2010. (h/t The Thin Green Line)

Josie Maran Rocks Our T-Shirt

2009-08-06T14:29:00.005-04:00

Model and actress Josie Maran is determined to help the environment. After working in the entertainment industry for a number of years, Josie decided to start a cosmetics line dedicated to eco-friendly initiatives, bio-degradable packaging, and natural ingredients. With a business mission like that, Josie is the perfect person to help kick off our Summer Sale. Seen above wearing the Tree Rings T-Shirt (and she wears it well!), Josie was also kind enough to take the time to answer a few questions for us. Special thanks to Josie and Polly for all of their support and a great blog about Future Weather!

What made you want to start an organic makeup company?
It was impossible to find high performance and healthy makeup. I wanted it for myself, and I knew other women would too.

How do you balance your career with raising a daughter?
I love being a mom and I really enjoy my work. When I get home from work, I'm so happy to play in her world and in the morning I'm very happy in my world. Happiness is key to balance.

What's your "eco pet peeve"?
Hardcore eco-people that scare away the mainstream from even coming close to "being green."

What about your not-so-environmentally-friendly guilty pleasure? (For the Future Weather team, it would have to be take-out containers.)
Wanting a private jet (but I'm hoping it will run on algae!)

You're an actress. We're a film production team. What kind of interview would this be if we didn't ask you: What is your favorite movie?
Harold and Maude.

Kids Experience Nature at Fair Hill Burial Ground

2009-08-03T17:51:00.003-04:00

Karyn Gerred, former FWP contributor, sent this video my way last week. It's a moving portrait of an ecology class for kids who don't get much exposure to nature.

The Fair Hill Burial Ground is a 5-acre green space in the midst of urban Northeast Philly. Read more about this historic cemetery and how it went through a dramatic rehabilitation here. And check out more of Jean Warrington's video work at YouTube.

Media Lab Studios Efficient Film Challenge

2009-07-31T12:40:00.005-04:00

Indie film powerhouse IFC Entertainment is hoping to spark more efficient film production by holding a green short film contest. The Media Lab Studios Efficient Film Challenge is offering three prizes of up to $3,000 for short films that tackle the topic of energy efficiency. This is a fantastic opportunity for aspiring filmmakers to get exposure on the Independent Film Channel and Sundance Channel (not to mention some cash!), while making a timely statement and raising awareness.

No Impact Man

2009-07-30T18:08:00.003-04:00

Our friends over at Oscilloscope, who distributed FLOW, have another environmental documentary coming out which we're very excited about. The film, which was shown at both Sundance and the LA Film Festival, follows Colin Beavan (aka No Impact Man) and his family as they spend a year in New York City trying to live without leaving any impact on the environment. That means that Colin, his wife, and his 2-year-old daughter planned to make no new purchases, use no electricity, and produce no trash.

To document the experiment , Colin started a blog that has since become a resource for anyone trying to reduce their carbon footprint. In addition to the film, Colin's story is also the subject of a book that will be released in September alongside the film. Meanwhile, Colin's currently working on the No Impact Project, a non-profit project meant to "engage citizens in choosing lives that they believe will both make themselves, their communities and the planet happier."

DIY Comes To PHL

2009-07-28T12:21:00.005-04:00

Before the days of the Internet, when a director made the final cut of a film, it was out of his or her hands. The final version went on to a distribution company, and essentially, all that hard work became someone else's product.

But a new conference has arisen to put the power back into the hands of the artist. Developed by filmmaker Lance Weiler, the DIY Days conference series is meant to help not just directors, but musicians, gamers and artists gain more control over their content. More specifically, Weiler wants to teach this group of "Self-Identified Storytellers" how to monetize and distribute their content on the Internet.

DIY Days’ latest installment is going to be held this Saturday at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. A host of Philly filmmakers, artists and innovators are going to be there, including Tom Quinn (The New Year Parade), Don Argott (Rock School, Two Days in April), Mark Schoneveld, Gretchen Clausing, and Indy Hall co-founder Geoff DiMasi. The conference, which opens for registration at 8:30 a.m., is completely free—but space is limited, so you’re better off registering online.

an e blog for e bond

2009-07-27T17:38:00.000-04:00

Philadelphia-based artist e bond has been a huge friend of Future Weather from the start. A catalog designer for Anthropologie during the day, she dedicates her nights and weekends drawing and making handmade books. Many of you are already quite familiar with her work: she designed Future Weather's t-shirt and postcards and has written a few guest blogs for us.

design-phan (a blog about design and art in the City of Brotherly Love) recently took a tour of e's studio to celebrate the launch of e's new website, roughdrAftbooks. The blog post showcases her gorgeous books and provides some great insight into how e comes up with her book designs.

Congrats, e!

One in Three Children Fear An Earth Apocalypse

2009-07-23T10:36:00.001-04:00

Looks like Laduree (Future Weather's protagonist) is in good company. It used to be that kids were afraid of monsters and ghosts, maybe nuclear war. But in today's world, it appears that children are more afraid of the ecological effects of an unsustainable culture. According to TreeHugger, a survey conducted by Habitat Heroes of 500 American preteens, out of three surveyed fear that the Earth won't exist when they grow up. 56 percent (over half!) worry that the planet will be "irrevocably damaged."

Recycling Heaven

2009-07-21T17:15:00.003-04:00

For the last twelve months, Future Weather Productions has been saving all of the metals and plastics that can't be recycled curbside. While Philly’s recycling program will take Plastics #1 and #2 (soda bottles and milk jugs), there are 5 other types of plastic that we’ve been accumulating for a while now. This pile of recyclables had grown to the point of being clutter, so we decided to finally clear out some space and make the drive to Recycling Services in Pottstown, PA.

We loaded up the car and set out on Saturday, enjoying the beautiful weather during the hour-long drive from Philadelphia. We expected a pretty straightforward trip. (How exciting could recycling styrofoam and old yogurt tubs be?) But when we arrived at the end of a sleepy street in Pottstown, our expectations were definitely surpassed.

Founded in 1971 by Jim Crater, Recycling Services, Inc. (RSI) is a non-profit recycling center that collects numerous materials and resells them to be recycled and reused. RSI is an extensive operation, accepting glass, metals, papers, plastics, tires, textiles, electronics, and even vegetable oil (which is used to make biodiesel). The company dedicates two days a week towards public collection of recyclable goods (they charge an $8 per car gate fee), and if our trip was any indication, they serve hundreds of people on any one of those days.

RSI's staff was friendly and knowledgeable. We were impressed by how easily they helped us sort some of our more mysterious plastic items. While they don't take #7 plastics (that mysterious "other" category) or toothpaste tubes, we still ended up recycling a massive amount. Not only did we learn a lot about our consuming habits (we really need to curb the takeout habit), but we witnessed how people can come together in the effort to minimize their impact on the Earth.

A Life in Plastic

2009-07-21T17:14:00.003-04:00

If there were a game show where contestants had to identify an object's plastic code blindfolded, the staff at Recycling Services might just be billionaires.

Jim Crater, Recycling Guru

2009-07-21T16:46:00.014-04:00

Jim Crater, Recycling Services Inc's founder and president, is determined to reduce the amount of waste he leaves on the Earth to as close to zero pounds a year as possible. He lives his life according to the mantra, "How can I do what I already do, but better?" And talking with him was by far the most interesting part of our trip to RSI.

Determined to find a use for everything the plant accepts, Jim has recently taken to making functional "found object art" out of several of RSI's collections.

Take, for example, the dragonfly, Merlin 2. Made out of headlights, a dome from a street light, and a swimming pool ladder among other recycled items, this "dragonfly" also flaps his wings and has headlights that blinks. But, as Jim said, "don't get hung up on that, [because] that's not even it."

The sculpture has a bellows that breathes in carbon dioxide and exhales pure oxygen. Using solar panels to operate, Merlin 2 uses renewable resources to purify the air. This catalytic converter technology is similar to one employed by Volvo which removes 90% of noxious fumes from exhaust. Jim noted that if manufacturers had taken the extra step of using this purified oxygen for combustion as well, cars would be a lot more efficient in addition to having cleaner exhaust.

For Jim, who has a simultaneously calm and energetic aura and looks like a cross between Willie Nelson and Wallace Shawn, this illustrates just one of many missed opportunities in industrial design. Engineers and inventors need to figure out what to do with the waste products of their inventions before products can be developed for mass consumption.

For now, Jim remains optimistic about the possibility for a more sustainable, less wasteful society. "When you decide things are going to be different," Jim told us, "it'll push you out of your comfort zone. That's how things will change."

Here Jim introduces one of his functional art pieces, Ron Peyote.

Meet Mr. Peabody

2009-07-20T21:16:00.016-04:00

Recycling Service's resident peacock, Mr. Peabody just might be the company's staunchest environmental advocate. According to Jim Crater, Mr. Peabody simply showed up one day. After their efforts to find out who he belonged to failed, the staff at RSI decided to keep the gorgeous bird around.

And Mr. Peabody fits right in at the recycling center. Peacocks have long been alchemical symbols of transformation. Pretty appropriate for a place that's designed to turn waste products into useful material.

Looking Back at Netflix

2009-07-17T17:06:00.008-04:00

After some much-needed time away from our computers, we’ve got great news: Future Weather made it to the finals of the Netflix Find Your Voice competition, in great standing.

Needless to say, the last few days of the contest were a bit of a roller-coaster ride for the Future Weather team and our fans. We had expected the contest to end at 3am EST on the morning of the 6th, and when we finally shut off our computers, we were confident that we had finished the competition in first place. A lot of us noticed, however, that the votes just kept rolling in. We thought that the website was just catching up with the tally, but around 5pm on Monday, we learned that the contest had been extended another two days.

Jenny left for Europe on Friday, and after checking the vote via text message Monday morning (Sunday 3am EST) was satisfied with the scores. Without access to email, she had no way of knowing that Film Independent (FIND) had e-mailed her Sunday at 11:45pm to notify her of the extension. The real kicker was that this was the only attempt at contacting our team that was made. Kristin was not notified. It wasn’t until about twelve hours later that she finally spoke to our contact at FIND.

Apparently, a glitch in the contest website had left many votes uncounted. Because the five films below Future Weather had been jockeying for position so intently, Netflix and FIND decided to extend the competition, afraid that votes that were uncounted over the weekend might have seriously changed the makeup of the top 5.

After losing a good twelve hours of voting time (and watching our lead of 2,000 shrink considerably), it was a quick scramble to get the word out again. We hit up our Twitter and Facebook pages with a fury, and sent out a blitz of messages asking for your immediate support. Through the intense efforts of our team and our supporters, we managed to get 4,000 votes in under 30 hours. That was a contest record for us, and we couldn’t have done it without an incredible movement of support.

In the end, it came down to a neck-and-neck race for first place between Future Weather and Touchback. After a heated final hour of the competition, Touchback managed to take the top spot—but only by six stars.

Most of our fans and our team were incredibly disappointed with the way the extended contest played out. After all of our hard work to get Future Weather into first place, those twelve hours that we were out of the loop had a real impact on our lead. There was a lot of confusion because there had been no mention of the extension anywhere on the contest website. To add to it, many of our fans noticed odd voting behavior from one of the other contestants as we finished out the extension period. And because they couldn't be certain of the impact that the lost votes had, FIND decided to move six films into the finals instead of five.

That being said, we are thrilled with the results of the competition. Our fans stood by us and helped us rally over 7,000 fans to cast votes in our favor. They brought us new friends and great PR to support Future Weather as we finish out the final round of the contest.

This next phase is in the hands of the contest's judges, who will choose a winner from the six finalists. The fact that we're at the forefront of the vote will make a strong statement on our behalf, but the rest is up to them. Stay in the loop here at The Future Weather Report.

Jenny Introduces Food Inc. Today @ BMFI

2009-06-28T12:44:00.002-04:00

4:30 Sunday
824 West Lancaster Avenue
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania 19010

Fort Nassau Graphics

2009-06-25T14:08:00.003-04:00

We wanted to give Fort Nassau Graphics a special shout-out today for donating to our cause. Charlie Stanton, Production Planner, did us a huge favor by printing the postcards we've been distributing around Philadelphia to spread the word about the Netflix competition. Fort Nassau prints most of their products on FSC-certified paper, including our postcards, which were also printed on partially-recycled paper. They were incredibly supportive of our cause; Charlie told us that he "would like the Earth to be here when [his] kids are old" and that "everyone in our plant would like to see our children and their children after that have the same type of environment that we grew up in."

Designed by Future Weather Love Brigadier and t-shirt designer e bond, we're hoping that these eye-catching cards will keep generating local support for Future Weather and get people online to vote, bringing us a giant step closer to making our film!

Betty's Tasty Buttons

2009-06-25T13:30:00.001-04:00

(image courtesy of Betty's Tasty Buttons)

Betty's Tasty Buttons is a Philadelphia-based confection business dedicated to local, organic, and fair trade ingredients. Liz Begosh, founder of this local favorite, has been using her grandmother Betty's fudge recipe for about 2 years, serving up fudge, chocolate sauces, and other artisanal desserts to Philly locals. About six months ago, Liz moved into a storefront downtown and opened Betty's Speakeasy, which serves up baked goods in addition to selling Betty's Tasty Buttons products.

Liz and her company was kind enough to donate some fudge for a fundraiser we had recently, offering us up little pieces of their Brotherly Love Fudge, similar to what the company often does for wedding and party favors. Betty's Tasty Buttons is no stranger to charitable donations, either; the company will often work to try and find companies who share their goals and values. "We try to find the right fit," Liz told us.

We're glad that Future Weather fit the bill. Thanks for the fudge, Liz!

Code of Best Practices for Sustainable Filmmaking

2009-06-25T12:22:00.003-04:00

Beckett Horowitz has been a huge supporter of Future Weather. She has worked with documentaries and television shows in an effort to raise awareness for a number of social and environmental causes, including sustainable production. Needless to say, we were glad when Beckett agreed to do a guest blog for us. She interviewed another leader in the movement for sustainable film production, Larry Engel. Associate director at the Center for Environmental Filmmaking at American University, Larry recently co-authored the Code of Best Practices in Sustainable Filmmaking, a collaboration between Filmmakers for Conservation and the American University School of Communication. The code is designed to help filmmakers reduce their impact on the environment during production and may be something that we use during production of Future Weather.

Many thanks to Larry for taking the time to speak with Beckett about the code. And thanks to Beckett for taking the time to conduct the interview!

1. When did was the code officially released?
It was released online (at www.sustainablefilmmaking.org) early February 2009, and we printed a limited archival run of only 500 hard copies.

2. What was the inspiration behind the code?
Ah. There were many elements. One main one was that I got tired of cleaning up my classroom after class. Picking up students’ coffee cups and plastic bottles got me angry. I announced in class one day that I would no longer allow any kind of throw-away packaging in my class ever again. Jugs and mugs were the new thing. Plenty of students whined, but following [the announcement] I spent my time leaving the classroom talking with students rather than cleaning up their mess. I also wrote up a list of a dozen or so things students could do in production to be more sustainable.

Secondly, I attended the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival in 2007 and sat in on a session led by my now co-author Andrew Buchanan (a British producer) on green filmmaking and was impressed. I came back to American University and started talking about sustainability and my list. Professor Pat Aufderheide, who also is the director of the Center for Social Media [at American University], suggested that I publish a Code of Best Practices on the subject. I was also encouraged by the rest of my faculty in Film and Media Arts and by my colleague at AU Chris Palmer who, besides teaching, is also the director of the Center for Environmental Filmmaking.

I contacted Andrew to tell him the good news, and he told me that he was working a similar project with Tanya Petersen of Filmmakers for Conservation. We ended up deciding to collaborate.

3. What are the most wasteful parts of production?
Probably travel, especially airline. Second is likely meat consumption, strangely because meat production overall creates about 20% of greenhouse gases. Also, plastic bottles. But we’re mixing waste and greenhouse gases….

4. What makes this code more comprehensive/different from the other ones out there?
We think the key is that we have a set of principles that lead to checklists for action and trackers that are spreadsheets for monitoring the production’s energy use, and other elements that contribute to green house gas production and which can be used with carbon calculators and offsetters. The key is that we also had a scientific review board vet our work – this is really critical. Finally we don’t claim to certify anyone. We’d like to see an independent agency created for that.

5. Have any productions adopted the code yet?
Several around the world, but the most immediately exciting news is that the Independent Documentary Association and the University Film and Video Association have endorsed the code. Further the Southwest Screen (a regional board in the UK) is adopting the code.

6. What are your goals for the future of production?
Get as many people and companies – large and small – around the world to pay close attention to their practices in media production and distribution.

7. Is there anything else you'd like to share about the code?
It’s not that hard to adopt. And by reducing, reusing, and thinking about what you’re doing you actually end up saving money not spending it to go green.

--

Larry Engel is a professor at American University. He is also the associate director at the Center for Environmental Filmmaking at American University. Larry is a producer, writer, director, and cinematographer with nearly 30 years of documentary filmmaking experience spanning all seven continents. He's flown into hurricanes, been chased by tornadoes and dropped into ice caves. He's fled wildfires, gotten lost in jungles, stranded in Antarctica, and spent three years traveling the globe to come face-to-face with a lot of mummies.

Beckett Horowitz has dedicated her career to development, production and outreach for documentaries and television shows oriented toward social justice and environmental issues. Since graduating from Brandeis University with a degree in environmental science her credits include PBS’s science series CURIOUS, Sundance Channel’s BIG IDEAS FOR A SMALL PLANET, and the Food Network’s CHOPPED. Whenever she has a free moment, she likes to extol the virtues of vermicomposting and material recycling to anyone who will listen.

Future Weather in the Media

2009-06-25T10:19:00.003-04:00

As we enter the final eleven days of the Netflix Find Your Voice competition, we're glad to report that Future Weather is currently on top! Thank you all again for all of your support in getting us to over 17,000 votes and bringing us one step closer to making Future Weather a reality!

Still, we know that the other semifinalists are going to really pick up their efforts in these last few days, so we're glad that we've been receiving even more additional media attention in the two weeks since our last posts. Most exciting is the recent buzz that Future Weather has generated after winning Showtime's Tony Cox Screenplay award at the Nantucket Film Festival. Top industry publications ScreenDaily.com, Variety, and The Hollywood Reporter were all quick to broadcast the news of this great achievement.

We've also had some great support from the blogosphere lately, with posts from long-time supporter Fake Plastic Fish and the Lanalogue helping to spread the word about SAVE THE FUTURE. Future Weather also received a great spotlight piece from Brain Pickings, a blog meant to find "revolutionary new ideas that no one has seen or thought of before". As if that weren't flattering enough, Future Weather also received an incredibly flattering post (part one of three!) on nonpretentious from Philly blogger Melissa J. Sachs, who calls Jenny "the hot Al Gore".

Thanks to all of you again for your continued support! And remember, we still need your help spreading the word and getting out the vote!

Netflix Short Director's Diary: Production

2009-06-11T11:02:00.004-04:00

First shot of the day.

Kristin and I prepared as much as we could in ten days, but ultimately, we had no idea what to expect when we drove down to Asheville. Mystery is very alluring.

My assignment for this blog was to try and recreate the production diary I didn’t have time to keep during the shoot. But if I did, it would be a neurotic series of entries like: “5am, try to sleep for another hour. 7am, try not to barf.”

Instead, I will try to list a few of the moments of clarity I experienced during the process of making SAVE THE FUTURE. Think of them as notes to myself for future productions. I really hope there's another one soon.

Write two scripts (or outlines). You won’t use one, but it'll probably be another version of what you're trying to say, thus helping you strengthen your message.

Prep as much as you can, so you can kind of enjoy the shoot. (If you call being so exhausted you mix up everyone’s names and are at times reduced to communicating to actors in nonsensical strings of profanity enjoyable.)

Don’t worry about shaking hands with a man who just picked up a stillborn baby bird that fell out of its nest.

And don't worry about sleeping in a haunted house. Your brain will be so busy trying to get a metaphysical experience on the screen, you won't have time to scare yourself with ghosts.

Rain can be like playing with watercolors. Make the best of it.

Remember you still have time to rewrite dialog onset and during the edit (especially, if you’re working with VO). If you’re pressed for time, distill the meaning with people you trust. Dialog loves simplicity.

Let people do their work. (You know how it feels. Sometimes the muse only comes when you have a little privacy.)

Share. I couldn't have encountered a more generous group of artists in Asheville. There was no creative resource they wouldn’t have offered us for our project. I realized very quickly that I had met other people who believed that the act of creating something was the most important part. So no smallness showed up on set.

Take a bath in a claw-foot tub by candlelight even if it means putting off sleep another hour. You would have spent that hour unraveling anyway.

Chase geese. For Laduree’s ice cream shop, we stopped at a scrappy little restaurant with a red-striped awning in a country strip called “Poppy’s.” Bad hours, but took number. Meanwhile, had rural lead for field with flowers. Then Chusy suggested prep school lawn in town. Wasn’t interested, but went anyway. Too manicured; decided it was a wasted trip when we stumbled upon Exit 50, our poppy field. Way home from the restaurant Poppy’s, passed Philly Hoagie Shop. (Remember, this is the middle of North Carolina). Location was perfect for ice cream shop; hours were perfect, owner from South Philly and could not have been nicer. These synchronicities happened frequently, even through editing. Sometimes you’ve just gotta knock around a little.

Future Weather in the Media

2009-06-09T15:22:00.007-04:00

With the launch of the Netflix FIND Your Voice competition, FUTURE WEATHER has been receiving a lot of good attention. As of right now, we're in first place of the ten semifinalists, and we're hoping to stay that way! The support we've been receiving from all of you has been great and we can't thank you enough.

FUTURE WEATHER has also been lucky to receive some attention from media outlets across the country recently. This past Thursday, Dan Gross of the Philadelphia Daily News gave us a shout-out in his column. SAVE THE FUTURE was also the subject of a great article in the Asheville Citizen-Times (look for a great quote from Chusy!). The Philly Goes Solar blog was kind enough to write about the short. And finally, our executive producers, Cora Olson and Jennifer Dubin, were interviewed by IndieGoGo about their film GOOD DICK.

As the Netflix competition keeps going, we're looking forward to getting more people excited about FUTURE WEATHER! The competition doesn't end until July 5, so keep spreading the word and help us rock the vote!

Netflix Find Your Voice Semifinalist: Future Weather

2009-06-05T03:29:00.004-04:00

HOW YOU CAN HELP US WIN NETFLIX

2009-06-04T21:00:00.006-04:00

DEAR FRIENDS OF FUTURE WEATHER,

Thank you so much for your incredible support. Here are a few little ditties you can do to help our little film go a long, long, long way:

DONATE YOUR STATUS AND TWEETS TO OUR CAUSE: Show us some link-love by directing your friends, family, and followers to: NetflixFindYourVoice.com. Rinse and repeat daily.

EMBED US, BABY: Netflix provides the handy ability to embed our short most anywhere - with voting functionality. Click on the red "SHARE" tab and get your peeps watching and voting on facebook, myspace, twitter, blogger, etc. (Best results: turn off pop-up blocker, and click "Add to account".)

ACTIVATE YOUR ADDRESS BOOK: Either forward our email blasts or write your own. Send to every single one of your contacts. (They won't mind if it's coming from you, and it's for a good cause.) Say hello and give them a short, sweet rundown. If you want to save time, copy & paste ours:

"FUTURE WEATHER, an independent film based in Philadelphia, PA, has made it to the semifinals of the Netflix Find Your Voice Film Competition, and stands to win $350k in cash and services towards their production this fall. Their submission to the competition is a stand-alone short in which FUTURE WEATHER's protagonist reimagines her life as a public service announcement, blurring the lines between her family struggles and her fear of environmental apocalypse. It would mean a lot to me if you could go to www.netflixfindyourvoice.com, watch it, and rate it 5 stars! The more stars, the more votes! No Netflix account necessary. THANK YOU!"

----

... THANK YOU AND ENJOY THE RIDE....

Andy O'Neil: Right-Hand Man

2009-06-04T16:40:00.001-04:00

Chusy and Andy (right) looking over some footage

Andy O’Neil was Chusy’s right-hand-man during our shoot in Asheville. Not long after meeting Chusy and Jennifer in 2004, Andy was brought on to serve as co-producer for ANYWHERE, USA in 2005. Andy assisted with just about every aspect of production for the film; he scheduled shoots, rented equipment, worked on lighting, and helped Chusy edit the final cut.

An aspiring filmmaker himself, currently working with Chusy on several documentaries, Andy’s experience was a great asset when we were shooting SAVE THE FUTURE. In addition to lighting and recording most of the sound, he was instrumental in the post-production process, too. He went above and beyond by downloading and compressing our footage every night, so that we could take it back to Philadelphia ready to edit. And in his true-blue Andy fashion, he made himself completely available for any post work-flow questions we had.

Shane Eitner: "The Chest"

2009-06-04T16:35:00.002-04:00

Jerry, Andy, and Shane pigging out at the Philly Hoagie Shop

Chusy’s cousin Shane Eitner, a body builder with a heart of gold, was working in “Executive Protection” (read: bodyguard) in L.A. before taking the cross-country road trip that landed him at Jennifer and Chusy's. He fell in love with Asheville, and after only a few months of living and working with Chusy, had picked up a few tricks of the trade. We were very impressed by how well he knew the 5D and the various lenses Chusy had for it.

Like Andy, Shane was a jack-of-all-trades during our shoot, switching off between lighting and sound; he built our telescope and literally shot the moon the day we left Asheville. But perhaps Shane’s most visible contribution to our short was his role as “the chest”. As part of our short, we really needed a faceless hottie for Laduree to bump into but couldn’t find the right person to be our "dude”. And then it dawned on us that Shane was the perfect person for the part. While he was reluctant at first, our persistent questions finally wore him down. And as you might expect, after a stint in executive protection, Shane was a natural.

PA's Help Us Brave the Elements

2009-06-04T16:29:00.012-04:00

Our shoot would not have gone nearly as smoothly if we hadn't had the help of two production assistants who did a great job handling the rigors of the shoot. Jerry Ter Horst, an aspiring actor, worked as a volunteer on ANYWHERE, USA before joining Chusy again to work on SAVE THE FUTURE. He was joined by Nathan Lucas, an easy-going high school student who lives a few doors from Chusy, who was simply looking for something to do over the weekend. Whether these two were setting up a shelter from the rain or holding the umbrella over Chusy--and there were was a lot of holding the umbrella over Chusy--these two PAs rounded out our team and helped get things done.

Perla Haney-Jardine: Laduree

2009-06-03T14:45:00.001-04:00

Perla goofs on set after a scoop of birthday cake ice cream.

The star of our short, Perla Haney-Jardine, had just turned 12 the week before we arrived in Asheville. An Asheville native, Perla first came to our attention after seeing her as the younger daughter in Michael Winterbottom’s GENOVA (Colin Firth, Catherine Keener). Impressed with her depth, we decided to contact her to see if she would be interested in playing Laduree for our short. Not only did Perla agree, but her family graciously offered to help us arrange shooting in their hometown of Asheville.

Throughout our shoot, Perla amazed us with how grounded she was. Despite the fact that we had interrupted her “regular life” (her last day of school was the day before we began shooting, and the day after we wrapped, she was off to D.C. for a school trip), Perla was never fazed by the occasional chaos that surrounded production. Whether she was working next to a stinky bale of recycled plastic or braving the rain, Perla moved through everything very calm and centered, still very much a real kid at heart.

Jennifer MacDonald: Sensual Mom

2009-06-03T13:41:00.001-04:00

If it weren’t for Jennifer MacDonald (Chusy’s wife and Perla’s mother), it’s unlikely that the Asheville shoot would have gone as smoothly as it did. Jennifer volunteered to cast and scout locations. And because we knew of her work on ANYWHERE, U.S.A. with a lot of non-actors and last-minute locations, we decided to write some flexibility into the characters and locations we scripted. That way, it would be easy to change based on what Jennifer found for us.

Not only was Jennifer the heart of our connection to Asheville (introducing us to her friends at the Sweet Biscuit B&B, hooking us up with a fantastic caterer) but she also appeared in the short herself as the “sensual mom" (above). She's also one of the smartest people you'll ever meet. Jennifer speaks over four languages and is planning to go to Morocco for intensive study of the Arabic so that she can help women filmmakers in Middle Eastern countries produce and distribute their work.

Chusy Haney-Jardine: Straight Shooter

2009-06-03T12:21:00.002-04:00

As if producing a short in four weeks wasn’t daunting enough, we had no idea how we were going to build a camera department from 600 miles away. Luckily, Perla’s father, Chusy Haney-Jardine, generously offered to serve as our Director of Photography and loan us his equipment for the shoot. Chusy, a multi-talented artist who might best be described as a Venezuelan Sean Connery, is actually an accomplished filmmaker himself. His film ANYWHERE, U.S.A. (co-written with his wife Jennifer MacDonald and featuring Perla) received a Special Jury Prize at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.

We originally planned to shoot on an HVX camera with a 35mm lens adapter to give our footage a film look; however, we couldn't get our hands on an adapter that would match Chusy's lenses. But when we arrived at Chusy's little bungalow-studio, he had another trick up his sleeve: the Canon 5D, a 35mm still camera that also shoots 1080i-HD video. After watching some of his footage, we couldn't resist. While using it meant we had to record sound separately (and synch it up later), it was fantastic in low-light situations and made our images pop in an exciting way. In the end, it gave SAVE THE FUTURE a more “commercial” look befitting the style of a PSA and was well-worth the extra hassle.

Making the Netflix Short

2009-06-01T19:38:00.002-04:00

From "Save the Future" Titles by Jia Lia

Being selected as a semi-finalist for the Netflix FIND Your Voice Competition was kind of easy compared to the challenge that came next: create a 2-3 minute short that "powerfully conveys your vision for the [feature-length] film". This could be anything, the contest admins maintained - a scene from the feature, a trailer, or "a self-contained short with thematic ties to the feature." In four weeks. For public voting on a website with 8+ million subscribers. Not intimidating at all.

We assigned ourselves the task of creating a provocative short that would grab your attention and leave you with a sense of mystery. SAVE THE FUTURE was finished last Friday and will premiere June 5 at www.netflixfindyourvoice.com. But what the hell is it about, and how did we get it done in four weeks?

Kristin, Cora, Jen and I decided to limit the script to one character from the feature, in order to cut down on casting time. Luckily, Perla Haney-Jardine, a 12-year-old actress we'd been in talks with for playing Laduree, was interested in coming on board for the short, and her family (filmmakers Jennifer MacDonald and Chusy Haney-Jardine) graciously invited us to shoot it in their hometown of Asheville, North Carolina. FUTURE WEATHER takes place in a rural setting, so after researching Asheville (a small, eclectic city tucked in the Blue Ridge Mountains) and watching scenes from Perla's parent's feature, ANYWHERE U.S.A., I knew this area would provide the right milieu for our short.

With one week for prep + shooting and one week for editing, I had one week to develop a script. I started with two basic sketches - both exploring Laduree's life before the feature begins - and we picked one to develop. It was the more high-concept of the two, so I went through eight drafts before shooting and also rewrote it a bit during shooting and editing. It's called SAVE THE FUTURE, and while it contains a few motifs you'll find in the feature, it's a slightly more stylized, and frankly, commercial (in service of the concept, you'll see) depiction of Laduree's crux: her fear of environmental apocalypse as a stand-in for her absentee mom.

With our two central characters (Laduree and Asheville) established, Kristin and I drove down to North Carolina on May 13 for two days of pre-production and two days of production. The photos that follow are highlights from our trip, location scout and shoot. It was an experience we'll never forget. We hope you enjoy the show!

And don't forget: your votes can propel FUTURE WEATHER to the big screen. Slap us five stars June 5th at www.netflixfindyourvoice.com.

Pleasantville for Real

2009-06-01T18:15:00.000-04:00

Tucked in the indigo foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville, North Carolina has a unique flavor of Southern hospitality, hippie charm and artsy sophistication that felt like the magic ingredient in making our short for Netflix. Not only was the area gorgeous and temperate, the people we met instantly warmed to our project, whether they were volunteering their homes for a location or assisting with the shoot itself. Plus they were all attractive without being annoying, had well-behaved children and baked well. They even had a Philly Hoagie Shop! Was it all a figment of our imaginations...??

Check out our album, Asheville Shoot: Behind the Scenes

Kristin's Farm Photos

2009-06-01T17:30:00.001-04:00

Whenever you visit a new town, there is always the dream of being embraced as one of their own. And during our recent trip to Asheville, this was exactly the case. We visited so many unique, inviting locations that it is difficult to select just one as a favorite. But one of the most memorable places we were welcomed would have to be the home of Jen Ramming and her lovely family. We all had a blast visiting their barn full of chickens, witnessing a real live cock fight and petting their sheep. Perla showed us her basketball skills by shooting some hoops before we left. The setting was idyllic and the company could not have been sweeter.

all of michael's song titles were written in korean

2009-05-28T00:17:00.001-04:00

must be all the kimchee he ate as a baby...

other influences

2009-05-27T01:17:00.001-04:00

michael's inspiration

2009-05-27T01:05:00.002-04:00

recording session today at dunham records

2009-05-27T00:32:00.009-04:00

ROCK ON!!

2009-05-01T20:03:00.018-04:00

If I could create the blog equivalent of head-banging to Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin, then that's what you'd be experiencing right now. On Monday, we found out that FUTURE WEATHER was chosen as one of ten semi-finalists for the Netflix Find Your Voice competition. The ten projects were officially announced today. Read it and weep, suckaaazz!!!

http://www.netflixfindyourvoice.com/

I forgot I'd even entered last February when I got an email from competition co-hosts, Film Independent, saying that they wanted to arrange a call with our production team. That was last week. Not a lot of sleeping went on after that for Kristin and me. Because we knew that if we got it, we'd have to drop everything to create the 2-3 minute short Netflix wants posted on their website by June 5 for public voting.

As if we weren't already in overdrive with our new online store, a fundraiser, an Earth Day bazaar, IgnitePhilly, and two grant applications. Not to mention arranging babysitters, selling a house and producing a flash mini-site for Drew Magazine.

The first phone call was surreal - having people show genuine interest in something that is so close to your heart, that you've been protecting and fighting for to the distraction of everything else is like stepping into an alternate reality. The one you've been dreaming of.

The second phone call came, and before I could really process the news, we went into immediate strategy mode. Difficult decisions had to be made. Troops to be rallied. And after careful consideration, we decided to shoot new material for the short. (More on that to come.)

Now that the official word is in, and the boat is leaving the shore, I'm beginning to feel the gorgeous breeze of the creative opportunity at hand. What a blessing. Even if we don't win, I feel very lucky that I've got one month to focus on the art part of filmmaking, which is exactly why I started this journey in the first place. Thank you to everyone who's helped sustain this dream for the last three years! Here we go!!!

Earth Day at UrbanOutfitters

2009-05-01T15:15:00.003-04:00

UrbanOutfitter employees have it good. On Earth Day, they hosted a Green Bazaar at their gorgeous Navy Yard headquarters, and we were invited to set up shop. Quirky green vendors (organic nail salon?) and eco-chic abounded, but I was most impressed by the sustainable carry-out options that Urban's two well-trafficked cafes had on hand - for a price, of course (this is retail). The most practical items were reusable ceramic coffee mugs that look like paper cups, steel water bottles and celadon plastic take-out containers. I couldn't resist getting one to tote my golden beet and yellow asparagus salad in.

Sewing More Tote-Bags!

2009-05-01T14:48:00.005-04:00

The Future Weather store is getting low on bag inventory, so it's time to make more!

There were a ton of fun tees at the thrift store; look out for our tie-dye series and beachy primary-colored stripes.

Snips and thread-ends; we used lots of neon colors, and I actually tried my hand at sewing this time!

Big Green Earth Store Helps Cut Down on Plastic

2009-05-01T13:56:00.011-04:00

Psyched. I finally have a minute to do some blog catch-up.

This pic is from a recent trip to the Big Green Earth Store on Market and 2nd in Old City.

Reasons to go:

- they collect plastic bottle caps for recycling

- you can refill any container you wish with orange-scented household soaps from King of Prussia-based Sun & Earth. That means no more detergent bottles!

e speaks trees

2009-03-25T10:39:00.001-04:00

Trees! I am so excited to be a part of this project because I have always been somewhat obsessed with this idea of tree rings. I find it so interesting that within these rings all this information can be revealed about a tree’s life. Like living with your very own road map to your life right inside of you...I love the idea of that, of each year marking you in some way. I think it’s such a beautiful visual representation of a life lived. I wish people had rings we could see!

xxx
e

e bond is an artist, bookmaker and designer for Anthropologie in Philadelphia. A graduate of Moore College of Art and Design, e is now teaches a class at Moore called Words & Pictures: The Book. Last spring, e took a trip to the Scottish Highlands where she planted Scots Pine seedlings in an effort to restore the Caledonian Forest. Read more about it here.

Future Weather's Store is Open for Business!!

2009-03-25T10:30:00.002-04:00

We are proud to launch our very own line of eco-swag: organic cotton T-shirts and tote bags sewn from "pre-loved" T-shirts, all illustrated by the talented e bond. Please visit our store to learn more!

Good Dick used to be hard to find....

2009-03-23T21:25:00.012-04:00

....but not anymore!

The Sundance hit GOOD DICK is now available on DVD! Those of us here at Future Weather Productions hope you'll check out this wonderful feature produced and self-distributed by our friends and mentors over at Present Pictures. Marianna Palka is mesmerizing in this atypical love story that she wrote and directed, while Jason Ritter delivers another fantastic performance. They'll make you laugh, they'll make you cry, they'll talk about porn - you'll love it. You can buy the DVD by visiting the GOOD DICK online store at www.gooddickthefilm.com. It's only twenty bucks and you'll be supporting the filmmakers directly. The moody original soundtrack composed by Jared Nelson Smith is also available at iTunes.

The Art Film Lives

2009-03-08T23:11:00.018-04:00

I hate people. I really, really hate people. But I LIKE YOU...

--overheard in bar on 1st Ave.

It was an exhausting weekend. I've been in the thick of preparing for our t-shirt launch, chasing down funding leads, applying for grants, trying to squeeze in paid work, and planning a two-week hiatus to begin visualizing the film. But there was networking to be done, and networking is the name of the game. So bye-by weekend.

Friday morning, I took the Chinatown up to NYC. I visited my accountant, caught up on emails, overheard a conversation between a playwright and her collaborator (Natalie kills Marty? hunch it was Off-Broadway but couldn't figure out who?), ate ramen with Annie, learned there's a cloud of fenugreek perfume wafting over the isle of Manhattan, watched Wendy and Lucy, discussed Wendy and Lucy, drank beer and then a whiskey and soda that was very coconutty, ate wurstl & fries, slept with a snowwhite cat, and (to quote my friend Nathaniel) watched the twenties fly out of my hands, all while shlepping my computer, notebook and change of clothes everywhere. This was my mini-vacation before two rigorous days of panels hosted by IFP.

"Script to Screen" attracted over 200 screenwriters, producers, directors, and multi-hyphenates to squish knee-to-knee in a sea of director's chairs at NYFA to listen to the likes of James Schamus (The Ice Storm), Ted Hope (American Splendor), Jerry Kupfer (30 Rock) and Scott Franklin (The Wrestler) reveal the often elusive inner-workings of the businesses of television and film, particularly paths for writers.

Of course there were the crackpots, the egomaniacs, the kooky hats, the flashing cameras, the self-loathing, the resentment, the stalking, the smug comments and a fair share of snarky ones. It was a roomful of filmmakers. But the event was also a hotbed of creative, intelligent, hard-working and humble members of the independent film community. People who are still taking risks and hoping to make a significant contribution to world cinema.

The frank, articulate discussions had by each panel were a great way to take the temperature of American independent film. Yes, technology has changed viewing habits and splintered audiences; yes, a new profitable distribution model is still unclear; yes, there are too many films being made for them all to survive. Yes, yes, yes, it's expensive and intimidating. Yes, we have a love/hate relationship with Sundance.

The spirit of independent film may be a little clammy right now, but it's not dead. In fact, we may be on the brink of a new generation of film. But perhaps more importantly, stories that do not adhere to Hollywood formula are still being told--by veterans and newcomers alike, and more women then ever. I was particularly impressed by Ted Hope's refreshing reverence for the art film. Art and film. My favorite things.

But here is my main takeaway, and this one's for you, aspiring filmmakers: the (majority of) producers, agents, festival judges, etc. who hold court at these industry events are not the gatekeepers to your success; they're in the business not because they enjoy rejecting you, but because they're as passionate about film as you are, if not more. They are your friends. If you're open to sharing and honing your passion, commitment, talent, discipline, insanity, social skills, and practical understanding of the business side of film, you will find others like you, not to mention friends, advocates, collaborators and funders. Stick with it. We're trying to. And hats off to IFP for bringing together such an informative group of people.

The Blade: Taking CO2 Off the Road

2009-02-27T11:49:00.004-05:00

For the cost of roughly five visits to the pump, you can cut your car's CO2 emissions by 12% and improve gas mileage by up to 34% on 4-cylinder cars. How? A simple automotive product called The Blade. Attach the metal cylinder to the tailpipe of your car and it will capture particulate material (aka soot) produced by your vehicle thereby reducing noxious emissions. According to the site, if every auto in America was equipped with a Blade, it would be the equivalent of taking 15.5 million cars off the road--pretty cool. Other fun Blade facts:

If every car in the U.S. had a Blade on it--

U.S. Consumers would save over $27 billion on money that they would otherwise spend on gasoline.
The U.S. would reduce its annual consumption of gasoline by approximately 9 billion gallons.

The company behind this innovative product? Sabertec, an environmental technology company that specializes in the development of emissions reduction technologies. They offer very generous college scholarships and community partnerships opportunities. And if that doesn't convince you, the Blade is used by Eco-Hollywood elite, like Courtney Cox and Laura Dern.

Future Weather Welcomes Baby Paige

2009-02-27T11:41:00.002-05:00

FWP's associate producer, Kristin Fairweather, has brought a lovely new being into the world. Paige Caroline Fairweather was born on January 21st at 7:58 PM. She was 6 lbs. 6 ounces and 22 inches at birth. Paige is Kristin's second daughter. Congratulations Kristin, Clint and Addy!

Sneak Peek: Future Weather Eco-swag!

2009-02-25T22:55:00.006-05:00

thank you, e! thank you, nancy! for all your help this week sewing...

tote-bags and tees coming, early March...

Future Economic Weather

2009-02-20T14:50:00.005-05:00

A headline from Utne Reader's green newsletter just caught my eye: "Extreme Weather in a Time of Global Financial Crisis."

As if hearing about staggering job losses day after day wasn't scary enough, Tom Englehardt's article put the fear of God in me by asking what happens if economic recovery meets with further environmental crisis. That's right, further environmental crisis.

According to University College London's Global Drought Monitor, 104 million people are now living under "exceptional drought conditions." Australia, China, Kenya, and Northern California (one of America's largest food producers) are among several areas in crisis that Englehardt details with bone-chilling facts. And, he says, the future weather in these chiefly agricultural regions is not looking any wetter.

New Secretary of Energy Steven Chu offered this warning in an interview with the Los Angeles Times: "I don't think the American public has gripped in its gut what could happen....We're looking at a scenario where there's no more agriculture in California. And I don't actually see how they can keep their cities going either."

But what, Englehardt asks, is the mainstream media doing to connect the dots between these "drought hot spots"? Nothing. And if they don't do that, then they certainly won't be able to anticipate what kind of disaster worsening drought could throw an already struggling world economy into. Mass migration? Soaring food prices? It could look a lot uglier than it already does. But don't take my word for it. Read Englehardt's article.

Secretary of Energy Chu sees lack of public awareness as a major obstacle to any real slowing of the climate crisis. That's why we're praying the funding comes through for FUTURE WEATHER.

Is it too late for New Year's resolutions?

2009-02-18T09:31:00.005-05:00

It's been a little while since our last entry, but with good reason. We have been working our fannies off on packaging and financing – the key elements to getting FUTURE WEATHER on the screen. We've made excellent progress and wonderful allies. It's a tough fiscal climate to get a film produced in, but we continue to have an overwhelmingly positive response to the script, and I am confident that we will get the film made – and made sustainably! – this summer.

Okay. On to a little year-in-review. I learned a lot from our crash course on sustainability this summer and was able to incorporate a lot of new practices into office and home, which for the time being, are one and the same. I'd like to highlight the major ones as well as the ones that I am admittedly having trouble making a habit. I figured summarizing would be good motivation to keep trucking. Or biking, if you want the greenest metaphor.

Trash sorting

I am now a pro at sorting my 3s from 5s and landing a lot fewer non-compostables in the trash.
Since Philly's municipal doesn't take 3s and 5s, they're filling up my in-home sorting center along with other atypical recyclables, including old jeans, Styrofoam peanuts and tin foil. A trip to Recycling Services will be in order soon.
I bought degradable trash bags; however, I didn't read the fine print close enough. They're still made of plastic; however, they biodegrade and according to the website, "are safely returned to the natural bio-cycle as fragments of 'organic carbon'".
I have not, however, begun separating compost. Here's to 2009! (see below)

Material Conservation

My water bottle, travel mug and cloth shopping bags have become very loyal friends of mine. Somehow I find it easy to remember to bring them places.
I can't say enough about my Canon energy star printer, which prints beautiful 2-sided documents – perfect for scripts. I also keep a big pile of used paper, so I can print on the other side of it for non-official documents.
Our paper is 100% post-consumer recycled, including notebooks and calendars. Our Future Weather Christmas cards were printed on 75% PC recycled paper and 25% hemp. Cool and toothy!
I've stopped buying Ziploc bags and plastic wrap and try not to buy crackers with those annoying plastic trays.
I've cancelled every catalog and credit card solicitation that used to darken my doorstep. Except J. Crew and Anthropologie. (Guilty pleasures.)

Energy Conservation

I now work from home which has cut down my car usage by 80%.
Unless I'm going to Whole Foods to refill water jugs or visiting a client in the burbs, I've been pretending I don't have a car and try to take Septa whenever possible. All right, when Kristin and I meet in Chestnut Hill, I drive when I could take the train. My excuse? Driving takes less time and money. Although at one Chestnut Hill meeting a month, it may not eat up that much time and money. I should look into it. Grumble. (see resolutions below)
Remembering to turn off lights and electronics is easy. Remembering to unplug them when not in use is not so easy. Any tips to push me?
I also can't seem to bring myself to throw away perfectly good light bulbs, so the transition to compact fluorescents is happening gradually here.
To save energy on heating water, I've switched to cold water laundry cycles about 75% of the time.

Local & Lower-Emissions Food

I've done a Summer CSA for the past four years, but this was my first year joining a Winter CSA with Keystone Farm. It's been a lot of fun trying to figure out what to do with all of the carrots, apples, potatoes and cabbage I get. You'd be surprised how many delicious, rustic and simple recipes there are on the internet. It's opened up a whole new world of winter eating for me. And food blogs. (Another guilty pleasure.)
The CSA supplies one pound of meat and dairy a week, which has been a good way to decrease my meat intake and make it local and organic when I do cook it.
In general, I have been trying to cook more vegetarian meals – at least one a day, two if you include Keystone's granola with Pequa Valley yogurt for breakfast. Yum.
99% of the time, I make my own lunch. But for that other 1%, I can't say that I've figured out how to deal with the occasional take-out order. Perhaps next steps would be to ask my favorite U. City restaurant (Hummus) to consider changing to compostable serving materials.

Non-Toxic Decisions

After seeing an inspiring presentation by Women's Voices for the Environment, I learned how to make my own cleaning detergent. One half white vinegar to one half water. Add a few drops of sweet orange oil, and you have a very effective, all-natural, all-purpose cleaner.
But how should I dispose of my nearly full bottle of 409?

Resolutions

Along with continuing the list above, I've given myself a year to do these five things. I think it's possible.

1) Make my own hummus
Now that I've gotten more hard-core about recycling, I've been trying to figure out how to generate less of it. Reusing packaged food tubs is a great idea, but what do you do when they won't fit in your cupboard anymore? Make your own hummus. I probably go through at least two packages a month – that's 24 a year. I don't plan to stop eating hummus anytime soon, so over five years, I could accumulate 120 containers. I definitely don't have room for those. So for the past month, I've been buying canned garbonzos and making my own - beans, tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, cumin and jalapeno. Difference between recycling tin cans and #5 plastic? For starters, cans are typically manufactured from their recycled progenitors. Plastic tubs aren't.

2) Compost
This I have not started yet. I don't garden, and I rent an apartment, so this is not as brainless as it might seem. Few ideas: see if my landlord and neighbors would like to pitch in on a composter for the yard; see if there are any community gardens in the neighborhood that would like my scraps; in the meantime, start collecting it in a tub to bring to Whole Foods. They now have a composting bin in their waste disposal area.

3) Air dry
In September, my boyfriend moved to Europe. One major difference between Europe and the States? They don't use dryers in Europe. Even in teeny apartments. And life goes on. My concentrated, phosphate-free laundry detergent already contains soy-based softener, so no crunchy underwear. I just need to get one of those handy folding wracks and I'm ready! Anyone know where to find them?

4) Unplug!
Vampire electricity… I really wish each room had a master plug. Any suggestions for making unplugging easier than getting down on hands and knees 4-6 times a day?

5) Train it to Chestnut Hill at least once
It only requires a trolley, a train, an R8 schedule and ten bucks.