2016 Blue Horizons Student Film Premiere
- Friday, August 19, 2016 PDT
Join us for the premiere of several engaging and topical short films by BLUE HORIZONS. This year’s films highlights key topics affecting the California Coast, including an effort by activists to designate a 140-mile stretch of unprotected California coastline as a Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary (Coastal Guardians); the regenerative practices of one rancher along the last stretch of undeveloped Southern California Coastline to go against blanket legislation on any exploitation of the environment and thus protect this area from urban sprawl (Losing Ground); the campaign by hunter to convince his peers to make the switch to non-lead ammunition and save the California condor population (Lead End); and the debate about what to do with decommissioned oilrigs on the California coastline (Remnants).
Losing Ground
Guner Tautrim has lived his whole life on the pristine Gaviota Coast, watching as urban sprawl inches closer to his home. This last stretch of undeveloped Southern California coastline is one of the most biologically diverse yet threatened regions in the world. Environmentalists and the area’s landowners must struggle constantly against pressures to develop it. Working on his father’s ranch, Guner Tautrim has developed regenerative practices in tune with the needs of the local land and climate. But because his efforts go against blanket legislation on any exploitation of the environment, he must convince others that his methods represent the best way to conserve this vital region.
Crew: Trevor Lestak, Brady Mears, Sara Battersby, Joseph Weston, and Beverly Vasquez.
Lead End
Anthony Prieto is a man at odds with his community. Other hunters continue to use lead bullets but Anthony promotes the use of environmentally friendly ammunition to save the California condor, which risks lead exposure with every meal. As part of condor territory conservation efforts, Anthony tries to convince his peers to make the switch to non-lead ammunition.
Crew: Jack Hammang, Jin Ho Park, Amanda Correa, and Moises Kristich
Remnants
Many of the 27 currently active oilrigs that dot the California coast will likely be decommissioned in the next decade. What to do with them once they are no longer extracting oil? The obvious choice would be to remove these eyesores and restore the ocean bed to its natural state. But some scientists have conducted research suggesting that these rigs not only support a variety of ocean life but could produce even more life if left in place.
Crew: Aaron Huelsman, Brendan Mansfield, Darren Kaye, and Jacqueline Kane
Coastal Guardians
There are 140 miles of unprotected coastline between the Channel Islands and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuaries. To win federal environmental protection for this coastline, Fred Collins and a team of professionals have worked to create a proposal for a Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. Because the local fishing community has opposed the designation process, Fred Collins and other supporters are speaking out to address the concerns of that community and to explain the significance of the area they seek to protect.
Crew: Amanda Nguyen, Alexander Frias, Madeline Schofield, Andrew Han, and Sofia DiBenedetto
This event is sponsored by the Carsey-Wolf Center’s Environmental Media Initiative, Department of Film and Media Studies, and UCSB Summer Sessions.