GASLAND PART II, JOSH FOX'S FOLLOW-UP TO HIS OSCAR®-NOMINATED DOCUMENTARY, DEBUTS JULY 8, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO

Film Reveals How Stakes Have Been Raised On All Sides In One Of The Most Important Environmental Issues Facing The Nation Today

 

In the explosive follow-up to his Oscar®-nominated documentary "Gasland," filmmaker Josh Fox uses his trademark dark humor to take a deeper, broader look at the dangers of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, the controversial method of extracting natural gas and oil, now occurring on a global level (in 32 countries worldwide).

Debuting MONDAY, JULY 8 (9:00-11:15 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO, GASLAND PART II shows how the stakes have been raised on all sides in one of the most important environmental issues facing the nation today. The film argues that the gas industry's portrayal of natural gas as a clean and safe alternative to oil is a myth, and that fracked wells inevitably leak over time, contaminating water and air, hurting families, and endangering the earth's climate with the potent greenhouse gas, methane. In addition, the film looks at how the powerful oil and gas industries are, in Fox's words, "contaminating our democracy." The timely documentary premiered at the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival.

Other HBO playdates: July 8 (4:55 a.m.), 11 (8:15 a.m., 4:15 p.m.), 14 (3:15 p.m.), 17 (1:45 p.m., midnight) and 20 (9:10 a.m.)

HBO2 playdates: July 10 (8:00 p.m.) and 25 (3:50 a.m.)

HBO Documentary Films presents another weekly series this summer, debuting provocative new specials every Monday through August 12. Other July films include: "Gideon's Army" (July 1); "The Crash Reel" (July 15); "The Cheshire Murders" (July 24); and "First Comes Love" (July 29).

Ever since theater director-turned-filmmaker Josh Fox was approached five years ago with an unexpected offer of $100,000 for the natural gas drilling rights to his property in the Delaware River Basin, on the border of New York and Pennsylvania, he has been on a mission to investigate and expose the environmental risks of hydraulic facturing. His first film, "Gasland," debuted at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Special Jury Prize, and made its HBO debut later that year. The film was subsequently shown in more than 30 countries to an estimated 50 million viewers. In addition to an Oscar® nomination for Best Documentary Feature, "Gasland" won an Emmy® for Best Nonfiction Directing and was nominated for three other Emmys®. As a result of his activism, Fox was awarded the 2010 Lennon Ono Grant for Peace by Yoko Ono.

GASLAND PART II begins with the 2012 State of the Union Address, in which President Obama declares his support for the safe development of natural gas production, something Fox and the anti-fracking community believe is impossible. Beneath the continental U.S., some contend, lies a vast underground ocean of natural gas waiting to be harvested, with the potential to supply energy to millions of Americans.

However, as Fox explained in "Gasland," the drilling process, called hydraulic fracturing or fracking, is exempted by the Bush-Cheney Energy Policy Act of 2005 from the United States' most basic environmental regulations, including the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Air Act, and poses many environmental threats to water and air.

In "Gasland," Fox discovered tap water so contaminated it could be set on fire right out of the tap, chronically ill residents with similar symptoms in drilling areas across the country, and huge pools of toxic waste that kill livestock and vegetation. In GASLAND PART ll, he revisits families whose lives have been upended from living near fracking wells and introduces new characters. Fox interviews politicians who have been trying to stop fracking and help the people affected by it, as well as experts who support Fox's concerns about the dangers of fracking and the urgent need for a shift to truly clean renewable energy.

Fox returns to Dimock, Pa., Pavilion, Wyo., and Dish, Tex. to see how the residents are faring in their fight to secure clean water from local governments and the E.P.A., and ventures to Australia to see what is happening outside the U.S. as fracking becomes a global practice.

In order to understand the potential dangers of fracking, Fox interviews Tony Ingraffea, Professor of Engineering, Cornell University, a former researcher for the gas industry. Ingraffea, who was named one of Time magazine's People Who Matter in 2011, explains why in his opinion, fracking can never be done safely. He illustrates how cement in wells can be vulnerable to cracking and that once it has cracked, methane gas can migrate into any underground source of drinking water.

In GASLAND PART ll, Fox also argues that new choices must be made about where the nation gets its energy. He talks to Stanford professor Mark Jacobson, who argues that the U.S. could stop drilling for coal, oil and natural gas altogether and bundle together the renewable resources of wind, high-concentrated solar power, geothermal power, hydroelectric power and tidal power to handle the country's current energy needs.

But Fox's biggest concern in GASLAND PART ll is perhaps his belief that "the enormously powerful oil and gas industry has not only contaminated our water, air and land, but also our democracy."

Towards the film's conclusion, Fox is arrested trying to film a congressional hearing regarding the E.P.A. results in Pavilion. But as the fight to protect the earth from extreme energy development seems even more challenging, Fox remains determined and undeterred.

GASLAND PART II is directed and produced by Josh Fox; produced by Trish Adlesic; produced by Deborah Wallace; co-producer, Matthew Sanchez; cinematography, Josh Fox and Matthew Sanchez; editor, Matthew Sanchez. For HBO: senior producer, Nancy Abraham; executive producer, Sheila Nevins.

Controversial "Pro-Fracking" Documentary Raises More Than $185,000 on Crowdfunding Website

"FrackNation" investigates the health scares surrounding the process, and reveals the startling lack of scientific evidence to substantiate them.

UPDATE to Previous Post.

LOS ANGELES, April 3, 2012 -- A controversial documentary is finishing one of the most successful Kickstarter fundraising campaigns, having raised almost $190,000 from 2,700 backers in just 60 days.

The Kickstarter.com campaign for FrackNation was launched on February 6, and smashed through the fundraising goal of $150,000 early in the campaign.

The campaign will come to a close on Friday, and the filmmakers will continue production until the film premieres this summer. The film is being co-directed and produced by Phelim McAleer and Ann McElhinney, a husband and wife film making couple, and Magda Segieda who worked with them on their previous documentary Not Evil Just Wrong.

The team has announced that in a unique move all 2,700 backers, even those who have donated one dollar, will become executive producers on the film and have their names in the credits.

"This will be a documentary funded by the people for the people," said McAleer.

The fundraising success has been all the more remarkable given that Kickstarter normally facilitates crowdfunding for "pro-environmental," anti-fossil fuel documentaries.

Noting that FrackNation was an unusual fit as a Kickstarter project the Los Angeles Times said the documentary "received an eye-popping $22,000 in donations during its first two days." POLITICO called the filmmaker's Kickstarter campaign "most interesting," and The San Francisco Examiner noted "the financial and emotional support for the film has earned it a top spot on Kickstarter's 'most popular' list," a position the film maintained for almost the duration of the campaign.

Recently, a billboard supporting the documentary went up in natural-gas rich New York, near the Pennsylvania border. The billboard made news asserting "The Water Was On Fire In 1669." The filmmakers "felt it was important to bring to light the truth and counter the common, inaccurate scare stories about 'exploding tap water.'"

"People seem to have decided that they want the truth to be told and they want to be involved in the telling," McAleer said referencing the broad-based support for the film. "The majority of backers have been from the U.S. and pledged between $20 and $35. Instead of going to the movies, they're paying for one. We are so grateful for their contributions, especially when budgets are tight for everyone."

The feature-length film looks at the process of fracking for natural gas, and examines much of the scaremongering surrounding the process and speaks to people who say they are the ignored majority in their communities that overwhelmingly support fracking and the natural gas industry. The first clip from FrackNation, released this month, highlights the misinformation and biased opinions about fracking that are being represented in the media.

FrackNation comes on the heels of a new anti-fracking film due to be released by activist filmmaker Josh Fox. Fox made Gasland, an Oscar-nominated film, which propelled fears about fracking into the public arena. Fox is now planning a HBO-funded Gasland sequel. Fox has received $750,000 to make the new documentary.

"Unlike Josh Fox we can't and won't rely on money from corporations like HBO to make our documentary. This is a film funded by the 99 percent to combat the misrepresentations by the 1 percent of urban elites who want to tell rural Americans how to work and live. We are amazed and thankful for the support we have received from people all over the world who are ready for the truth about fracking to be told," said McElhinney.

The team said the funds will allow them to continue work on the production of FrackNation, with a goal of releasing the film later in 2012.

SOURCE Ann McElhinney and Phelim McAleer

Controversial "Pro-Fracking" Documentary Reaches Primary Fundraising Goal in Record Time on Crowdfunding Website

"FrackNation" investigates the health scares surrounding the process, and reveals the startling lack of scientific evidence to substantiate them.

UPDATE

LOS ANGELES, March 6, 2012 -- In less than 30 days, controversial filmmakers Ann McElhinney and Phelim McAleer have raised $150,000 from more than 2,000 backers for their documentary, FrackNation. Since the launch of the crowdfunding campaign on February 6, the outpouring of support for the film has earned it a top spot on Kickstarter's "most popular" list and helped FrackNation reach its $150,000 fundraising goal in half the estimated time.

"People have really put their money where their mouth is," McAleer said referencing the broad-based support for the film. "The majority of backers have been from the U.S. and pledged between $20 and $35. Instead of going to the movies, they're paying for one. We are so grateful for their contributions, especially when budgets are tight for everyone."

The feature-length film looks at the process of fracking for natural gas, demolishing much of the scaremongering surrounding the process and featuring the millions whose lives have been positively transformed by this emerging industry. The first clip from FrackNation, released last week, highlights the misinformation and biased opinions about fracking that are being represented in the media.

But the filmmakers emphasize that the campaign is not over.

"$150,000 is the absolute minimum we need to complete the film," said McAleer. "The more support we get for FrackNation, the better the film will be, allowing the film to combat the one-sided media coverage about fracking by reaching the broadest audience possible with this story of the truth."

See the progress McAleer and McElhinney are making toward funding FrackNation on Kickstarter . com .

In a unique fundraising move, McAleer and McElhinney, a husband and wife filmmaking team, have announced that everyone who donates, even a dollar, to FrackNation will become an executive producer on the film. "This will be a documentary funded by the people for the people," said McAleer.

In order to maintain full transparency and keep the film free from special interests, McAleer and McElhinney have returned all donations from companies or senior executives in the gas industry.

FrackNation comes on the heels of a new anti-fracking film due to be released by activist filmmaker Josh Fox. Fox made Gasland, an Oscar-nominated film, which propelled fears about fracking into the public arena. Fox is now planning a HBO-funded Gasland sequel. Fox has received $750,000 to make the new documentary.

"The Hollywood/environmental establishment has wheeled out big bucks to tell its story," said McElhinney. "We're just asking for small individual donations from people who are ready to see the truth represented. Ours will be a grassroots film telling real stories about real people across America and the world. The new Gasland will be funded and speak to the environmental elite – the 1 percent. FrackNation will be a film by the people for the people – it will give a voice to the 99 percent."

SOURCE Ann McElhinney and Phelim McAleer

Controversial Filmmakers Announce Crowdfunding Campaign for Documentary to "Expose the Truth about Fracking"

"FrackNation" investigates the alarming and apparently misleading claims made about fracking, and looks at the benefits the process can bring to some of the poorest communities in the U.S. and across the planet.

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 7, 2012 -- Controversial filmmakers Ann McElhinney and Phelim McAleer announced a crowdfunding campaign today for their new documentary, FrackNation.

The feature-length film looks at the process of fracking for natural gas, demolishing much of the scaremongering surrounding the process and featuring the millions whose lives have been positively transformed by this emerging industry. FrackNation investigates the health claims surrounding the process, and reveals the startling lack of scientific evidence to substantiate them.

Controversially, McAleer and McElhinney are fundraising for FrackNation on Kickstarter.com .

"Normally, Kickstarter projects are pro-radical environmentalism," said McAleer. "FrackNation will be the first documentary funded through Kickstarter to challenge the environmental establishment. It will appeal to the workers and small farmers who know the truth, but never see it represented in modern documentaries."

In a unique fundraising move, McAleer and McElhinney, a husband and wife filmmaking team, have announced that everyone who helps pay for FrackNation will become an executive producer on the film. "This will be a documentary funded by the people for the people," said McAleer.

FrackNation comes on the heels of a new anti-fracking film is due to be released by activist filmmaker Josh Fox. Fox made Gasland, an Oscar-nominated film, which propelled fears about fracking into the public arena. Fox is now planning a HBO-funded Gasland sequel. Fox has received $750,000 to make the new documentary.

"The Hollywood/environmental establishment has wheeled out big bucks to tell its story," said Ann McElhinney. "We're just asking for $150,000. Ours will be a grassroots film telling real stories about real people across America and the world."

The filmmakers say the documentary was inspired when they encountered journalistic censorship. McAleer questioned Fox at a Q&A following a screening of the film, during which Fox admitted the people could light their tap water long before fracking was introduced. The "lighting water" scene is one of the most famous parts of Gasland, and led to many of the scares surrounding the process.

"I was shocked when Fox said this had existed in these areas decades before fracking. However, I was doubly shocked when Fox's lawyers contacted me to take down my video of our Q&A which I posted on YouTube," said McAleer. "Fox was trying to censor another journalist and that got me interested: What was he trying to hide?"

McAleer and McElhinney have already filmed in Pennsylvania, New York, California, Poland, and the U.K.

"FrackNation will feature small farmers, the working class and others who are benefitting from this economic boom. We will also look at the backgrounds and motives of those opposing fracking," said McElhinney.

SOURCE Ann McElhinney and Phelim McAleer