Kissimmee Basin documentary is ready to ship

Hello friends and partners of the Kissimmee Basin: the Northern Everglades documentary project,

The completed version of the final DVD has arrived and is ready for shipment.  The Kissimmee Basin: the Northern Everglades story has not been told very often, compared to the rest of the Everglades region.  This documentary is a great media tool to provide an overview of the Kissimmee Valley, meet some of the people who live, work and love this historical part of Florida.

Please take a look at this fascinating story, purchase the DVD, share this information with others, and educate people about our special place here in the heartland of Florida.

http://www.northerneverglades.com/dvd-sales/

View the trailer/demo at: http://youtu.be/IOOeMyNe7PU

Check with your local Public Television Station for broadcast schedules.  Here are few new dates for Florida:

WGCU-Encore, Ft. Myers

* Sep 3, 11 pm (it follows Ken Burns’ National Parks:).

WEDU+-.4:  

* 8-5-12, 10 pm

WLRN 17.2 (Learns):  

* 8-19-12, 8 pm. 

WUSF-16.1 - Tampa, FL 

* 8/6/2012 4:00 PM 

* 8/8/2012 12:00 PM

* 8/8/2012 3:00 AM 

* 8/10/2012 2:00 PM

Cocoa Beach, FL WBCC-68.3

* 8/6/2012 11:00 AM

* 8/7/2012 8:00 PM 

* 8/7/2012 11:00 AM

* 8/8/2012 11:00 AM 

* 8/9/2012 11:00 AM 

* 8/10/2012 11:00 AM 

Here are few more scheduled dates across the country.  Will have an update schedule beginning of next week.

Boise, ID KAID-4.2 HD Plus 

* 8/10/2012 9:00 PM

Providence, RI RIPBS-Learns 36.2 WSBE 

* 8/2/2012 10:00 PM 1st run

Tucson, AZ KUAT.3 Ready TV - Main 

* 8/2/2012 9:00 PM 1st run

Coeur d'Alen, ID KCDT-26.2 Plus HD 

*8/10/2012 9:00 PM 1st run 122 

Boise, ID KUID-12.2 HD Plus 

* 8/10/2012 9:00 PM 1st run

Springfield, IL, IL WILL-12.1 

* 9/30/2012 1:00 PM 1st run

Boise, ID KAID-4.2 HD Plus 

* 8/10/2012 9:00 PM 1st run

Idaho Falls, ID KISU-10.2 HD Plus 

* 8/10/2012 9:00 PM 1st run

Twin Falls, ID KIPT-13.2 HD Plus 

* 8/10/2012 9:00 PM 1st run

Short Description:        

Travel with filmmaker Elam Stoltzfus along the Kissimmee River and surrounding regions.  Meet the “Keepers of the Land” and experience a sense of place in the vast open spaces in the cattle country of Florida‘s private and public lands.

Throughout the centuries, the Everglades have inspired strong emotion and debate among soldiers and poets, politicians and citizens.  Its history is as broad and sprawling as the River of Grass itself.  Although many stories have been told about the Everglades – from drainage to restoration – few have been told about where it all begins: the Kissimmee River Basin. Restoration and protection of the natural values of this vast, watery landscape may well hold the key to restoration of the Greater Everglades ecosystem. 

The Kissimmee Basin: The Northern Everglades invites you to take a trip up the Kissimmee Valley back through time to discover the well-reasoned, yet unforeseen, consequences of a flood control project that turned the 103-mile long meandering river full of life, into a 52-mile long, multi-million dollar over-engineered channel that drained the surrounding wetlands, caused the disappearance of large flocks of wading birds, and a significant decline of an abundant freshwater fishery.

“Kissimmee Basin area … that’s one of the areas of Florida that you can still go to and, if you look for it, it’s there. You can see Florida just like it was seventy-five, a hundred, or more years ago.”   

    - -  Patrick Smith, Author, A Land Remembered.

In the documentary, “Kissimmee Basin: The Northern Everglades”, cinematographer Elam Stoltzfus captures the magnificent beauty of Florida’s heartland. This story documents the unique history of the region and succinctly states contemporary issues that affect this area. By the end of the video, viewers are left with a better understanding as to what they can do to preserve the Kissimmee Basin for future generations.

     - - Rick Dantzler, Co-chairman, Northern Everglades Alliance

With Kissimmee Basin: Northern Everglades, Elam Stoltzfus uses magnificent imagery and compelling testimonial to tell the story of the least understood and appreciated facet of Everglades restoration. The film is a must see for anyone seeking to better understand this extraordinary landscape, the innovative strategies to achieve its restoration, and the people who have banded together on its behalf.

      - - Evan Hirsche, President, National Wildlife Refuge Association

The recently released Kissimmee Basin: the Northern Everglades documentary is a compelling story about people and the resilience of nature: the power of what we can do when we all work together.  Elam Stoltzfus has captured the heart and soul of this under appreciated part of the Everglades watershed. The Nature Conservancy has worked with ranchers in this landscape for more than 30 years and even their colleagues from around the country are surprised to hear that Florida’s cattle industry is one of the largest in the U.S. It is important to tell this untold story,  about the valuable role of these ranch lands for storing water, providing clean air and sheltering an amazing array of wildlife that benefits the millions of people who mostly live along the coasts. It is exciting that this story is being told not just in Florida but around the country.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                - - Tricia Martin, The Nature Conservancy, Central Florida Conservation Director  

Thank you for your interest and support.

Elam Stoltzfus, Producer

info@liveoakproductiongroup.com

850-899-0883

Friend KBNE on FaceBook, Twitter and YouTube.

For more information go to: www.NorthernEverglades.com

YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/user/NorthernEverglades

FaceBook at: http://www.facebook.com/NorthernEverglades

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/TheNEverglades

Blog: http://northerneverglades.blogspot.com/

Info about KBNE

Travel with filmmaker Elam Stoltzfus along the Kissimmee River and surrounding regions.  Meet the “Keepers of the Land” and experience a sense of place in the vast open spaces in the cattle country of Florida‘s private and public lands.

Throughout the centuries, the Everglades have inspired strong emotion and debate among soldiers and poets, politicians and citizens.  Its history is as broad and sprawling as the River of Grass itself.  Although many stories have been told about the Everglades – from drainage to restoration – few have been told about where it all begins: the Kissimmee River Basin. Restoration and protection of the natural values of this vast, watery landscape may well hold the key to restoration of the Greater Everglades ecosystem. 

The Kissimmee Basin: The Northern Everglades invites you to take a trip up the Kissimmee Valley back through time to discover the well-reasoned, yet unforeseen, consequences of a flood control project that turned the 103-mile long meandering river full of life, into a 52-mile long, multi-million dollar over-engineered channel that drained the surrounding wetlands, caused the disappearance of large flocks of wading birds, and a significant decline of an abundant freshwater fishery.

“Kissimmee Basin area … that’s one of the areas of Florida that you can still go to and, if you look for it, it’s there. You can see Florida just like it was seventy-five, a hundred, or more years ago.”   Patrick Smith, Author, A Land Remembered.

Producer, Director and Cinematography: Elam Stoltzfus

Associate Producer: Kimball Love

Host: Clyde Butcher

Narrator: Jim Fowler

Music: Ian Weir

Script: Matthew Porter

Editor: Joe Davenport

Consultant: Rick Smith

http://www.youtube.com/user/NorthernEverglades

In the documentary, “Kissimmee Basin: The Northern Everglades”, cinematographer Elam Stoltzfus captures the magnificent beauty of Florida’s heartland. This story documents the unique history of the region and succinctly states contemporary issues that affect this area. By the end of the video, viewers are left with a better understanding as to what they can do to preserve the Kissimmee Basin for future generations.

     - - Rick Dantzler, Co-chairman, Northern Everglades Alliance

With Kissimmee Basin: Northern Everglades, Elam Stoltzfus uses magnificent imagery and compelling testimonial to tell the story of the least understood and appreciated facet of Everglades restoration. The film is a must see for anyone seeking to better understand this extraordinary landscape, the innovative strategies to achieve its restoration, and the people who have banded together on its behalf.

      - - Evan Hirsche, President, National Wildlife Refuge Association

The recently released Kissimmee Basin: the Northern Everglades documentary is a compelling story about people and the resilience of nature: the power of what we can do when we all work together.  Elam Stoltzfus has captured the heart and soul of this under appreciated part of the Everglades watershed. The Nature Conservancy has worked with ranchers in this landscape for more than 30 years and even their colleagues from around the country are surprised to hear that Florida’s cattle industry is one of the largest in the U.S. It is important to tell this untold story,  about the valuable role of these ranch lands for storing water, providing clean air and sheltering an amazing array of wildlife that benefits the millions of people who mostly live along the coasts. It is exciting that this story is being told not just in Florida but around the country. Thank you to everyone involved in making this documentary.

    - - Tricia Martin, The Nature Conservancy, Central Florida Conservation Director  

Its been awhile since I wrote on this blog. So much has been happing for me.  Earlier this year I was part of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition, 1000 miles in 100 days.  See www.FloridaWildlifeCorridor.com for more info.
Came home and wrapped up the final edits on the Kissimmee documentary.
I just finished the design and order for the DVD.  It will be up on the web site real soon in the PayPal account.  Hopefully within the next week.
The DVD includes some extra video clips from the demos and extra edited segments.  I think you will enjoy the conversations and the approach of this program.

Here is the image of the cover.

Enjoy,

Elam Stoltzfus

A tour of landscapes and wildlife in the Kissimmee Basin. Cinematography by Elam Stoltzfus, edited by Joe Davenport and music score by Ian Weir. This segment was created as an artist expression, but also to share the beauty in landscapes of what we saw in the past 18 months. We hope you enjoy the view.

The Kissimmee Basin: the Northern Everglades documentary takes an in-depth and fascinating look at how changing the Kissimmee River's shape has, in turn, changed lives -- and ultimately the history of this beautiful landscape.

"...the high percentage of endangered species in this country live on private property. And our agricultural lands in America really represent some of the greatest examples of stewardship. And the reason why there are still opportunities to have additional acquisitions for a new national park or a new state park is because some business, some family, has been caretaking that land for generations. - - Adam Putnam, Commissioner, FL Dept of Agriculture

For more information go to: www.NorthernEverglades.com
FaceBook at: http://www.facebook.com/NorthernEverglades
YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/user/NorthernEverglades
Twitter: http://twitter.com/TheNEverglades
Blog: http://northerneverglades.blogspot.com/

On October 20 I was able to travel to Vero Beach to meet up with Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and US Fish and Wildlife Services Director Dan Ashe to capture a video interview discussing the proposal of the Northern Everglades Headwaters Wildlife Refuge.  Both leaders of large agencies understood the importance of protecting the water resources at the headwaters of the Everglades systems and preserve an important part our natural heritage: the Florida Ranching communities.  Pelican Island NWS staff along with Director Charlie Pelizza were wonderful hosts to the group.  Consultant Rick Smith met up with me to provide crew support and meet new people.

On hand was Carlton Ward and Joe Guthrie to present a map of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition map and to discuss Florida black bear research.  The story about the Kissimmee Basin: the Northern Everglades and the Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition are beginning to overlap in content and contacts.  Its been an incredible experience to travel on a few of the large landscapes in heartland of Florida in the past two years.  Now there will be another chance to get a close up look and journey through these lands in 2012.

Frame grab from video - USFWS Director Dan Ashe

Frame grab from video - DOI Sec Ken Salazar

On October 11th I traveled to Albany Ga to pick up Jim Fowler at his Mud Creek Ranch.  From there we traveled to the NE side of Albany to record the audio narration for the documentary at Albany Recording Studio.  Ed McRee was the engineer for the recording session.  Jim Fowler added his own interpretation  and characterization to the reading of the script.  This is always exciting to hear the words begin to come to life.   Now we go to the audio edit session to put together all the best takes.  From there the narrative will be laid down in the timeline in the editing program.  Next is the matching up of the video footage to visually tell the story.  Slowly coming together, like pieces to a puzzle.

Elam Stoltzfus, Producer & Jim Fowler, Narrator

Ed McRee, Engineer, Albany Recording Studios

Last week (September 30 & October 1) I traveled to the Adam's Ranch located along Lake Marion to meet up with Carlton Ward and Joe Guthrie.  On Friday afternoon David Houghton with the National Wildlife Refuge Association and Desiree Sorenson-Groves came to talk and visit with us.  David gave a great video interview about the new proposed Northern Everglades Headwaters Wildlife Refuge proposal, the importance of this project for Florida citizens and water conservation.  It was an honor to hear about a large concept plan of preservation and conservation in the Kissimmee Basin.  

(frame from HD video clip)

(image by Carlton Ward Jr.)

“One is a real focus on the youth of America as we become increasingly Urban, kids don’t enjoy outdoors like I did as kid growing up with the big outdoors….  So, how do we get the kids away from the games and get a little mud on their feet?  An Urban Refuge system could be part of that,  but its about public - private partnership with large landscapes…..” - -  David Houghton, Vice President, National Wildlife Refuge Association

___________

On Saturday Rick Smith and I traveled south through the Seminole Reservation to the ranch owned by FWC Commissioner, Ron Bergeron, Florida Wildlife Commission.  Bergeron is a great story teller spinning tales about old Florida, the Gladesman and the old Florida Cracker.

(image by Rick Smith)

(frame from HD video clip)

“Florida has beautiful natural resources, best in the whole world.  Number one fishing in the world, the Everglades being one of the ten natural wonders of the world, we are very blessed from seagrass to sawgrass.”  - - Alligator Ron Bergeron, Commissioner - Florida Wildlife Commission