Calming the Waters

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 22:54:32 GMT

Mapping a Path to Sustainability

A Lawyer Proposes a Middle Way

In the summer of 2018, we began a journey to produce an independent documentary about an iconic environmental lawyer, Jim Blackburn . Semi-retired now and teaching environmental law at Rice University, Jim wrote a book called “ A Texas Plan for the Texas Coast ,” that descri bes a way to approach the powers that be in Texas , those that control the most egregious im p acts on our environment, and then convince them that sustainability is something they can embrace…a big lift in a state that worships the oil industry.

We Discover a Man Equal Parts Inspirational and Quirky

The deeper we dig and shoot, Jim emerges as a perfect subject. When he speaks, he excites his audiences with geeky facts and figures that promise a solution to global warming, and at the same time, he touches their spirit through his poetry about the Earth Church , a series of poems about the natural world. When the Pandemic isolated us all in our homes, the series blossomed into daily emails Jim called the “ Virus Vigil ”.

Our Film Takes Shape

The film has evolved into examinng Jim and his ideas through three primary facets of his work: EcoServices, EcoTourism, and Spiritiuality. EcoServices will include presenting his carbon market programs such as The Texas Coastal Exchange and BCarbon . EcoTourism promotes increased focus on the wonders of nature preserved. Because they are nearby to many centers of population in Texas, promoting their protection and recognition will increase visits and public understanding and concern for the environment.

Apollo Chamber Players

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 22:54:29 GMT

Launching a Brilliant Career

Warming Up

When I was first approached by Matt Detrick about a documentary detailing a remarkable initiative they tackled that would produce and perform 20 different original multi-cultural compositions by 2020, I was intrigued. It was not only their courageous, and a bit crazy idea, but it was the passion I witnessed in talking to Matt, and later discovered with all of the members. They are exceptional musicians and wonderful human beings.

The Performance

One of the challenges for our production was getting all the players interviews done.
Their lives are deep and fascinating. They began playing their instruments as youngsters, some even before starting elementary school. Matt Detrick, the founder of Apollo chose the name because of his long fascination with the space program. To highlight his choice, we chose a background of Apollo space suits at Space Center Houston . The shooting window was tight…the location insisted we complete all four interviews before the center opened at 10am. This required us to arrive at around 4:30am to set up for interviews at one hour each, starting at 6am. We stumbled out with great interviews and even some B-roll around the Saturn V rocket that morning.

The Coda

Multiple terabites of performance video and historical stills were supplied by Apollo, a good deal of which came from Ben Doyle of BEND Productions . Without a doubt this would prove to be one of the most massive jobs we had edited. In the end, it was so satisfying. Having so many wonderful assets made this film the compelling story that it is, winning awards and now streaming on Amazon Prime Video and Tubi .

Top Right: The Apollo Chamber Players, Matthew Dudzik, Matt Detrick, Annabel Ramirez Detrick, and Whitney Bullock

Io Communications Journal