About this project
The background:
Mayu is the Kichwa word for river. Kichwa, in its numerous dialects, is spoken in many indigenous communities throughout the Andean mountains and upper Amazon basin.
Matt Terry founded the Ecuadorian Rivers Institute over ten years ago to help direct development of the upper watershed of the Ecuadorian Amazon in a more environmental fashion. Medicinebleu Films proposes to develop a short documentary film on the work of Matt Terry and his group, the Ecuadorian Rivers Institute (ERI). The ERI works to protect and conserve unique watershed resources in Ecuador.
This is a David & Goliath story about one man determined to prevent development that threatens the upper Amazonian watershed. The backdrop of the story is one of the most unique biospheres in the world, the upper Amazon River basin. Development is going to happen, the ERI works to educate the developers, politicians, and citizens to work in a way that doesn't deteriorate the already dwindling purity of this unique biosphere. The watershed faces threats not only in the form of environmental factors such as floods and erosion, but from existing human factors. A recent boom in gold mining, oil exploration, instream gravel mining, and hydro-power projects have brought an increased and accelerated threat to the the Ecuadorian Amazon region. Over the past few years, the Ecuadorian Rivers Institute has established a presence as the leading river conservation organization in Ecuador . By increasing global awareness of watershed issues in Ecuador, the ERI hopes to minimize the exploitation of the environment and the people who depend upon it.
How we think "Mayu - the Fight for Ecuador's Rivers" will impact lives:
The ERI aims to empower local citizens to make informed decisions regarding the development of their waterways and the lands surrounding them. By encouraging direct connections between Ecuadorian citizens and their land and water resources, the ERI strives to support positive changes in local environments, bolstering efforts aimed at sustainable economic development that is compatible with watershed conservation. The ERI is the only organization of its kind in Ecuador. It has been a continuous presence during the last decade and is well-recognized by Ecuador’s scientific, political, and environmental communities as a solid source of honest data and an outspoken champion of the country’s rich water resources. Only through increased funding and international support will the ERI be able to continue its work as the only organized advocate of watershed conservation in Ecuador.
This film will capture the story of Matt Terry, founder and tireless executive director of the ERI; the stories of the Andean and Amazonian rivers that every day face increasingly daunting threats from irresponsible development and global greed; the stories of the local people whose very lives are intimately linked to the lives of the rivers that flow through their communities; the stories of unique species of plants and animals who call these individual river corridors home.
We expect the film to act as an inspirational tool to garner international support for the ERI and its initiatives, thereby extending the life expectancy of Ecuadorian rivers on the brink of destruction; foster awareness of severe environmental and social abuses in Ecuador, emphasizing the relevance of these local issues.
Ultimately, this film will give viewers the opportunity to see, hear, and experience the unique beauty of Ecuador and its water resources. Simultaneously, the film will spread the word of the ERI’s struggle to an international audience, renewing hope for continued advocacy for local communities, ecosystems, and waterways whose voices are all too often dampened by the roar of industrialism and development.
Our progress:
Why we need your help:
This is a not for profit film and all of the funds we raise will contribute to the goals of the primary production. Our goal is to begin production in January 2012. This is why we need your help! About half of the funds we raise will be used to cover travel, transportation, and production equipment. The other half will be used for materials and equipment needed for post production.
FAQ
When do you plan to release the film?
We plan to complete filming by January 2012 and hope to screen the final product by June 2012.
What happens if the goal isn’t reached in time?
Simply put, if we do not raise the full $11,000 WE WILL NOT RECEIVE ANY MONEY to complete this project. Please help us complete our goal in time!
Can you raise more than 11,000?
Absolutely! We have entered the minimum amount we need to complete our immediate goals above but we can certainly use more help! The more funds we raise, the more opportunities we will have to share the work of the Ecuadorian Rivers Institute with families, organizations, resource centers, and folks from all around the world.
I'm happy to help, but what are the extra perks!?
We understand that you are probably just pledging for this project out of the kindness of your heart, but still, we would like to thank you with stickers, copies of the completed DVD with extras, film credits, and artwork.
It would be incredibly helpful for you to spread the word about Matt Terry's work, and the Ecuadorian Rivers Institute. You can promote the film by:
• Sharing the project with your friends and network
• Posting the link of our Kickstarter page on your Facebook and Twitter
• Pledging to host a screening of our film with classrooms or organizations.
We also welcome suggestions for promoting this piece to multiple audiences.
You can reach the filmmakers at medicinebleu@gmail.com – please feel free to send us a note with any questions, suggestions or just to say hello.
We welcome support in any form, including tweets, and facebook posts.
we would like to thank: http://teamscum.com/ for all of the printing of tshirts and stickers as a part of their support soul program. We would also like to thank http://davidlareaumusic.com/ for helping us in our fundraising efforts.
to become friends with the Ecuadorian Rivers Institute http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ecuadorian-Rivers-Institute/129516613793053
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
94
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$5,137
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Funding Unsuccessful
This project reached the deadline without achieving its funding goal on January 6.
Pledge $1 or more Pledge $1 or more
A 'special thanks' credit on www.medicinebleu.com and facebook.
Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
A silkscreened Ecuadorian Rivers Institute sticker + A 'special thanks' on www.medicinebleu.com and facebook.
Pledge $30 or more Pledge $30 or more
DVD of the film + silkscreened Ecuadorian Rivers Institute sticker + A 'special thanks' credit on www.medicinebleu.com and facebook.
Pledge $60 or more Pledge $60 or more
a killer tshirt displaying the films logo design printed by teamscum + DVD of the film + silkscreened Ecuadorian Rivers Institute sticker + A 'special thanks' on www.medicinebleu.com and facebook.
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
a signed 11x 14 photograph + a killer tshirt displaying the films logo design printed by teamscum + DVD of the film + silkscreened Ecuadorian Rivers Institute sticker + A 'special thanks' credit at the end of the film, on www.medicinebleu.com and facebook.
Pledge $250 or more Pledge $250 or more
a coffee table book of still photographs of the Napo river basin, the people, and the filming + a killer tshirt displaying the films logo design printed by teamscum + DVD of the film + silkscreened Ecuadorian Rivers Institute sticker + A 'special thanks' credit at the end of the film, on www.medicinebleu.com and facebook.
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
A large, limited edition art print featuring the Napo boat race from the Napo Riverfest 2004 + a killer tshirt displaying the films logo design printed by teamscum + DVD of the film + silkscreened Ecuadorian Rivers Institute sticker + A 'special thanks' credit at the end of the film.
Project By
Connected as Pat McDonnell (605 friends)
Pat McDonnell (Director)
Adventure sport and documentary style photographer/ filmmaker Pat McDonnell has logged more than 15 years shooting in the outdoors. In 2001, he created Medicinebleu Films, which specializes in documenting the humble ambition of ordinary people around the world who work to make a difference in their communities. Medicinebleu Films has taken McDonnell to Nepal, Patagonia, Belize and Ecuador to shoot both stills and live action. Whether he's capturing adventure sports in picture-perfect locations or documenting the enduring human spirit in far-flung regions of the world, McDonnell's DIY mentality helps him thrive in the most impossible landscapes. His resilience and experience are critical in another of his many roles, managing the logistics for medical relief projects with aid group Medic Force.
Ryan Sarnowski (Producer, Editor)
Ryan is the co-director of doc|UWM, the prestigious documentary media center based in the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Film Department. Ryan also teaches documentary courses in both the Film Department and the Journalism Department. Ryan holds an MFA from UWM in Film Production and a BFA from Florida State University. For the past 5 years Ryan has worked side-by-side with his students at UWM to create professional quality videos that tell stories in a documentary fashion. Together, Ryan and his students have produced over 80 documentaries on a variety of topics, including civic volunteerism, elder abuse, fresh water research, and peaceful mediation, and inner city sports teams. His latest feature documentary “Passing the Baton: The Joe Sims Milwaukee Striders Story” premiered at the 2011 Milwaukee Film Festival.
Chandra Brown (Associate Producer)
Chandra Brown was born and raised in Alaska. A graduate of Montana State University - Bozeman, she holds degrees in Fine Arts and Spanish, with a teaching endorsement in both areas. Chandra has spent several years working as a public school teacher and even more years working as a whitewater raft guide on various rivers throughout the United States. In 2010, Chandra was awarded a Fulbright grant to Ecuador, where she collaborated with the foreign language department of a rural Ecuadorian university, examined issues related to watershed preservation, and searched for correlations between environmental contamination and the efficacy of local education. She now lives in the Pacific Northwest where she works remotely with the Ecuadorian Rivers Institute as the non-profit's Communications Director, facilitates arts-based projects to encourage exploration of culture in international classrooms, and supports language learners through independent academic guidance.
