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This project successfully raised its funding goal on June 30, 2010.
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CRUDE First Amendment Fund
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Three years in the making, this cinéma-vérité feature from acclaimed filmmaker Joe Berlinger (Brother’s Keeper, Paradise Lost, Metallica: Some Kind of Monster) is the epic story of one of the largest and most controversial environmental lawsuits on the planet. The inside story of the infamous “Amazon Chernobyl” case, CRUDE is a real-life high stakes legal drama, set against a backdrop of the environmental movement, global politics, celebrity activism, human rights advocacy, the media, multinational corporate power, and rapidly-disappearing indigenous cultures. Presenting a complex situation from multiple viewpoints, the film subverts the conventions of advocacy filmmaking, exploring a complicated situation from all angles while bringing an important story of environmental peril and human suffering into focus.
The landmark case takes place in the Amazon jungle of Ecuador, pitting 30,000 indigenous and colonial rainforest dwellers against the U.S. oil giant Chevron. The plaintiffs claim that Texaco – which merged with Chevron in 2001 – spent three decades systematically contaminating one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth, poisoning the water, air and land. The plaintiffs allege that the pollution has created a “death zone” in an area the size of the Rhode Island, resulting in increased rates of cancer, leukemia, birth defects, and a multiplicity of other health ailments. They further allege that the oil operations in the region contributed to the destruction of indigenous peoples and irrevocably impacted their traditional way of life. Chevron vociferously fights the claims, charging that the case is a complete fabrication, perpetrated by “environmental con men” who are seeking to line their pockets with the company’s billions.
Shooting in dozens of locations on three continents and in multiple languages, Berlinger and his crew gained extraordinary access to players on all sides of the legal fight and beyond, capturing the drama as it unfolded while the case grew from a little-known legal story to an international cause célèbre.
And now Chevron wants in on that access. In April 2010, Berlinger and the CRUDE filmmaking team were subpoenaed by The Chevron Corp. for nearly 600 hours of CRUDE dailies. On May 6th, U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan ruled in favor of Chevron, but Berlinger and his team are appealing this decision. Handing over this footage will undoubtedly set a chilling precedent for the future of journalism and documentary filmmaking worldwide. Please support our legal fund and help us put up a fight in what has become a truly historic battle in defense of the First Amendment, journalist's privilege, and the foundation of documentary filmmaking.
Absolutely beautiful! Congratulations on meeting the $30K goal!
Thank you for bringing the truth to the open about Chevron's harmful operations in the Amazon. Though this is the focus on one company, all are responsible for the thirst and the pillaging over fossil fuels. We must move to clean-non-extractive-renewable-alternative-resources.
I am actually working on a project with the Cofán artisans. For all who have seen Crude, you will recognize some of the faces. Please learn more about this project. http://kck.st/9B5Pmo
All the Best!
As a former Texaco employee in their Producing Dept. - Eastern Hemisphere, I was sickened by what the company did in Ecuador in the 70's. I am more than happy to help with a contribution, however small. And P.S., I have been a big Joe Berlinger fan since his film, Paradise Lost.
Wrong is wrong, and unfortunately, our litigious, corporate-driven legal process is grossly slanted in large companies' favor. I applaud your efforts to persevere, and am happy to be one of the (somewhat) vocal millions of us who are fed up with the stall tactics and downright nasty, greedy attitude of Today's Corporate America. We're fed up as a people/nation, and I hope this type of debate (freedom of speech vs. freedom of greed) let's people know that there are intelligent, articulate and non-confrontational alternatives to filing suit against "threats" like these (i.e. the threat free speech puts on corporate greed). Kudos, and contact me off-list if I can be of any assistance whatsoever!!! :)
I'm experiencing oil companies first hand on how they use PR to win the hearts and minds of their workers, the governments and general public. Documentaries like "Crude" are a small step towards all of the above understanding what is going on at the source, with there own thoughts and not those of the companies making money, which is the oil companies first and final concern.
To quote Mike Adams of naturalnews.com: "The U.S. population has abandoned critical thinking skills to such an extent that even those people who manage to think just a little now appear downright brilliant... Rather than a nation of critical thinkers, we have largely become a nation of zombie consumers who eat what they're told, buy what they're told, vote how they're told and even believe what they're told rather than thinking for themselves..."
Joe Soap,
Why aren't the oil eating microbes being deployed in the Gulf of Mexico? Since toxic dispersants have already been released into the ocean, could there be a harmful interaction if the microbes were to be introduced now?
Journalists have risked their lives in the pursuit of truth. If the subpoena is upheld after it is appealed to higher courts, the chilling effect on documentary journalism--as well as print, radio and TV--will be profound and diminish the First Amendment's significance. I fear for this nation and freedom of speech when or if this reaches the US Supreme Court.
The cleaning up of the crude is rather simple, the solution has been around since the 80's. Microbes in powder form are used that eat up the crude and their byproduct . They are harmless nutrients that plants, fish and animals can eat, the microbes naturally die off when the crude is gone. It can be used anywhere there is oil spill but those in charge don't care to use it for whatever selfish reasons they harbour.
http://www.aabaco.com/micron.html
Has the original case, the film, and ongoing legal battles brought anything more than attention to the plaintiffs' request for help in cleaning up their home? Besides many attorneys generating tons of work and large legal bills, anyone come up with a technology that is cleaning up the oily mess or detoxifying the environment?
After the time spent documenting the damage caused by Chevron/Texaco, are the people of the Amazon able to live healthier lives?
I'd go down there and check myself, but it's a long way to walk from California.
I am one of the extremely few people in my circle who have even heard of this massive crime against humanity. How do we play to the people in general and not just the converted activist sector. What are we missing in the PR department. Big business, Big Pharma, Radical Right, Chosen People, Walmart etc.... all "sells" itself and dominates,....... why are those issues of humanitarian, rather than BIG BUCK PRIORITY, concerns left in the dust of ignorance and apparent weakness. Is there a "green" Madison Avenue PR firm out there?
I love the parasol Trudy carries on her visit! Oh well.
Happy to support this fight. Seeing Pablo at work makes it really worth it. Please make sure to give us updates on the families featured in the film.
The film, CRUDE, should be seen by all since the recent fiasco by BP in the Gulf of Mexico is causing environmental armageddon. BIG oil companies have judges and politicians in their pocket. They will suceed in removing the first amendment rights of journalist, film makers and individuals unless we take a stand!
Glad to help-it's so important for filmmakers to be able to tell the truth without fear.
My #1 question is how did Chevron win the case against Joe Berlinger? Is the filmmaker required to give up all rights to all the film he shot or does he get to keep the work he has already done? I mean are the courts going to confiscate his work? I agree that this is a 1st amendment issue and I wil very gladly give you $75.00 to see justie done. I am on your side. I do not believe that after what has happened in the Gulf any of us an afford not to support you. All drilling for oil near human habitats has got to be stopped.
LOVE THAT I CAN DO SOMETHING SO BIG BY MAKING EVEN A SMALL DONATION!
HAVE POSTED TO MY FB PAGE AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO PERIODICALLY UNTIL JUNE 30, 11:59 PM. ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO SAME!
Thanks for your tough daring job to bring the world toward the rain forest - I would like the video or film online being captioned in any language - english, spanish, japanese, chinese - it will help reach out to everyone in the world for your support.
CM
Ecuatorianos y ambientalistas del Mundo, colaboren con esta causa.
You guys did a wonderful job with the movie. Let me give you a piece of advice that I think will help you raise more funds.
On the front page, looking at the reward levels, if one doesn't have expert knowledge of how Kickstarter works (gained by backing several projects previously), they won't know that they don't need to donate at least $75 to back the project. In fact, any amount of at least $1 can be donated. My guess is that the relatively high reward price of $75 (compared to most other Kickstarter projects) can unnecessarily turn people away.
Please add a donation reward level of $1. The reward doesn't have to be anything tangible, just a private mental "thanks" or listing of the donor's name on a website if you choose.
Hope that helps and good luck. I can't stand what Chevron is doing.
Regards from Ecuador. I am an environmental biologist and I work in Ecuador. The damage caused by chevron is definitively out of discussion and the series of "distractions" made by chevron to scape from their responsibility are a shame for the human race. If they were a responsible company with a clean conscience, they will accept the responsibility for the damages caused to both the people and the environment. I wish I had the money to back your project, but I don´t have such resources. If I can help you in any other way, sure I will.