So looking forward to receiving the DVD. I hope all CA Representatives do what they're SUPPOSED to do and save these priceless parks. License plates, the one about Johnny Depp, etc. are good ideas but take time. If I still lived in CA, I'd get a plate and join the forces to change the minds of nature's heartless, erroneously cost conscious, politically small minded decision makers. What will THEIR children get to experience when they want to visit a park?

Bravo. I can't wait to see it. What is your next project?

Any word on when the entire film will be available for download and the DVD sent? The estimate was May, so I hope soon :)

Great preview, I hope to see the movie here in Germany soon. But I even more hope that this legacy of California can be saved somehow and that your movie will be the spark that ignites a wave of protest and solutions. Maybe some of those fancy hollywood Stars can do something about it. E.g. take over the sponsoring in exchange for justified good publicity? How about a National park supported by say...Johnny Depp... that would probably even draw more people (his fans) out into nature and thus prove the public interest. I wish you and all of us the best of luck in raising awareness and maybe even contributing to change. All the best to you and all fellow backers.

What a powerful beginning! More, please! I hope your efforts pay off.

I wish you much luck and hopes that this project will stave off the dreaded closures which are plaguing all of the State's Parks across the country. The parks are a natural resource for learning for our children and our grandchildren and should be maintained and available for all. You Go Guys! I look forward to seeing the film.

This is the first time my contribution (a small one but still a contribution nonetheless) to a kickstarter project actually resulted in a succesful funding of the project - I'm very excited to be able to say I helped get this project off the ground. Good luck guys - look forward to seeing the finished film!

Best wishes for still greater success in this important endeavor! Happy New Year! Love from the Kleins

I've known about kickstarter for ages and always checked it out, indeed I live in the UK and have been to the USA only once. But being a leader in the Scout Association, and doing a University degree in media production and films, this has passionately evoked my love for the outdoors and the beautiful footage in the trailer. I am more than happy to back this project.

As a Parks employee, on this Christmas morning I reflect on the many people who are part of my Parks family and how we all stand and work together to make the Parks experience a joy for all. I pray that the closures do not come to fruition and making my pledge is my Christmas present to those who have given their time and effort to the Parks. It does my heart good to see the goal has gone over the 35K marker. Six more days to go and I hope to see that goal go threefold!

I went back and re-watched the video and I still get goosebumps. Such beautiful imagery set to a wonderful soundtrack. Truly an inspiring film that I hope helps to promote change. Glad to see SCAD students working on such a wonderful project.

I've just watched the video and instantly fell in love with this project. I'm from UK and would love to achieve something similar over here.

I've backed with as much as I can afford (with it being pre-christmas and all).

I've never been to the US, but the landscapes and people of your country have always been in my imaginary, ever since I was a kid, and I've always dreamed of traveling through it. I can't imagine all of those images being erased before I even get to visit those magical places with my children some day...

i am so stoked for you guys!!! amazing work... :))

The California State Parks Foundation is elated that we all have reached our pledge mark and then some! You guys are awesome, and the film is going to be fantastic. Can't wait to help you out wherever, whenever, and however we can. Congratulations!!

I live in Sedona Arizona and I noticed that they are also closing much of the access to the National Forest here, also. I am a frequent almost daily visitor to the National Forests and National Parks, and I for one am so glad that someone took the time to film so of our beautiful National Parks. Thank you. And I am glad to help support this documentary.

22 years ago we came from Australia to the US for 5 months and spent the first 5 weeks absorbed in California. The parks were amazing from the coast to the mountains. We could have stayed there the whole 5 months... Your film looks great. I hope the people of California can save their parks and get the support they need to maintain them.

"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul." ~ John Muir~

I just pledged. Thank you for your inspiration and your great idea. Looking forward to your tour. Brilliant idea. Good luck! je

Living only an hour and a half from the beautiful Yosemite National Park, I would hate to lose ANY of our national parks. They are all so precious as we continue to overdevelopment and build infrastructure everywhere. I want my pledge to go toward as much of the project as it can, and so I'm forgoing the physical rewards, but as I still want to see the movie (and don't know if it will be shown near me) I figure a digital download of the movie won't cost anymore in your budget.

I backed this project because after 3 months in South Lake Tahoe at Barton Hospital Emergency Department I am inspired by my Co-workers! They embrace this planet, nature, adventure and the unknown everyday...I can only hope that CA lawmakers share their passion, and protect this amazing State's parks! Love You Guys!!! Linda P.

The last film project I supported did not give any credit to the KickStarter Community for the support we gave them. Hope THE FIRST 70 gives us a credit....

I live in the Netherlands,but I have been to California once.If I knew this was going to happen I would have spent more time sightseeing the parks!
So many beautiful places are being abandoned due to so called costs we have to do something about it!

I think so many of us forget how beautiful this country really is. Kudos to your efforts and the many people you are capturing, who are lending their time to maintain these parks. I am very proud to back this project. Best wishes!

I get emails from Kickstarter because, earlier this year, I supported a project developed by one of my clients. This is the first one I've seen since then that I knew I had to support. Like the fellow commenting below, I don't live in California. I live in St. Paul, Minnesota. But I was born and raised in California, and my people have been there since 1853. I have pictures from 50 - 75 - and over 100 years ago of California's landscape. It is a tragedy what has happened to the state that was once beautiful. The closing of the parks, perhaps the last refuge in accessible reality, is an even greater tragedy. I hope your project succeeds, and I look forward to your film.

Amazing project! Rock on guys!

I live in New York. I have been to California a total of one time which unfortunately did not include any visits to parks. However, I enjoy taking photographs of landscapes and I also enjoy looking at landscape photos taken by others. Even though I don't live in California, I realize the incredibly awful implications that come with closing these parks. The fact that so many are willing to standby and give little resistance speaks volumes about where our planet is headed when thinking about a sustainable (or lack thereof) future. This is why your project is monumentally important, at least to me and as Kickstarter is showing, many others too.

If you haven't already, you should think about getting in touch with California landscape photographer Patrick Smith (https://plus.google.com/102871123574468799566/posts). He is one of the most renowned landscape photographers and his work mainly comes from California state parks. He's taken some great shots in some of the parks that are closed/closing. Just a post to his followers would probably give this project a significant boost.

Lastly, I am a programmer, so if you need any expertise on backend web development or database work for anything to do with this project, please don't hesitate to let me know. I really, really want to see this project succeed and be viewed by as many people as possible. As cliche as it sounds, the future of our environment, especially aesthetically, depends on projects like this.