The First 70 has now been complete for about a month. After kicking off with a premiere at the Sonoma International Film Festival, we've had some really great screenings around the state and there are a lot more to come. Our executive producer the California State Parks Foundation is now using the film as another tool in their toolbox to help keep parks open. They have lined up over 25 screenings throughout California at venues large and small.

Meanwhile, we have been working to put together the photography book, website, and DVD and are lining up screenings of our own. PBS will be airing The First 70 from June through September throughout California and possibly throughout Oregon and Washington as well. The response so far has been incredible. It has been a wonderful experience to see people gather together to learn about and discuss California's plan to close parks, and what they can do to help. We've also submitted to over 50 film festivals throughout the state and the country. We even got to experience our composer Dmitri Gaskin along with some talented friends perform the score live along with the film at the Crowden Music Center in Berkeley. As always you can keep track of screenings at thefirst70.com.

There is good news for the parks as well. So far 16 parks have received temporary reprieves from the closure list through various arrangements involving nonprofits, donors, and citizens groups. While local nonprofits lending their assistance through this trying time is crucial, it is certainly not a long term solution. Assemblymember Jared Huffman and other government officials are working tirelessly to come up with and implement plans to make up for the park's chronic underfunding through official government channels like new parking systems and fee structures, a California state parks license plate, state parks annual passes, and new bills to protect parks.

For those in the $15 and up tiers, we'll be sending the digital version of the film out shortly along with some special features that our wonderful editors at Plus M Productions have put together.

Thanks to Mimi Cave for the photo!

We finally have a proper website up and running for the film! It's still a little bit of a work and progress, but it's another great way to stay up to date on park closures and what's going on with The First 70. You can also keep track of the upcoming screenings to see if there are any near you. Be sure to take a look at thefirst70.com and like us on Facebook to stay in the loop and follow the progress of movie that you helped make. We hope to see some of you at the screenings!

Thanks to Ashley Schoenknecht and David Fox for helping make this site happen. 

We met our funding goal for The First 70 almost three months ago, and after a few last minute interviews and park visits in January, the team quickly switched gears into post production. Since our last update, we invited the excellent editors from Plus M Productions onboard and with their help the film has really taken shape. There's just a couple weeks until the official release of the film on Earth Day.

When we loaded up Cory's bus full of camera equipment and groceries for the first time last August, none of us imagined that this spontaneous adventure to visit all 70 parks could have evolved into such a valuable showpiece for the issue of park closures. Coming together in the final stages of the edit, The First 70 beautifully portrays the individuals who have put their heart and soul into maintaining and caring for these remarkable resources. The First 70 has already been accepted into the Sonoma International Film Festival, and screenings are being scheduled all over California. Keep your eyes peeled for the 5 minute preview of the film along with our new website which launches in a couple weeks! The site will have some great information about the issue and the film, and a list of upcoming screenings so you can find one near you.

AND..For all of you Bay Area locals, the film will premiere at the Sports Basement Presido Store on Sunday April 22nd at 6pm. California State Park Foundation's Jerry Emory, Alden Olmsted, and other park advocates will be there to spread awareness about the issue and speak about plans to take action. We hope you all can make it! Tickets can be purchased in advance here.

You all did it! We've reached our goal and then some, and there's still two weeks left. Thank you to everyone who has personally invested in the project. The response has been incredible and we are so grateful to receive so many people's support. We can't wait for you all to see the final product and we know you will feel proud to be involved. 

Many of you have reached out offering to help us in any way you can and it's truly wonderful to see the outpouring of generosity. With every contribution, this film is gaining more and more potential to grow into something greater and reach an incredibly widespread audience.

Thanks to Kickstarter for showcasing The First 70 and to the Kickstarter community for rallying together on this, and special thanks to our two executive producers, Avocados and Coconuts and The California State Parks Foundation. We are so thrilled to have you both on board.

Don't stop now, there's still two weeks to go. As we said in our project's description, any amount raised over the target will go to good use making the film even better. Our target was the bare minimum to get this movie into the public eye. More money beyond the target means more production value, more interviews, and an increased ability to spread our message.

We have two weeks to really elevate the project into something spectacular. Please help us keep the momentum so we can make this film as great as it can possibly be.

Thank you!