Climate Change Film: Ski Industry

Welcome! Allow me to introduce myself: Liam Walton and I am an 18 year old senior at a great Boulder alternative high school, New Vista. My senior project is going to be a documentary film on subjects close to my interests, climate change and its impact on the multi-billion dollar ski industry. Snow's delicate nature is one of the first indicators we have that shows effects from our warming world. I will take an investigative look to gain awareness about climate change. And to do this I need your help in raising funds to start this important project. Let me explain why.

I was raised in a typical middle class family; Mom, Dad, a sister and brother, two cars, vacations during summer and spring breaks, etc., so I had it pretty nice for a long time. Until May 2012, right after my father got a new job in Boston -- he had a stroke. I was just coming home from a Track and Field meet when I got the news from my mom. At first I couldn't really wrap my head around what had happened, but then once my mom explained to me what a stroke is I broke down in tears.

Mom flew out to Boston the next day to be with him and was there for two weeks. Luckily my 22-year-old sister who lived in the same town attending college came home to support me as did my brother (20 at the time) on college break, so the three of us siblings took a lot of strength from each other.

A month went by and my dad was transferred from Boston to a Boulder hospital for another month. He spent the next year in brain-rehab therapy and we were all figuring out our new life.

Then came September 2013, the Boulder "1000-year-flood." It rained non-stop for days and a small stream began flowing through our yard. At first it was kind of fun, until the small stream became a pond and then it became a river flowing into our window wells. Panicked, we started moving stuff from the basement upstairs. Water was oozing through the seams of the windows as the window wells filled up with water. I couldn't believe my eyes as the glass bulged inward like plastic, then next thing we knew the window exploded and water was rushing in.

Somehow friends and strangers appeared to save our things as water filled the basement, and we created a human bucket brigade moving our things up the stairs. Our feet were getting cut from the glass in the water but our adrenaline levels were so high we couldn't feel a thing. When the water was waist-deep and still rising, a fireman arrived and told us to get out before we got electrocuted. The water only stopped when it reached the ceiling. There were just three steps separating the water from the main floor.

We tried to sleep that night but couldn't stop thinking of what had just happened and of the mud, water, fecal matter and more in our basement. It was destroyed and had to be stripped down to the cement foundation. It took two years of friends, family and volunteers to clean and rebuild it. We wouldn't have been able to do it without everyone who came to help and we are forever thankful for them.

The next two years were a struggle, we were financially strapped because of the flood and my dad couldn't find a job because of his stroke. For many complicated reasons my parents' marriage eventually fell apart and we had to sell the house that I had lived in my entire life. I now live with my mom in a small condo in southeast Boulder.

So that is a little bit about me, now to tell you what I'm raising this money for. In order for seniors to graduate New Vista High School, they must complete a special "culminating project" that can be about anything you can imagine.

After lots of considerations I wanted to do something that had more use than just to get me a good grade. This was going to be a lot of hard work and dedication so I wanted it to be meaningful for all that effort. I loved skiing and I am very concerned about our changing climate, so I put my passions and concerns into this film that I hope helps all of us better understand it's impact. The ski industry is huge and they could be facing major changes as businesses -- I want to learn more and raise awareness too.

I need to get the film equipment necessary to make a documentary film. Not long ago I would have needed tens of thousands of dollars. Now with a computer, good camera and other gear I can go do this myself but I can't fund this by myself, which is why I need YOU to help support me.

You will be helping a millennial trying to investigate the climate change story from an angle that impacts my generation and others.

I have mentors and advisors who are film professionals and we are developing budgets and storylines right now in hopes I can raise the funds.

Funds will go immediately to this project's expenses and If I can reach my goal of $5,000, it would be indescribable. I need to start my film very soon as the ski season is upon us and I am running out of time.

This will be one of my largest life accomplishments and could even turn into a career of film making. My dream.

I think this story needs to have another voice, told to the world and especially my generation, by a peer and youth like myself. Kids love skiing and this film hopefully will draw them in to get the message.

Thank you, thank you for considering to support me in my education and my efforts on this important film project.