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Documentary On Environmental Impact of Border Wall

As the outrageous and racist rhetoric surrounding Trump’s proposed border wall creates an ever going rift in American politics, politicians and the public continue to ignore one of the most concerning aspects of creating a two thousand mile divide in the middle of one of the most remote and biodiverse landscapes on the planet.

This border wall would effectively sever the habitat of some of the most endangered flora and fauna in North America. A small population of jaguars that exist in southern Arizona would be unable to travel the distance required for them to mate, a certain death sentence for America’s largest wild cat. The Mexican Wolf, a species with a population of roughly forty individuals located just along the border, would have their hunting range split in two, shattering decades of dedicated conservation work. The Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, one of many lowflying species found along the Mexican border, would be unable to reach heights great enough to scale the wall, devastating the species. These are just a few of the many animals that will likely be affected by Trump’s proposed wall, with an estimated 111 species, many of which are critically endangered, expected to face repercussions.

Throughout my academic career at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA, I have learned that documentary filmmaking, like journalism, comes with great ethical responsibility. Videos are one of the greatest tools in representing power and inciting difference in the modern world, and as I contemplate my next steps as a young filmmaker, I believe there is no greater place to focus my lens then at America’s southern border.

With a camera and sound equipment in tow, I plan on spending much of the month of April traveling through the protected areas and national parks that will be bulldozed to make room for a twenty one billion dollar symbolic gesture of prejudice. I will interview environmental professionals, dedicated individuals who have spent the past few years of their lives attempting to warn anyone who will listen about the disastrous ecological implications of the border wall, as well as private landowners whose property rights have or likely will be violated. I also wish to speak with experts versed in the 37 environmental laws illegally waived by the Trump Administration last year alone. Some of the individuals who have agreed to be interviewed for this project are working on litigation to effectively sue the administration for their environmental negligence. I wish to draw attention to the hours of service some of these individuals have put in to protecting the various lifeforms that call the desert home. I also intend to capture pristine nature footage, spotlighting the various species at risk. My final product will be a 10-12 minute documentary film that I will share on youtube, as well as submit to film festivals and organizations in the hopes of raising awareness about the beautiful ecosystems we risk to lose. 

All donations will go directly towards travel expenses, as I intend to drive over two thousand miles in order to visit as many protected lands and organizations as I can in order to get a full, honest picture of the environmental crisis. Gas, lodging, and park entry fees are where any financial assistance will be directed in order to make this dream project a reality.  Every donation will be cherished, as my success hinges on the generosity of those who wish to help. Please assist me in my personal journey to professionalize my work as I make the jump from college student to documentary filmmaker. I look forward to sharing the final product with you all in June.

Photos from trip to Tucson, AZ in 2017.

Organizer

Andrew Motte
Organizer
Olympia, WA

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