..some info on the film H2OIL.
ABOUT THE FILM
Ever wonder where America gets most of its oil? If you thought it was Saudi Arabia or Iraq you are wrong. America’s biggest oil supplier has quickly become Canada’s oil sands. Located under Alberta’s pristine boreal forests, the process of oil sands extraction uses up to 4 barrels of fresh water to produce only one barrel of crude oil.
It goes without saying that water — its depletion, exploitation, privatization and contamination — has become the most important issue to face humanity in this century. At the same time, the war for oil is well underway across the globe. A struggle is increasingly being fought between water and oil, not only over them.
Alberta’s oil sands are at the centre of this tension. As the province rushes towards a large-scale extraction, the social, ecological and human impacts are hitting a crisis point. In only a few short years the continent will be a crisscross of pipelines, reaching from the arctic all the way to the southern US, leaving toxic water basins the size of Lake Ontario, and surface-mines as large as Florida.
H2Oil follows a voyage of discovery, heartbreak and politicization in the stories of those attempting to defend water in Alberta against tar sands expansion. Unlikely alliances are built and lives are changed as they come up against the largest industrial project in human history.
Ultimately we ask what is more important, oil or water? And what will be our response?
With hope and courage H2Oil tells the story of one of the most significant, and destructive projects of our time.
H2Oil will be released as a feature length documentary in 2009, with a premier atHotDocs on May 8th, 2009. Television versions of H2Oil will be aired on Global TV and Télé-Québec later in the year. More dates and screening locations to be announced.
MUSIC
The original score for H2Oil was composed by Rebecca Foon (Esmerine, Fifths of Seven, Thee Silver Mount Zion) and Ian Ilavsky (Re:, Thee Silver Mount Zion, co-founder Constellation Records) with Eric Craven (Hangedup). Instrumentation on the score features Eric Craven (percussion, guitars, effects), Rebecca Foon (cello) and Ian Ilavsky (piano, pump organ).
ANIMATION
H2Oil’s animation sequences were created by Oscar nominated animator James Braithwaite (I Met the Walrus) with Sylvie Trouvé and Dale Hayward of La Moustache Productions. Animation sequences were narrated by Catherine Kidd (English) and Anne-Marie Cadieux (French). View some of the Animation HERE
FILMMAKERS
Shannon Walsh – Writer and Director
Shannon Walsh is a filmmaker and writer who splits her time between Canada and South Africa. Her short fiction and documentary films have screened around the world from Bangkok to Rio De Janeiro at festivals such as the Brooklyn International Film Festival, Women in the Director’s Chair and the Durban International Film Festival. H2Oil is her first feature film.
Sergeo Kirby & Sarah Spring – Producers
Producers Sergeo Kirby and Sarah Spring have recently completed the feature documentaryRoadsworth: Crossing the Line (Telé-Québec, Bravo!), and the 16mm dance short Transfert for Bravo!FACT with the music of Kid Koala. They are currently in development on Stealing the Spotlight, a verité look at the power and perseverance of the unstoppable Patsy Gallant.
Sergeo is currently producing the documentaryVanishing Currents for Bravo!, and he produced and directed the Radio-Canada / NFB documentary Wal-Town, a biopic adventure story about Wal-Mart protesters. Sarah is producing and directing a fictional short about parabolas.
Étienne Gagnon & Sophie Leblond – Editors
Étienne Gagnon has worked as an editor for more than a decade on projects including the feature length documentaries ?!Révolucion!?and Roadsworth: Crossing the Line, the Téle-Québec series Contact, and current affairs programs for Radio-Canada Television.
Sophie Leblond is an award winning editor whose works include Elle Veut le Chaos,Continental (Bayar d’Or, Namur 2007, Best Canadian First feature Film, TIFF 2007),Panache, Une Crabe dans la Tete and Un 32 Aout sur la terre, which was a selection in Un Certain Regard at Cannes. Sophie edited Denis Villeneuve’s film Next Floor, which won the grand prize for short films at the Cannes Film Festival
Alan Kohl – Cinematography & Additional Direction
Alan Kohl shot and directed the innovative feature documentary Roadsworth: Crossing the Line, which follows a Montreal street artist’s unexpected rise to international acclaim. Alan is also working on Vanishing Currents, a Film chronicling the extraordinary voyage of a theatre troupe embarking on their first European tour.
Daniel Lagacé - Sound Designer
Co-founder of Montreal’s Studio Plateau, Daniel has been a studio engineer for over a decade and has worked on numerous music and film projects. He has worked with artists including Jorane, Memphis, and The Dears, and his film credits include Descendent and Roadsworth: Crossing the Line. Contact NixAudio
Additional Credits
Associate Producers for H2Oil are Noelle Sorbara and Candice Soave, the core production team includes Production ManagerLaurel Sprengelmeyer, Assistant to the Producer Selin Murat, Post Production Technical Direction Keith Pattington, and Additional Camera and Assistant EditingSebastian Lange.
Loaded Pictures – Production Company
Loaded Pictures is a dynamic collective of filmmakers and storytellers, founded in Montreal in 2005. Their productions explore the relationship between form and ideas, through Films that examine themes of social justice, current events, art and media.
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