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EARTH FOCUS: REIMAGINING THE LA RIVER (Part 1)
An exploration of the new LA County River Master Plan released in 2022. Featuring a helicopter tour of the river channel with Mark Pestrella (Director, Los Angeles County Public Works) and Marty Adams (General Manager & Chief Engineer, LADWP); an inside look at the projected projects in South LA designed by Gehry Partners and Olin Studio, including interviews with Frank Gehry and Tensho Takemori; and the community response including local resident Jose Calderon, Wilma Franco (Executive Director, Southeast Los Angeles Collaborative) and Laura Cortez (Organizer & Co-Executive Director, East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice).
Watch the full episode here.
Written, directed and edited by Matthew Crotty
Produced by Francesca Roth & Matthew Crotty
Cinematography: Corbett Jones
Score: Elori Saxl
Animation: Lucy Munger
Studio: PBS SoCal
Premiere date: April 2024
EARTH FOCUS: TRANSFORMING THE LA RIVER (Part 2)
An exploration of how revitalization has affected several river-adjacent communities in Los Angeles. Featuring a look at how new parks and a bike path have impacted the community in Elysian Valley with local resident Darío Herrera and Julia Meltzer (Clockshop); how projected revitalization will impact Chinatown and what role affordable housing can have in preventing displacement with local resident Mariela Cruz-Suarez and Sissy Trinh (Founder & Executive Director Southeast Asian Community Alliance); how the shifting conversation around the river has changed the work of Friends of the LA River with Candice Dickens-Russell (President & CEO); and how Indigenous voices have been included in shaping the future of the LA River for the first time with Kimberly Johnson (Tribal Secretary Gabrieleño/Tongva San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians) and Rudy Ortega Jr. (President, Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians).
Watch the full episode here.
Written, directed and edited by Matthew Crotty
Produced by Francesca Roth & Matthew Crotty
Cinematography: Corbett Jones
Score: Elori Saxl
Animation: Lucy Munger
Studio: PBS SoCal
Premiere date: April 2024
EARTH FOCUS: THE RAVEN, THE TORTOISE & US
An exploration of how desert urbanization has created the perfect conditions for the raven, whose populations have increased twenty times in the last few decades. Featuring an urban birding tour with Marcos Trinidad (Senior Director of Forestry, TreePeople); a guided hike with Elizabeth Paige (Education & Stewardship Manager, NALC, Desert Cahuilla) and Sienna Thomas (Conservation Social Scientist, Tsitsistas) exploring the traditional ecological knowledge of the Mojave's Native peoples; the work of The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens who are tackling the problem by engaging local business owners and how they deal with their trash; and a look at the work of Hardshell Labs with Tim Shields and Bill Boarman who are using innovative methods to use the raven's intelligence against it.
Watch the full episode here.
Produced by Francesca Roth & Matthew Crotty
Written by Matthew Crotty & Emily Mraz
Directed by Matthew Crotty
Edited by Matthew Crotty & Ella Hatamian
Cinematography: Corbett Jones
Score: Elori Saxl
Animation: Lucy Munger
Studio: PBS SoCal
Premiere date: April 2024
EARTH FOCUS: LOVING JOSHUA TREE
An exploration of Joshua Tree's booming popularity, the explosion of short term rentals and the consequences for the local community. Featuring roadside hotspot The Station Joshua Tree and interviews with founders Glen Steigelman and Steve Halterman; local resident Tiffany Hopkins, who has been displaced by the demand for Airbnbs; Chris Clarke and Alicia Pike of the podcast 90 Miles from Needles; as well as interviews with Frazier Haney (Executive Director, The Wildlands Conservancy), Laura Crane (Director, California Climate Program, The Nature Conservancy), and Jane Rodgers (Superintendent, Joshua Tree National Park).
Watch the full episode here.
Produced by Francesca Roth & Matthew Crotty
Written by Matthew Crotty & Emily Mraz
Directed by Matthew Crotty
Edited by Matthew Crotty & Ella Hatamian
Cinematography: Corbett Jones
Score: Elori Saxl
Animation: Lucy Munger
Studio: PBS SoCal
Premiere date: April 2024
EARTH FOCUS: DIABLO CANYON —
CALIFORNIA'S LAST NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
An exploration of how Diablo Canyon, California's last nuclear power plant, fits into California's energy future. Featuring Jane Swanson and Linda Seeley of Mothers For Peace, who have fought for decades to see the plant closed; Kristin Zaitz and Heather Hoff of Mothers For Nuclear, who organized a movement to save the plant after its decommissioning announcement in 2016; and Mona Tucker, Scott Lathrop and Wendy Lucas of the yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe (ytt), who have created a proposal with the The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County, Cal Poly SLO and REACH to purchase the lands around the plant in a groundbreaking land back deal.
Watch the full episode here.
Produced by Francesca Roth & Matthew Crotty
Written by Matthew Crotty & Emily Mraz
Directed by Matthew Crotty
Edited by Matthew Crotty & JT Smith
Cinematography: Corbett Jones
Score: Elori Saxl
Animation: Lucy Munger
Studio: PBS SoCal
Premiere date: April 2024
©2024 AHRA FILMS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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