At first glance, the town of Montecito may seem like a little slice of heaven, but further examination reveals a community that has been ravaged by natural disasters. The film examines the resilience and community values exemplified by Montecito residents in the face of catastrophe. We see how challenges, including fires, droughts, and mudslides, have brought this community together and whether they have prepared it for the next, and possibly most grueling, hurdle yet.
NEAT Productions:
Taylor Fuchs
Elizabeth Joaquin
Annika Kao
Nidhi Khanolkar
Beyond The Gates
“Beyond the Gates” explores the controversial push for public access at the beaches along Hollister Ranch in Goleta, California. The film highlights the ranchers’ concerns about opening their private property while also stressing members of the public’s desire to exercise their state right to coastal access. As legislation moves forward regarding public access at Hollister Ranch, California citizens must explore perspectives on all sides of the issue.
Fifth Eye Productions:
Aidan Dillon
Cameron Leingang
Ily Logeais
Kate Madigan
Quinn Wilson
Cannabis Row
“Cannabis Row” tells the story of how a plant has transformed Carpinteria, CA. When Proposition 64 was passed in California in 2016, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors rushed to change land ordinances so that cannabis could be cultivated within county lines. Carpinteria has quickly become one of the largest cultivators of cannabis in the state, and tensions are high between supporters and those who believe the newest crop is destroying their town’s character. The film examines the laws that changed allowing for cannabis’s rapid growth, the problems citizens have encountered with the plants’ odor, and the debate over the price of changing a town’s legacy.
Whatnot Productions:
Charlie Poukish
Katherine Swartz
Thomas Carloss
Henry Windle
Where Has the Food Gone?
Forty percent of the food that is produced in the United States goes to waste along the production chain even as a significant portion of the population continues to go hungry. Food waste is an issue that affects all, as the decomposition of food waste in landfills releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, making it a major contributor to climate change. Where Has the Food Gone? examines the consequences of food waste, how to reduce it, how food can be repurposed, and the groups in Santa Barbara that are making these changes happen.
Generation Blue
In wake of the proposed executive order for offshore oil expansion, Generation Blue exemplifies pure resilience and youth strength against an administration consumed with the success of fossil fuel expansion at the cost of the environment and human livelihoods.
Crew: Not Rigged Productions
Shane Lynch
Maria McCausland
Maddie Megery
Joanne Yue
This channel features videos produced by students in UC Santa Barbara's Blue Horizons Program for Environmental Media
This 9-week summer program brings together students interested in digital media production and environmental studies to learn about important issues of the global ocean from a local, California perspective. A coordinated series of interdisciplinary courses and related activities introduces students to scriptwriting; media portrayals of the environment; the biological, socio-economic, and political aspects of marine conservation; and the latest innovations in environmental filmmaking.
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