Workshops & Panels

Workshops are Free to the Public

Learn more about the issues and what you can do, get filmmaking tips from pros, and much more – at our Activist Center at Nevada City’s City Hall, 317 Broad Street.  We’ll also have a workshop and presentation at Elixart, a couple of panels during film sessions, and a special presentation with author Craig Childs on Saturday night at The Haven. All of the details are below:

Special Workshops, Panels & Presentations
All workshops, panels and presentations with the exception of those in film sessions are FREE and open to the public.

Saturday, 9am-12pm at Elixart
Theater of the Oppressed: Special 3-hour Workshop with Peaceful Uprising
Theatre of the Oppressed is a technique first elaborated by the late director Augusto Boal in the 1960s, using theatre as means of promoting social and political change by engaging with a particular injustice. The audience becomes active “spect-actors” as they explore, analyze and transform the reality in which they live. The intent of this form of theatre is to modify society rather than merely to interpret it, by transforming the spectator into the protagonist of a theatrical action. With this workshop, we are inviting participants to co-create knowledge with us and practice being their own agents of change. We will be confronting an injustice that stands in the way of us achieving climate justice, as we shift paradigms from an unjust and unsustainable infinite growth model.

Saturday Afternoon Film Session, Miners Foundry: Stone Hall
A Celebration of Oceans
In conjunction with this film session all about oceans, this short panel will discuss threats to ocean health, the problem of plastic pollution in our oceans, and the creative solutions that some people are employing. Panelists include Barefoot Winery Ambassador Randy Arnold, Artists Richard & Judith Lang, and others TBA.  Moderated by Sean O’Brien, Creative Director of the film One Beach. Come early to the film session for food, wine & bubbly compliments of Barefoot Winery.

Saturday Afternoon Film Session, The Haven
What did the fish say when it ran into the concrete wall?
The Saturday afternoon film session in the Haven features films all about the value of free-flowing rivers.  This 20-minute panel following the films will discuss the impact of dams on the well-being of native fish populations.  Panelists include Caleen Sisk, Chief of the Winnemem Wintu tribe, who are working to bring native salmon back to the McCloud River; Tim Palmer, author and long-time activist for free-flowing rivers; Bob Center, Executive Director of Friends of the River; and Curtis Knight, Conservation Director for California Trout.  Moderated by Gary Reedy, SYRCL’s River Science Director.
answer: Dam!

Saturday, 4-5pm at Elixart
People of the Clouds: a presentation with photographer Matt Black
Photographer Matt Black’s work explores the intersection of agriculture, society and the environment. He will be presenting work from his project The People of Clouds which chronicles the unraveling of one the world’s oldest farming cultures in the Mixteca region of southern Mexico, where land erosion and migration are bleeding communities dry.  An “environmental disaster zone” in the words of the World Bank, up to five meters of topsoil have been lost in some areas, and some communities have lost 80% of their population to migration to the United States.  More from this project can be seen at: www.thepeopleofclouds.com.  Come early for a cup of tea and check out this new local gallery.

Saturday, 6:30-7:30pm at The Haven
Watercourse: In Pursuit of a Moving Element
Our world is laced with water that is constantly in motion. Glaciers collapse off the coast of Greenland while rivers roar down from the Tibetan Plateau, and in the deepest desert rain gathers in secret holes. Craig Childs has been seeking every form of this powerful element around the world, and with a multimedia, spoken-word performance will transport you into the planet’s lifeblood.

Sunday, 9-10am at The Curly Wolf
Coffee Talk with Orion magazine – Thirty-Year Plan: Thirty Writers on What We Need to Build a Better Future
Orion magazine asked thirty writers and thinkers to name one thing we will increasingly need over the next thirty years if humans are going to find a way to live happily, sustainably, redeemably on earth. Contributing author Craig Childs and an Orion editor will read excerpts from the book and answer questions.

Saturday in the Activist Center

Saturday, 9:30-10:30am, Rivers for Change: 12 Rivers in 2012
To build a better picture of California rivers in their entirety, Danielle Katz and John Dye set out to travel the length of 12 California Rivers from source to sea in one year. The purpose was to marry high adventure with a conservation message and build continuity among communities along their watersheds. A group of kayakers and photographers comprised the headwaters team to tackle the class V waters of the upper rivers. Another group, including Katz and Dye joined in to complete the lower reaches. Along the way, the groups collected citizen science data, shared paddle days with communities and documented their travels. Join Katz and Dye as they present the challenges and triumphs of their journey: Racing to float on rivers that were quickly drying up during a drought year, balancing the efforts of data collection with traveling on a schedule, encountering water unsafe for swimming and mysteries of disappearing rivers. Also join Rivers for Change and SYRCL for a Public Paddle Day on the lower Yuba River on Friday morning.

Saturday, 10:45-11:45am, The True Cost of Oil

Based on Garth Lenz’ award-winning TED talk and using images produced over two decades, The True Cost of Oil will take viewers on a visual journey across Earth’s largest remaining forest and into the heart of what many claim to be the World’s largest, and most damaging mega-project. From the vast wetlands, forests, rivers and lakes of Canada’s north to the tar mines of northern Alberta, learn why the future of Earth’s third-largest oil reserves and America’s single greatest source of oil effects us all and what we can do to work for a sustainable clean energy future.

12:00-1:00pm, Restoring Rivers at Home, Resisting Dams Abroad: Hydropower, Rivers and Climate Resilience
While some large dams are beginning to come down in the United States, new mega dam projects continue to proliferate around the world, displacing communities and driving the loss of habitat and species.  From the Yuba to Patagonia, from the Amazon to the Mekong, learn about the status of rivers throughout the world, the scale of the current hydropower boom, and how rivers and dams are situated in the global debate on climate resilience.  This panel will discuss energy solutions that protect river health and share strategies to effectively exercise your influence in a globalized world. Panelists include Jason Rainey, Executive Director of International Rivers; author Craig Childs (“The Secret Knowledge of Water”, “House of Rain”, “Apocalyptic Planet” and others); Steve Rothert, California Regional Director of American Rivers;  and filmmaker & activist James Q Martin (Streams of Consequence, Power in the Pristine).  Moderated by Hans Cole, Patagonia’s Environmental Grants Manager.

Saturday, 1:15-2:15pm, An Entirely Synthetic Fish: How Rainbow Trout Beguiled America and Overran the World
Suppose that more than a century ago, U.S. government officials became concerned that democracy itself was at risk because men seemed to be less virile. Suppose that to reverse this trend they decided to populate streams, rivers, and lakes with “an entirely ‘synthetic’ fish”—quarry with which Americans could rediscover their abilities to capture and kill. And suppose that these creatures were still being produced and distributed on a massive scale, sometimes even being trained like gladiators and pumped full of the same supplements as the best human athletes so that they would provide a better fight.
Such is the true story of the rainbow trout. Sometimes vilified for their devastating effects on the native fauna, sometimes glorified as the preeminent sport fish, the rainbow trout is the repository of more than a century of America’s often contradictory philosophies about the natural world. Join Award-winning author, aquatic ecologist, and lifelong fisherman Anders Halverson to discuss the discovery of rainbow trout, their artificial propagation and distribution, and why they are being eradicated in some waters yet are still the most commonly stocked fish in the United States.

Saturday, 2:30-3:30pm, On The Edge of Their Seats: Effective Storytelling in a Noisy World
Driven by their personal passion or organizational mission, many people believe their job is to push information out about their cause or their group: “If only people know, they’ll act.” The challenge this approach faces, though, is that today nearly anyone can produce and share content—and almost everyone does. (Case in point: Every day YouTube viewers watch 700 years worth of video.) The media environment is literally flooded by these efforts, all of which are demanding mind-share and attention. How can your message rise above the noise? How do you pull people in? Journalists and co-founders of Take One Creative, Hal Clifford and Jason Houston (Picture the Leviathan), along with documentary team Benjamin Drummond and Sara Joy Steele (Facing Climate Change) will discuss the merits and challenges of authenticity, narrative, character, emotional engagement, and production quality in regard to issue-driven storytelling for documentary, non-profit, and passion-driven for-profit work.

Saturday, 3:45-4:45pm, Film and Activism: How Activists and Filmmakers are Collaborating to Create Social Change
This panel will explore how activists and filmmakers are increasingly working together on “interdisciplinary” campaigns that combine film and advocacy in new and exciting ways. With the rise of the internet, environmental activists are increasingly using video to activate supporters and create inspiring narratives that document the struggle to protect the planet. At the same time, many filmmakers are collaborating with scientists, non-profits and government agencies to tell stories that engage new audiences with important issues, like climate change. We’ll discuss the latest tactics in video advocacy — from viral sensations to culture jamming stunts — and discuss the intersections and potential conflicts between art and activism. With Jamie Henn, Communications Director of 350.org, and documentary team Sara Joy Steele & Benjamin Drummond.

Sunday in the Activist Center

Sunday, 9:30-10:30am, Exist, Persist, Regenerate and Evolve: Recognizing the Rights of Nature
Aldo Leopold wrote, “We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.” In the U.S., and in much of the world, Nature is considered property, much as humans were property during the era of slavery. To recognize the Rights of Nature, people must have the legal authority to enforce the rights of ecosystems to exist, persist, regenerate and evolve. This interactive workshop covers the history of Western civilization’s view of Nature, and how we can and must shift to a whole new relationship.  Facilitated by former Finding the Good student Kiera McNicholas & Debra Weistar, co-director of Finding the Good.

Sunday, 10:45-11:45am, Youth and Mentorship for Effective Digital Storytelling
Do you make media, or want to? Do you wish you knew more? Come participate in a discussion with young filmmakers and their mentors. Youth have often been a silent and ignored voice. With access to technology unlike any previous generation, media and film can become the great democratizer for youth. What is the role of adult mentors in this process? What do both adults and youth need to know to make effective media that can share a youth perspective in a world already saturated with information? Come find out.

Sunday, 12:00-1:00pm, Measuring the Impact of Art That Acts
Art’s ability to make positive change in the world is proven, but assessing the impact of most film or photo projects with a mission can prove difficult. While it’s tempting to create images or films with a sole goal of raising awareness, this is only a step in the process of creating that change. When art is effective, it works on multiple levels that can be measured with a little planning and forethought. Join a panel of artists/filmmakers whose projects have a mission to discuss ways that art’s impact can be assessed and leveraged for social-mission success. Featuring Dan Shepherd, Matt Black, Jane Baldwin, Radek Skrivanek and moderated by Orion magazine.

Sunday, 1:15-2:15pm, The Future of River Conservation: The Confluence of Art and Politics with Science and Regulation
How do we move from a non-sustainable river-destroying past to a future of healthy living rivers?  How do we most effectively fight for the health of rivers and social & environmental justice, given the realities of often arcane regulatory systems that seemed designed to exclude constructive public input?  This will require a sea change in politics, art, and belief systems.  This workshop will focus on the values, ideas, and policies that we’ll need to ensure this transformation.  We will discuss how “instigators” achieve political efficacy, despite enormous resistance, and how art, such as film and literature, can change the tide of public opinion.  Panelists include Daniel McCool, Professor of Political Science and Director, Environmental and Sustainability Studies Program at University of Utah; Tim Palmer, author, photographer and river advocate; Caleen Sisk, Chief of the Winnemem Wintu tribe; Bob Center, Executive Director of Friends of the River; and Gary Reedy, Director of River Science for the South Yuba River Citizens League.

Sunday, 2:30-3:30pm, Climate Justice, Human Rights, and Video Advocacy
With the rise of popular movements such as Occupy and Arab Spring, citizens around the world have—once again—reoccupied the public realm with powerful arguments for human rights and justice. It is no different in the context of climate change. Here in the U.S., youth from over 12 states are reoccupying the atmosphere. As part of the TRUST Campaign, these youth are suing the U.S. and state governments to protect the atmosphere for present and future generations. This workshop will walk you through the impacts of climate change on human rights both here and abroad, setting the global context for why the TRUST Campaign is so important. We will introduce you to the young and courageous plaintiffs behind the case, update you on the status of current litigation, and claim the power of film to support climate change litigation. Panel members include: Jen Marlow, Co-founder of Three Degrees, a multidisciplinary climate justice project; Julia Olson, Executive Director of Our Children’s Trust, an organization that empowers youth to protect the Earth’s climate for Future Generations; Kelly Matheson, Program Manager at WITNESS, an international human rights NGO that uses video to change human rights law; and Kelsey Cascadia Rose Juliana, youth activist and youth plaintiff bringing Atmospheric Trust Litigation against the State of Oregon.