Update on the Kickstarter campaign for the documentary "Last Man Fishing"

‘LAST MAN FISHING’ DOCUMENTARY ASKS IF SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES CAN SURVIVE: 

A Kickstarter campaign reaching for the finish line for a powerful new project partnering with Artchange, Inc.  

INDIANAPOLIS (FEBRUARY 8, 2016) - Our world’s oceans are in trouble, and that’s a story worth telling. So much so that talented filmmaker and photographer duo JD and Kelley Jordan Schuyler committed two years of traveling coast to coast to uncover the story of our nation’s small-scale fisherman. Now, they’re starting a Kickstarter campaign to help fund remaining production of their documentary, Last Man Fishing.

With 80% of the world’s fish stocks overexploited, a collapse of our ocean’s fish stocks is becoming a serious concern. Large, industrial fisheries and unsustainable fishing practices are the current norm, leaving small-scale fisheries, who provide answers to collapsing fish stocks, fighting to survive. “When we started talking to these women and men, we realized that this is a pivotal time for our fisheries. The question of ‘who will have the right to fish in the future?’ is being decided now.” said director JD Schuyler. “Generations of fishermen in coastal America are disappearing as we speak and it’s time to ask why.”  

Centered on the personal stories of fishermen from Alaska to Maine, Last Man Fishing showcases the ways small-scale fishermen have adapted to, struggled in, and are now beginning to remake the seafood system. With gorgeous cinematography and compelling narratives, the film looks at the ways small-scale fishermen have taken on the challenge by working with consumers, chefs, policy makers, and community leaders to forge new systems that enhance the sustainability of the seafood supply chain. 

The filmmaking duo is now looking for supporters to join the movement to help secure the livelihoods for small-scale fishermen in the US. Last Man Fishing launches a 30-day Kickstarter campaign on February 8 with a goal of $35,000. With filming currently 50% complete, these funds will help to complete production as well as post-production of the project.

Help tell the Last Man Fishing story:

• Donate to Last Man Fishing Kickstarter!
• Watch the Last Man Fishing trailer
• Find Last Man Fishing on Facebook, Instagram @LastManFishing, and Twitter @LastManFishing to follow the progress and to help spread the word.

• CONTACT: KELLEY SCHUYLER  
  PHONE: 616-558-5096
  EMAIL: INFO@LASTMANFISHING.COM

•  

Uprivers, Regresando/Returning and Live Storytelling

Two new projects in the works
Plus live local storytelling

Check out our other projects in production here.

Uprivers
A documentary about the impact of the mining boom in British Columbia. An exploration of two rivers and the people and communities who live, work and harvest the salmon from the rivers. Filming begins in late January. Check back for updates. 

 

Regresando/Returning

Years ago, Ellen Frankenstein created a series of black and white documentary images in Nicaragua. Now she wants to return and see if she can find people in the photographs.

Live Storytelling
True stories. Live.  Each even has a particular theme, and storytellers perform without the help of notes or a script.
We co-hosted a live storytelling event called  "Kicking the Beehive: Stories of Stirring up Trouble and Bursting Bubbles" with the Island’s Institute in December. More events to come in 2016! Plus we will post some of the audio.

Images and Artwork by Annika Ord

Tracing Roots Screenings, Guide & Broadcast

Travels with Tracing Roots

We just got back from an amazing sceening tour with Tracing Roots. As part of the trip, Delores Churchill, a master weaver and Haida elder, visited collections and demonstrated weaving techniques. Stops included the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis, the Harvard Peabody and Smithsonian's National Museum of National History.  

Delores at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History with Anthropologist Stephen Loring and Public Programmer, Naimah Muhmmad. 

Screenings are such a powerful way to interact with audiences. We talked about issues of ownership and language preservation. We touched on how art and culture connects and inspires people. Weaving and creating baskets from spuce roots is a strong example of how we connect to each other and to where we live. 

We also went to Yale University and shared the film at the Native American Cultural Center. As Delores told  staff reporter Ivona Jacob, "Weavng is such an important part of art history" Churchill said. "I feel encouraged when I speak to people like you, because I know it is important to you."  

As Ivona writes, "Churchill highlighted that the spruce root hat, which is central to the film, was discovered because of a retreating glacier, a natural phenomenon that she said occurs as a result of global warming.Even so, Churchill noted that she thinks younger generations have the ability to reverse the phenomenon’s negative effects. “Nature knows a lot more than we do and it makes you realize that global warming is really happening,” she said. “It is people like you, young people who are going to make it stop.” Read an more from the article from the Yale Daily News. 

Broadcast on Public Television

In celebration of Native American Heritage month, Tracing Roots will be broadcast on public television! So far there are 543 telecasts scheduled across the country.
On November 8th and 9th the film shows on Iowa, Idaho and Oregon Public Television, in Los Angeles, New Orleans, Milwaukee, Missoula, Salt Lake City and elswehere!

We cut out over six minutes of the sceeening version of Tracing Roots and have worked with public TV station KTOO-TV, in Juneau to prep the film for national release. Offered through NETA and the World Channel.
 

Downloadable Guide Now Ready!

Just finished: a new study guide made to help teachers and students develop an understanding of Indigenous history, heritage and contemporary artistic tradition Discussion points, classroom activities and assignments, and additional resources are provided to assist in delving deeper into some of the issues raised in “Tracing Roots,” including: the links between heritage and the perpetuation of culture; the concepts of stewardship and caretaking; the protection of and control over artistic works as intellectual property; and the role of Elders in teaching and learning traditional cultural practices.

Tracing Roots Study Guide [PDF]

                            In the collections of the EitelJorg Museum

                      Delores works with filmmaker Ellen Frankenstein at the Smithsonian. The film is done. seems Delores wants to make sure the filmmaker can demonstate weaving as                                   well as document it. 

Thanks

We have so many people and organizations to thank for helping us travel, produce the guide and get the film out to public televison. That includes among many others who made the project possible: the Alaska State Council on the Arts, the Recovering Voices and Arctic Studies Program at the Smithsonian, Indiana, Yale and Harvard Universities  the Awesome Foundation and the First People's Fund.

Ellen Frankenstein, gives a talk at Galluadet University as part of the tour.. She's projecting an image called "Kim with a Doll" from a documentary still series made in Barbados. Photo by Brian Greenwald.

                                                An awesome journey. On the train from New Haven to D.C, we talk about art and expression on whatever form it takes!

A Challenge to Think

Seven weeks ago I arrived in Sitka, Alaska ready to start my Frankentweet experience. Unsure of what I would be doing in a project that was “examining this digital age that we live in,” I went to Ellen’s studio to get my tasks for the first week. I quickly learned that a major part of my time would be spent trying some digital disruptions, hijinks or interventions (call them what you like and watch them here!) to make people think about technology and its significant influence in our lives. I won’t bore you with the details of each intervention or the brainstorming process or the innumerable Google searches for How to convert one type of footage to another so that I can edit it on this stupid computer. I will say, however, that the questions that fall under the header of “examining this digital age that we live in” are essentially limitless.

 From cell phones to satellites, from Facebook to self-driving cars, from government surveillance to my Netflix queue, technology, in all of its forms, dominates many parts of the world in which we live. This summer, most of my “Frankentweeting” explored, or better put, attempted to explore social media, communication, and what those little handheld machines do to our relationships and identities. The people we spoke to always had a comment, or several, about their devices. Some recited recipes for successful technological detoxes. Some commented on educational practices and iPads. Some feel more connected. Some disconnected. Some have friends. Some have more “real” friends, or so they say. Some people have been cyber bullied. Some people did the bullying. The question we were asking people centered on connection. What do these devices, Facebook pages, and Instagram accounts change about our human connections?

Although I can’t make a concrete statement about whether or not technology is destroying our relationships and concepts of self, because the topic is much more complex than that, I will say that as my eyes descend toward that screen the rest of the world begins to disappear from my view.

I challenge you to think about the ways in which technology and this digital era affects your life. Think about the ways you use technology each day. Does social media influence your identity? How does it affect your relationships? Your work? The way you communicate? Do you feel more connected or isolated? What else is going to be affected?

Frankentweet is about the process of sifting through these questions, collecting more thoughts, more opinions and more questions. What is the big comment or insight after seven weeks? Everybody has something to say and that process should continue because it will open up much greater depth. Frankentweet is still waiting to decide exactly what its comment is. We hope you will join us. 

Frankentweet is an interactive project, and we need your questions, thoughts and videos! Provoke a discussion in your community, and share it with us!

Patrick Sullivan is studying political science at Yale University. He is always curious to learn something new. This summer, Patrick is working as special projects coordinator at Artchange, Inc.