Awareness Film Festival - The Kingdom That Crumbled
The Kingdom That Crumbled is a documentary on the plight of the Salton Sea. The largest lake in California; the Salton Sea was once a national recreational destination but has since turned desolate. The Sea is evaporating and will evaporate at a drastically faster rate at the end of 2017 leaving behind an agricultural, environmental and public health catastrophe.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Brad Patocka
Main image: Calcified Dock. Bombay Beach, California
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
We made our film because we felt we had to. Originally we went to the Salton Sea because we thought dead fish would make for good photography. After doing research while at the local Borrego Springs library, we realized there was a much greater issue at hand and felt a responsibility to get this issue out to the public.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
“The Kingdom That Crumbled” centers around the agricultural, environmental and public health catastrophe that will occur from an evaporating Salton Sea. It’s an issue that will affect millions of birds and hundreds of millions of people. Awareness of the issue of the Salton Sea is one of the most underrated issues of today.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
The theme of survival is very prevalent in “The Kingdom That Crumbled". From human survival with the air quality and economic threat, to the survival of tilapia which in turn affects the survival of millions of birds and the survival of the agricultural industry. Survival is all-encompassing in “The Kingdom That Crumbled”.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
We didn’t start with a script of any sort. As said we went down to the Salton Sea with no real project in mind. After doing research we realized the evaporating Sea needs to be brought to light. From there we researched community members to interview and developed questions based on our research. It wasn’t until we had completed all of our interviews and sat down in the editing room did we realize what the direction the story needed to take place.
Endless phone calls between Ben in Los Angeles and Brad in New York, jumping back and forth with ideas of where the story should go, “do we think we should keep this?” “Let’s actually include this piece” “This element isn’t touched on enough” etc. Probably 20 plus exports before we even settled on a general direction.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The feedback has been great; it’s very clear the story gets across to our viewers. There is so much information packed into 24 minutes and the fact that everyone seems to understand and is able to digest what is really going on down there is amazing. Ultimately that’s the goal of our doc; to tell this story and make people understand- and they seem to.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Because there was so much information, we were worried that viewers might only get the “jist” of everything and not actually grasp the true issue. But not only was the feedback that they understand the “what” but they also understood the “why,” which was ideal.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Any and all awareness is great for “The Kingdom That Crumbled” and the Salton Sea. The issue is so great and so detrimental to society that having the most people possible see the doc or any issues at all surrounding the Sea, is what we hope to achieve.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Film Festival Directors would help as they can steer the audience in the direction of the film and journalists are great because their job is to research issues and spread awareness. However the most essential people who would help amplify the film’s message is the audience. Their participation, viewership and sharing of the message is crucial to raise awareness.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
If we can inspire people to help in the area, learn more about the issues at hand and/or write to the Governor, we would be happy. Ideally it could become part of the larger movement that is fighting to save the sea and spur enough conversation and coverage that Government Officials will begin following through on their promises to restore the sea.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Why has nothing been done? We ask this question in our doc and it’s a vital and debatable question. The short answer is, the state of California didn’t hold up their responsibility. The long answer is much more up for debate because as much as one can argue the Recession affected the state’s plan to save the Sea, which it did, why has nothing been done since?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Ben produced and directed a feature film last year that Brad was Assistant Director on. That project is a feature comedy that is currently in the final stages of post-production.
Brad manages the video production department at the Corning Museum of Glass in Upstate New York and is currently working to produce further documentary projects.
Interview: October 2017
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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The Kingdom That Crumbled
The Kingdom That Crumbled is a documentary on the plight of the Salton Sea. The largest lake in California; the Salton Sea was once a national recreational destination but has since turned desolate. The Sea is evaporating and will evaporate at a drastically faster rate at the end of 2017 leaving behind an agricultural, environmental and public health catastrophe.
Length: 24min 15sec
Director: Ben Hausdorff/Brad Patocka
Producer: Ben Hausdorff/Brad Patocka
Writer: Ben Hausdorff/Brad Patocka
About the writer, director and producer:
Two friends from Ithaca College, both filmmakers, Ben is more fictional, Brad more non-fictional.
Key cast: Kerry Morrison, Bruce Wilcox, Chris Schoneman, Tom Sephton
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Film Festival Directors, Journalists
Social media handles: @hausdo @bradpatocka
Facebook: Ben Hausdorff, Brad Patocka
Instagram: @hausdo @bradpatocka
Other:
bradpatocka.com
Made in association with: Wise Lion® Productions
Where can I see it in the next month?
Vimeo/Youtube/benhausdo.com/bradpatocka.com