It’s been a little while so I wanted to provide an update on some recent occurrences for Take Care, Tar Creek. I am happy to say that the film was accepted to Red Dirt Film Festival in Stillwater, Oklahoma and was displayed in theatre in April 2024. I was invited, along with other filmmakers, to share about the making of the film and to answer some audience questions. I also had the opportunity to meet some other great filmmakers from around the country.
In May 2024 the film was displayed on the opening day of the Tar Creek Apprenticeship Program (TCAP) in Miami, OK. Since I was out of town at the time, I was invited to call-in via Zoom to deliver some opening comments and remarks about the making of the film and its message. I have been invited to visit the TCAP Career Day to talk to participants about filmmaking and the impact it can have on environmental activism.
On July 13, 2024 the film will play as part of the Circle Cinema Film Festival in Tulsa, OK along with a selection of other short films.
There are several more film festivals that I have submitted to and awaiting a response from – so hopefully will have a few more to show at.
Also, I have received an offer of support to further the reach of the film, cover some of the fees, and work with me to get the film out to a broader audience. Still working through those details so can’t so too much about it at this time.
As much as I would like to share the film widely – put it on YouTube, etc. I need to proceed diligently through the steps beforehand – I want to give this film as much opportunity as possible.
I was fortunate enough to be invited to the 25th National Environmental Tar Creek Conference held at Northeastern Oklahoma (NEO) A&M College in Miami, Oklahoma from October 10-12. This was the 25th year of the conference – which is both impressive on one hand and concerning on the other, given the persistence of the issues surrounding Tar Creek. The purpose of the invite was to present my film, Take Care, Tar Creek – Revisited.
My wife and I drove up to Miami from Norman earlier in the day.
I had not seen the program and did not know exactly when I presenting. When I opened the conference program I was surprised to see that there was more to it. The title read, “Chat Research Results in Super 8 Movie – Aaron Gibson, researcher and filmmaker.” So wait, was I supposed to talk about my Masters Thesis research project from 20 years ago to this room full of actual scientist, researchers, regulatory agency representatives, and community members? At once I felt unprepared, under-qualified, and anxious. Thankfully, my wife was there to reassure me that all I really needed to do was relate the past to the present, and go from there.
Watching the session just before mine; a Doctoral candidate talking about sulfate-reducing bacteria, did not instill confidence, but instead reminded me how disconnected I was with “the science.” What was I doing here? Why wasn’t I here years ago when I could actually speak intellectually about the hypothesis, about sampling and data collection methodology, about results, the spectrum of metal concentrations, about the distribution of particle sizes in the mine tailings, and about statistical analyses? But how could I, now, twenty–plus years later? Yet, here, and moreover, NOW, I was.
The time came and Mrs. Rebecca Jim introduced me and I made my way to the front of the room.
At this point, I don’t remember if what I said was relevant. Surely I mentioned my background, summarized my research, did what I could to connect the past to more current experiences. I downplayed my “research” side, my “scientist” persona. The position I was in now, was not a “scientist,” but as a filmmaker – and in that capacity, I felt much more at ease.
There was some technical issue with the showing of the film, in fact, the movie kicked off a few seconds beyond the opening scene – but was a moot point – something that surely nobody would really notice.
After the film the lights came up and there was applause and I notice some people drying their eyes. I thanked the room for their response to the film and took a few questions. There were questions about the type of medium used, if I had the chance to shoot the film on some other kind of media, would I? What advice could I give someone going from science to filmmaking? I received several compliments about things in the film.
The session concluded with Rebecca thanking me at the front of the stage and I took my seat.
There was a second showing later in the evening as an after-hours event in an auditorium. This was also listed in the program but this one just read “Super 8 Movie” and had a blurb about a discussion with the filmmaker. I found this showing to be more comfortable for me, possibly knowing what to expect and knowing that just the film aspect would be the focus of the discussion. Some of the audience members had seen the previous showing – but this one was better because I was able to start the film at the actual start.
The voice of Tar Creek, Rebecca Jim, and I after the second showing of the film.
Again, at the end, there were some questions and comments about the making of the film, and I went into more detail about the interview itself. At the end of the showing I was honored and recognized with a Mike Synar Environmental Excellence Award for “my cinematic vision of the story Tar Creek herself would tell.” It was a wonderful gesture and came quite unexpectedly.
Overall, the experience was meaningful in that this creation, not just mine, but everyone who had a hand in it – originated from nothing and culminated in a final piece (or tool, or thing, or product, or whatever you want to call it), to encapsulate a story that has value. Not value in the sense of monetary value, but value in the sense that it can be used to further the position and the message. Activism value. Change value. The kind of value that makes a difference to the environment and to people.
The film is a means to make science palatable for people who are not scientist or policy makers.
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I am currently in the process of applying to various film festivals.
I am excited to announce that the film was accepted to the Red Dirt Film Festival in Stillwater, OK. More to come in future posts.
Working on a strategy to continue the storytelling at Tar Creek. Looking to produce a 4-6 episode series that could be picked up by one of the big streaming services. Looking for interested parties and/or producers that might be able help me see this through.
Working on the script for this concept, based on my recently completed short film of the same title.
I have a film title. A subject. And a complete concept. Now, just to put it into action.
Going to be cautious in not revealing the idea or the title until I have some more solidified – so going to be a bit cryptic about it for now. But I am really excited about this direction and feel it has the potential for a must larger project.
In 2000 I completed a research project. Now I’m going back to that same place 22 years later to document what has changed. This time with Super 8 film camera in hand.
Officially announcing the production and entrance to the 2022 Straight 8 Film Competition. This is my third time entering the competition and another opportunity to accept the challenge that comes with producing, from scratch, a motion-picture on a short timeframe.
I will do my best to document the process going forward.
If you want to see what some of the films look like you can visit here. As noted on their website: each straight 8 film is made entirely in-camera on just one cartridge of super 8mm cine film lasting up to 3 minutes 20 seconds. with each pull of the trigger, each shot taken goes into the final film, in the order taken, like it or not. there’s no chance for editing, post-production effects, colour-grading or sound-synching… because we get the films processed and then we just line up first frame of picture with the original soundtrack each entrant supplies blind. the very first time successful straight8ers see even their own film is with the audience at its packed premiere – at cannes film festival and other great screenings
I will be re-visiting and posting links to my previous films in future posts.
I received word that a film that I did some Super 8 film work for has been accepted to Sundance. The documentary film This May Be the Last Time, directed by Sterlin Harjo and Produced by Matt Leach, both of This Land Films, will be shown at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah January 16-26.
Here is the announcement on the This Land Films website:
http://thislandpress.com/12/09/2013/this-land-films-premieres-this-may-be-the-last-time-at-sundance-film-festival/
Here is the short description of the film on the Sundance website:
“This May Be the Last Time / U.S.A. (Director: Sterlin Harjo) — Filmmaker Sterlin Harjo’s Grandfather disappeared mysteriously in 1962. The community searching for him sang songs of encouragement that were passed down for generations. Harjo explores the origins of these songs as well as the violent history of his people.”
My contribution to the film was minimal in terms of the overall production but I had a fun experience working with these guys, the talent and other crew. I was hired to shoot several rolls of film as a part of the film that re-created a specific historical event. I shot the film using a Canon 814 XLS and Agfachrome 200D Reversal film stock. The film was then digitally transferred and scanned at HD resolution.
I have seen the raw footage but not the final cut of the film – so I’m excited to see how the footage was integrated into the story.
Congratulations to all those involved! We’ll be watching the progress of this film to see the progress it makes.
