documentaries & docs in development
Where does an elephant go after a life in the circus? Sixteen years have passed since circus producer David Balding adopted Flora, the orphaned baby African elephant he lovingly raised as part of his family and made the star of his show. As Flora approaches adulthood, he realizes that she is not happy performing. Ultimately, David must face the difficult truth that the circus is no place for Flora. She needs to be with other elephants. The road to Floras retirement, however, is a difficult and emotional journey which tests their bond in unexpected ways. Ten years in the making, One Lucky Elephant explores the consequences of keeping wild animals in captivity, while never losing sight of the delicate love story at its heart.
An official selection at International Documentary Festival Amsterdam, Los Angeles, Stella Artois St. Louis and Starz Denver film festivals, and the winner of the James Lyons best editing award at the Woodstock Film Festival, the film has received extensive acclaim.
"A parable of pachydermish proportions, "One Lucky Elephant" is a bittersweet story of man, beast and a very real relationship that makes helmer Lisa Leeman's docu the thinking person's "Dumbo" --and, coincidentally, one of the better kids' movies on the fest circuit." - John Anderson, VARIETY
"Bottom Line: A timely, emotionally engaging look at interspecies bonds."
- Sheri Linden, HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
"A poignant, heart-felt tale about the shared life journey of a man and an elephant. "One Lucky Elephant" not only manages to capture the psychological and emotional complexity of a fellow animal, it also compels us to confront the deeply troubling consequences of our removing such an animal from its natural and rightful home." - Charles Siebert, New York Times journalist & author of The Wauchula Woods Accord.
documentaries in development
DIRECTOR: MARK JONATHAN HARRIS
STATUS: Seeking Funding / Co-Production
On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded, killing 11 platform workers, injuring 17 others, and precipitating the worst environmental disaster in American history. Before British Petroleum finally capped the gushing wellhead almost three months later, 4.9 million barrels of crude oil were released into the Gulf of Mexico, causing massive damage to marine and wildlife habitats as well as the Gulfs fishing and tourism industries. Once the leak was stopped on July 15, media attention began to turn elsewhere. By the end of July more than 26,000 square miles of fishing areas had reopened and another 5,000 reopened last week. On August 15, President Barack Obama and his daughter Sasha swam in the Gulfs water in Panama City Beach, Florida, to emphasize that the beaches are now safe and clean and the danger is over.
But is the danger really over? And what are the long term health effects of the marine oil spill, the largest in the history of the petroleum industry, and the toxic dispersants BP has used to contain it? Has the media told the full story of the devastating impact the spill has had on the ecology and the residents of the Gulf Coast?
Early in July eco activist and environmental journalist Jerry Cope flew to the Gulf to see for himself the damage the spill has had on the coastal communities of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. What he found contradicts the optimistic reports of BP, U.S. government agencies, and the mainstream media. The extent of the adverse economic and health impact of the spill is not only far greater than reported but it poses a long-term health danger to the residents of the coast.
How is a dreamer born? A young Werner von Braun attaches fireworks to his wagon and sends it blazing through the public square, when the constable complains that his out of control wagon could have killed somebody, the little boy protests that he meant to be in the wagon but it took off before he could get in. Kurt Debus runs to his back fence and watches as 100's of new airplanes fly over his parent's house from the airplane factory across the field. They are the most fantastic thing he has ever seen. Arthur Rudolph, enthralled by a popular space flight book, sells his share of the family farm and goes to Berlin to help develop a rocket car. His first experience testing a rocket engine result in an explosion killing Max Valier, creator of this engine. But he continues this work in the name of his dead companion and eventually a rocket car is built. This is how a dreamers are born. It is the same dream for all three men: space flight. It isn't just rockets, it is the dream of going into the heavens. Robert Goddard and others have dreamed it before, but something special is happening in Germany right at this moment. The German economy is failing. Large numbers of people are unemployed, especially young men. Suddenly a book, "The Rocket for Interplantary Travel" written by Hermann Oberth, appears and captures the heart of the entire population. Never has a science book been so popular among the general public. It contains the equations for space flight, but more importantly it contains a plan: first, build a rocket car, then build a rocket airplane, then build a rocket for space travel. Little boys who never paid attention to their school work are suddenly begging their math teachers to help them solve these equations. Young unemployed men are forming rocket clubs all over Berlin. They commandeer parks and invite the public to watch their tests. Huge crowds turn out for these events. All of Berlin is dreaming of flying. Meanwhile the Nazi party is coming to power.
THE OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK
We are proud to announce that Oprah's new network has picked up One Lucky Elephant!
indieWIRE
Los Angeles Times
Hollywood Reporter
