Director and Co-Writer: Trip Jennings
Genre: Documentary
Country: U.S.
Language: English
Directed by Portland filmmaker Trip Jennings (“Rewilding A Mountain,” “Postcards From Climate Change”) and produced by Ralph Bloemers (“Trout On the Wind”) the critically acclaimed documentary “Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire” will release in theaters nationwide beginning April 7, 2023.
Filmed in fire-impacted communities across the West and narrated by iconic, award-winning actor David Oyelowo (“Selma,” “Nightingale”), and featuring interviews with Dr. Beverly Law, Professor Emeritus, Global Change Biology, Oregon State University; Margo Robbins, Yurok, Cultural Advisor; and Dr. Jack Cohen, Research Physical Scientist, US Forest Service (Ret.), Scientific Advisor, among others, “Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire” takes viewers on a journey with the top experts from across the nation to better understand wildfire. The film starts with the harrowing escape from Paradise, California as the town ignited from wind-driven embers and burned within a few hours of the fire's start and then continues to recent record shattering fires. “Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire” includes the voices of the top forest and climate experts, Indigenous prescribed firelighters, and fire survivors, and helps reimagine our relationship with fire as we prepare for an increasingly hotter, drier future.
“California is severely affected by these fires. I did not realize how much can be done by hardening one’s home. I did not realize that embers are more dangerous than the fires,” said David Oyelowo. “It was a huge honor and a pleasure to do this documentary, it is not only informational, I think it is lifesaving. I hope it will inspire you to take some of the steps advised, and some of the steps that I am taking myself.”
In the wake of the slew of deadly fires in Oregon, California, Colorado, Washington, Montana, Arizona, and New Mexico, “Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire” is an important look at discovering how we can all reimagine our relationship with wildfire, and prepare to live with this powerful force. This insightful documentary is good medicine for everyone in the West and it has screened to numerous sold-out audiences at special events and been selected for over 30 film festivals and won numerous awards. The film poses the critical question of how can we coexist with extreme wildfires?
Former United States Forest Service Chief Michael Dombeck says of the documentary, "Elemental is an outstanding film that deserves the widest possible viewing. In a visually stunning manner, it distills what we’ve learned about wildland fire over the decades and provides a roadmap for badly needed changes that will benefit thousands of people, particularly in fire prone communities.”
“Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire” is for everyone living in the western United States who wants to better understand the challenges wildfire poses and the solutions to keep our homes and communities safe. The film challenges conventional wisdom and superficial talking points, while providing a revealing historical view of how we got to where we are today. The film takes viewers into the field with indigenous fire managers and top fire and climate scientists to explore how wildfire, healthy forests and communities can coexist.
Trip Jennings founded Balance Media and has worked with National Geographic for over a decade. His films have won dozens of awards around the world and have aired on major networks on every continent. He is the producer of the PBS Digital Series “Weathered.” For nearly two decades, Ralph Bloemers has worked on wildfire and community safety, protected and restored burned landscapes, and assisted the scientific community with bringing their knowledge and research to the public. “Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire” received support from National Geographic Society, Patagonia, Pacific Northwest Foundation, and the American Red Cross for the production and distribution of the film.
The “Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire” filmmaking team is led by Director, Co-Writer & Editor Trip Jennings (“Rewilding A Mountain,” “Pebble Redux,” “Chuitna: More than Salmon on the Line”), Executive produced by Ralph Bloemers (“Trout On the Wind,” “Decades: Born in Fire”), co-produced & edited by Sara Quinn (“The Reluctant Radical”) with animations by Aaron Keuter and Ryan Walsh, and musical score composed by Nick Jaina (“Smartass,” “Shotgun Boogie”).
The film has been accepted into festivals in USA, Canada, Europe, Australia and is being booked in theaters worldwide by Henry Lystad of Adventure Entertainment. Thus far the filmmakers have received over 400 unique inquiries for the film.
The release is being done in collaboration with firefighting organizations, community fire wise groups, non-profits, schools, universities, businesses, including California Fire Safe Council, Western Fire Chiefs Association, the American Red Cross, Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, Underwriters Laboratory, Casualty Actuarial Society, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Oregon State University, University of Oregon, Boise State University, University of California at Davis, University of Idaho, University of Colorado at Boulder, and many more.
