Unconquering the Last Frontier

Contact Robert Lundahl & Associates: info@studio-rla.com, 415.205.3481.

I had been making videos for Silicon Valley corporations and had run up against demanding time schedules, late nights and difficult clients. I wanted to be a film maker and taking a lesson from Charles Eames, had not been afraid of creating client work, but wanted to go beyond the conventions.

I decided to make a documentary. I had studied documentary with Wolfram Van Hanvehr at U.S.C. and was enamored with the life and legacy of Robert Flaherty. I also admired the social orientation of the national Film Board of Canada under John Grierson and set about to acquire the pieces needed: An French Eclair ACL camera and a 4 wheel drive vehicle.

While at work in the office, I listened regularly to NPR and one day came across a "Living on Earth" program on the removal of dams on the Elwha River. I had known something about the damage created by dams to ecosystems since my friend Marsha Kahm had provided cinematography for a film on India's Narmada River.




My journey north to investigate this congressionally mandated dam removal and ecosystem restoration project lead me to the Indian Shaker Church on the Lower Elwha Klallam Reservation

It was there the saga really began as I was greeted by Bosco Charles, the spiritual leader of this syncretic church in a small, white clapboard building on the Reservation. I will try to add to this narrative, but this was the beginning. The clip you see is part one--the first ten minutes. For a somewhat longer description you may visit www.unconquering.org.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Klallam
• Robert
• Lundahl
• Elwha
• Port
• Angeles

[TheElissaS]

This is a wonderful video! Too bad it's not longer and too bad there aren't more of them. I could watch these documentary's about 19cent., 18 cent, Alaska all my life.

Saw the original Nanuck of the North on 2nd ave. and 11th or 13th St. on the lower east side. They don't have the original here, but what they do have is wonderful.

[TheElissaS]

This is a wonderful video! Too bad it's not longer and too bad there aren't more of them. I could watch these documentary's about 19cent., 18 cent, Alaska all my life.

[eclair16mm]

this is some of the best acl footage i've seen here on youtube - and a really interesting documentary as well. thanks for sharing.