Education and Inspiration through the ancient art of storytelling!
Voices for the River is $10.00 (+ $3.00 Shipping and Handling)
Thanks to a grant from the Illinois EPA
and the Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway,
schools within the watershed of the Illinois River can receive a free copy,
(just pay $3.00 for shipping and handling.)
Our documentary, "Voices For the River" is available to the public! A special thank you to Joan Root Eriksen and The Sun Foundation, Frank Blain and ExplorePeoria.com, The Illinois EPA, and The Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway. Copies are available for free to teachers in the Illinois River watershed, (plus $3.00 shipping and handling.) Anyone else can purchase a copy here. Of course there are tons of LessonPlans for teachers.
Co-sponsored by the Illinois EPA, the Sun Foundation, The Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway and Explore Peoria.com, Prairie Folklore Theatre has produced a documentary that takes a light hearted look at a serious problem. “Voices for the River” uses slapstick humor, live interviews shot on location, gorgeous wildlife photography, and original blues and bluegrass music to explore both the history of the problems of the Illinois River and most importantly, practical solutions for a healthy future.
The film has an upbeat tone encouraging a proactive response to these problems. The chorus shouts, “What can we do about it before next Tuesday?,” inspiring the audience to step up and make a difference. The film promotes eco-tourism, encourages folks to go birding, fishing, duck hunting, and kayaking, all in an effort to help people fall in love with the river. As an interviewee says in the film, “One must first know the river to love it. Once one loves the river then they begin to care and are willing to do what it takes to make a difference.”
Styled after a fake news ‘mock-umentary’, (in the spirit of “The Daily Show with John Stewart” or “The Office”), the film strives to give a balanced view, including interviews with a barge captain and recreational boaters; a bird watcher, a duck hunter and a whooping crane; a commercial fisherman and a catfish.
Here are a few clips available on YouTube:
Here is short music video I wrote and produced. It features Barry Cloyd and some amazing Chicago bluesmen, Filmed and edited by Frank Blain of ProVideo: "The Catfish Blues"
We hope to enter a few film festivals and distribute free copies to regional schools at the Clean Water Celebration, but just for you, here is a sneak peek of “Voices For the River", a trailer, posted today on You Tube. Please drop me an e-mail and tell me what you think!
I just posted another piece of our video "Voices for the River" on YouTube. The Dance of the Whooping Crane is a poem I wrote, beautifully animated by Vin Luong with film footage from my brother Bruce.
