Red Gold
The Bristol Bay region of Southwest Alaska is home to the Kvichak and Nushagak Rivers, the two most prolific sockeye salmon runs left in the world. Mining companies Northern Dynasty Minerals and Anglo American have partnered to propose development of an open-pit and underground mine at the headwaters of the two river systems. The exploration site is the second largest combined deposit of copper, gold and molybdenum ever discovered, and has an estimated value of more than $300 billion.
Despite promises of a clean project by officials, the accident-plagued history of hard-rock mining has wrought one of the biggest land-use battles Alaska has ever faced. Documenting the growing unrest among native, commercial and sport-fishermen, Red Gold is a portrait of a unique way of life that will not survive if the salmon don't return with Bristol Bay's tide.
Trailer
Credits
Directors: Travis Rummel, Ben Knight
Producer: Travis Rummel
Associate Producer: Lauren Oakes
Cinematographer/Editor: Ben Knight
Running time: 54 min.
Website: redgoldfilm.com
About the Filmmakers
TRAVIS RUMMEL grew up within the confines of suburban New Jersey, in the shadow of New York City. Exposed to the grandeur and open spaces of the western US throughout childhood, he knew he needed to move that way. He attended Colorado College and graduated in 2001 with a degree in international political economy. Moving to Telluride, Colorado, to pursue guiding white water rafting and fly fishing after college, he met Ben Knight while shooting still photographs for the local newspaper. After witnessing the power of film to inspire and affect change at the Telluride Mountainfilm Festival, Rummel decided to partner with Knight, and Felt Soul Media was born. The two began to shoot, produce and edit short films. With the success of their initial effort, The Hatch, they continued making films and four years later produced their first feature, Red Gold.
BEN KNIGHT headed westward from his home in North Carolina at the age of 17 to follow his dream of documentary work and photojournalism. For 10 years, he worked as the photo editor for the Daily Planet in Telluride, Colorado. His still photography, video and editing skills are entirely self-taught. For years he operated the projector at the Telluride Mountainfilm Festival, soaking in the style of the films that showed from around the globe. In 2008, Knight stood upon the stage at the Mountainfilm Awards to accept the Director's Choice Award as well as Audience Choice for Best Film for Red Gold.
LAUREN OAKES graduated from Brown University in 2004 with an A.B. in Environmental Studies, focusing in land management, and Visual Arts, focusing in Photography and Film at the Rhode Island School of Design. She consistently strives to combine these interests and has worked on documentary land use projects throughout the American West and South America. She is a geographer at heart, captivated by the social and political drivers of resource extraction and land use and the human and ecological health implications of changing ecosystems. Lauren previously worked as the Conservation Programs Officer for Trout Unlimited Alaska, leading the organization’s campaign science and policy efforts to examine possible risks to fisheries and water resources in Bristol Bay. In 2007, Lauren joined Felt Soul Media filmmakers to co-produce Red Gold and recently went back to Alaska to work in production for a FRONTLINE documentary on the Pebble Mine, which will air in 2010. She is currently pursuing her PhD at Stanford University’s Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources. Focusing her studies on freshwater systems at northern latitudes and resource management, Lauren carries a passion for science communications and documentary alongside research and adventure.