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	ROCK THE BOAT PRICE: 25.00
ROCK THE BOAT Description
"ROCK THE BOAT” is a feature documentary about the maligned Los Angeles River and an controversial 3-day kayaking expedition that saved the river from losing all of its environmental protections and ignited a new movement to revitalize one of the city's most precious resources. The LA River Expedition – begun as a satirical trip – quickly gathered media attention when a young biologist at Army Corps of Engineers leaked an internal memo to US Congressman Henry Waxman regarding her agency’s designation of the river as "non-navigable." Such designation would have nullified the LA River's environmental protection under the Clean Water Act. However, following protests from the US Congress and environmental groups, and due in no small part to the persistence of a group of local kayakers - and the resulting flurry of media attention - in an highly unusual move, the EPA took over jurisdiction of the river from the Army Corps. The EPA’s final verdict on the river - and the fate of the river - is still pending. ROCK THE BOAT began as a short documentary - focused solely on the kayak trip - but the gravity and complexity of the river's situation inspired us to expand it into a feature in order to present a comprehensive picture of the river as a central element of the Los Angeles community and to examine conflicting visions of the river's future. The film opens at a crucial time, as decisions being made about the LA River now will set a legal precedent for the evaluation of all rivers in our country. Centered on the drama of ordinary citizens making a difference, and including interviews with key leaders representing city, state, business and community organizations, the film also uncovers the forces at work in our region’s growing water crisis, while adding value to conversations about sustainable water use throughout the U.S.. In addition to the film itself, we hope to galvanize the new water conservation movement throughout our region. Therefore, the film’s website will also be an aggregator of “All Things LA River” – from links to local environmental organizations, to rss feeds on legalities of water issues in our capital, from connecting boaters to recreational equipment and local water attractions, to compiling the latest information on the Revitalization Master Plan. Through this effort, the film will reach far beyond an audience of moviegoers to an ever-growing base of outdoor enthusiasts, urban dwellers in search of local natural resources, and a new generation of river advocates.
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