Our Strategies

SOLAR ROOF BOND INITIATIVE

ReelGreen’s pilot project is a collaboration with the Berkeley Solar Roofs Initiative - which helps homeowners subsidize the purchase of solar panels for their homes through the support of municipal bonds.

Rationale: Solar is not affordable. We want to find alternative ways of funding solar and take the burden off the home owner and ultimately ignite the solar revolution.

ReelGreen Event: We plan to co-produce a "solar" film festival in Berkeley to raise awareness for the initiative and gain community support, while simultaneously raising needed funds for the Solar Roofs project.

Education Goal: Our plan is to document the initiative's process in the city of Berkeley. We will produce a short documentary film that will be used to inspire and educate other communities who are interested in replicating this model.

Long term goal: To increase the number of homes that will convert to solar and have this model replicated widely.

Related sites: www.BerkeleyClimateAction.org

PESTICIDE ACTION CAMPAIGN

To support a Pesticide Action Campaign in Southern California

REEL GREEN is launching our second pilot project in Southern California. We are collaborating with a successful pesticide action activist and her extended community. Our mission is to unite several cities/towns in southern California who have green mandates and agendas, and are willing to enter into an inter-jurisdictional coalition to reduce and eliminate pesticide use.

ReelGreen will co-produce a Film Festival (tentatively scheduled to happen in Ojai, CA) an event that will raise funds for a small team that will organize the pesticide action campaign.

The project will bring a coalition of local environmental groups together for a week long event to view films that address pesticide use as well as “solutionary” films that focus on green business practices and alternatives to toxins. The goal of the event is to inspire support for a pesticide free zones. There will be workshops and celebrity guest speakers that will focus on alternatives to toxins and green businesses that offer practical alternatives to pesticide use.

Long Term Goal: Establish a Pesticide Free Zone in one town or city to be replicated across the country

Short Term Goal: Reduce Pesticide use in cities and towns in southern California

Status: Planning stage - initial contact to key organizers in the area

Staff involved: Carolyn Scott (Executive Director of ReelGreen) Patricia Pagaling (Activist for Pesticide Free Zones) and Paul Sheldon (ReelGreen Advisor)

Actions: 1. Producing short film about the glysophate and it's impact on the environment
2. Organizing a ReelGreen film festival to implement strategy for a reduction of pesticide use
3. Promote alternatives to toxins (organic farming)

PACIFICA GARDEN PROJECT

As our first major initiative, RG is co-hosting the public launch of Pacifica Gardens, a locally-supported public garden project, in the fall of 2008. Pacifica, a small community along the Pacific Coast Highway south of San Francisco, is subject to frequent road closures due to landslides during wet winter months. These road closures literally cut off residents from incoming or outgoing traffic for days and have prompted the community to find alternate food supply solutions and become a self-sustaining community. Our project partner, the Livability Project, is experienced gathering public support, navigating government requirements, and successfully installing public gardens.

Background

The Issue: Local food security and urban food production. Pacifica, like most urban areas, has virtually zero local food production. This makes the community vulnerable to disruptions in supply chains and contributes to the many downsides of transporting perishable goods long distances. In partnership with the Livability Project, ReelGreen will co-host an event screening film clips at a kick-off event for Pacifica Gardens, a model solution for local food production.
The Catalyst: The event will feature several short film clips about the importance of local food production. At least one of the clips will highlight successful and inspiring examples from other communities.
The Initiative: A local team has developed a comprehensive plan to develop an urban permaculture and biointensive farming center to educate, cultivate and inspire the community to grow food locally.
Timing: By achieving key milestones—a land lease, insurance, fencing, water and cultivating many partnerships—the project is now ready for public launch.
The Event: The kick-off event will be a combination of a community feast, film event, discussion of the vision for Pacifica Gardens, silent auction, and community engagement.
Objective: The Kick-off event will raise funds, heighten awareness of the benefits of local food production, and engage public participation.
Lifecycle Mgt.: As part of its comprehensive plan, the Garden Team has established goals and metrics to measure progress. One of its major goals is to develop this project as a replicable model, and as such strict documentation will be an integral part of the process.

Staff involved: The Liviability Project

International Project: SAVING ENDANGERED ELEPHANTS

Elephant Culling Project (Educational - using film)

JOHANNESBURG, Feb. 25 -- South Africa will lift a 13-year-old ban on using professional hunters to kill endangered elephants, despite opposition from animal rights activists. They plan to cull (kill) 7,500 out of 12,000 elephants.

Goal: ReelGreen will work with animal rights activists and produce a short film to bring this issue to an international audience.

Status: Planning stage - working with South African Animal Rights group

Staff: Carolyn Scott (Director/Producer) Anne Nina Woltering (Co-Producer) Ananda Fierro (Co-producer) Howard Martin Holzapfel (Director/Producer)

COMPLETED REEL GREEN PROJECTS

Shirley Zane Fundraiser

Goal: To raise money for a "green" candidate running for 3rd district supervisor in Santa Rosa, CA
Outcome: One night event - raised $1000
Staff involved: Carolyn Scott (Executive Director of ReelGreen)

Next: Learn About Films