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Fecotopia: From Water Closet to Watershed

by Katy Warner
Fecotopia tells the story of a community in rural California that found a way to turn human waste into a valuable asset for the environment and the community. Three decades ago, the town of Arcata reclaimed a condemned landfill and abandoned log pond to create the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary; a sewage treatment plant like none before it. By following the stories of the animals that live at the marsh, the people who enjoy it, and the history, science and forward-thinking behind the project that created an irreplaceable asset for the region, Fecotopia stands against the misconception that investing in the environment is taking away from humanity.
fecotopia-title.jpg
Redwood Planet Media Announces Feature Documentary Production

Documentary Filmmaker Alan Peterson begins fundraising for Fecotopia: From Water Closet to Watershed.

McKinleyville, CA (WEB) DECEMBER 2, 2013 – Starting a not-for-profit documentary production company in Humboldt County is a daunting task, despite the area's richness in subject matter, since the economic realities of rural America compounded with the tepid national economy don't provide a rich environment for startups. But, since his 2010 arrival in the region, filmmaker Alan Peterson has met others who share the same goal, and filed the articles of incorporation for Redwood Planet Media, a public benefit corporation, this May.
“Northern California is home to unique natural treasures and ecological challenges,” Peterson said. “There are people here working on the cutting edge of sustainable energy, infrastructure and agriculture, yet all of this is largely overlooked by the national media. When I moved to McKinleyville, I wanted to be working on documentary projects to cover what makes this region important, but I encountered a complete void of job opportunities in the field. So, like many before me in Humboldt County, I went to work on building something from the ground up with a handful of likeminded people.”

Alan Peterson, along with fellow filmmakers Katy Warner and Ben Jacob, has therefor launched an Indiegogo campaign for their first project entitled Fecotopia: From Water Closet to Watershed. The campaign seeks to raise funds for a series of documentary shorts and full-length feature on the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary. At 28% funded, and with 33 days left to fundraise, it looks like they are off to a good start thanks to recent shout-outs from Lost Coast Outpost and Friends of the Arcata Marsh.

Peterson remarks “Indiegogo provides a great platform for funding film projects. Being able to launch our projects with small donations from around the web lets us keep our focus where it should be: on the community, rather than on the whims of a large studio or corporate underwriters.”

The major perk for donating to Peterson's project is exclusive early access to the first nature short on their lineup, featuring the White-Tailed Kite family that regularly soars across Arcata Marsh to stake out territory and fight over prey. Other perks include a wide range of nature photography prints, a first edition movie poster, and canvas prints of these stunning photographs signed by the artist.

Fecotopia tells the story of a community in rural California that found a way to turn human waste into a valuable asset for the environment and the community. Three decades ago, the town of Arcata reclaimed a condemned landfill and abandoned log pond to create the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary; a sewage treatment plant like none before it. By following the stories of the animals that live at the marsh, the people who enjoy it, and the history, science and forward-thinking behind the project that created an irreplaceable asset for the region, Fecotopia stands against the misconception that investing in the environment is taking away from humanity.
This production will primarily be filmed on RED Digital Cinema cameras, some of the most advanced cinema equipment available. To learn more about the film, readers can visit the project's pitch page here:

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/fecotopia/x/4749199

About Redwood Planet Media:
Redwood Planet Media is a not for profit corporation that produces quality educational media to further public knowledge of natural history, sociology, human welfare and environmental sustainability. Establish in May 2013, we seek to bring the wonders of our region and beyond to the whole world. Redwood Planet Media is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the purposes of Redwood Planet Media must be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

Contact:
Katy Warner -- katy [at] redwoodplanet.org
Redwood Planet Media 707-621-5057
http://redwoodplanet.org
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§The kites at the Arcata Marsh
by Katy Warner
800_kites-perch.jpg
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