RISING TIDES, 103min,. USA
Directed by Charlie Spickler
Rising Tides is the story of how climate change is affecting the fishing communities on the East Coast, the Coral in the Keys and the domino effect it has on the various regions. We are looking at the Science of Climate change and the politics of what is and what is not being done in Congress.
http://www.risingtidesfilm.com/
Get to know the filmmaker:
1. What motivated you to make this film?
I read an article in the New York Times about the Peconic Bay Scallops dying before they could be harvested. I grew up out on Long Island, so this became personal for me. That led me to looking at the Blue Crabs down in Maryland and the bleaching coral down in Miami and the Keys and next thing you know, – Climate Change doc.
2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
It took about eight months from inception to final cut.
3. How would you describe your film in two words!?
Climate Change
4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
A third part of the story was supposed to include the Lobsters up in Maine, unfortunately I couldn’t not get any Lobsterman to talk to me while I was shooting the film. There is a lot of politics going on up in Maine right now and the Lobstermen are very weary of the media.
5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
I was overwhelmed. Especially some of the comments that were made that literally mimicked my reasons for making the film, I wanted this film to be accessible and understandable for people with no experience with climate change and or the science of global warming. I wanted to present this information in a way that was understandable, Based on the comments I think I succeeded in doing that.
6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
In 1997 I had been working in theatre for almost ten years and a good portion of that as Lighting Designer. I was getting burnt out and woke up one morning and decided I wanted to make a film. The independent film movement was in its infancy at the time. I spent the next 13 years making narrative feature films. In 2011, we adopted a new puppy from an animal shelter in Brooklyn and I was so impressed by the grass roots nature of the shelter, I went back the next day and suggested that we do a documentary about the shelter. I had never made a documentary before. But Rescue! Brooklyn was born and 15 years later Rising Tides was my fourth documentary film.
7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
That’s a good question, And hard to answer because there is not just one. I feel comfortable giving you the top three – across Genres.
Documentary – The War Room – D.A. Pennebaker, Roger and Me – Michal Moore
Serious – The Godfather
Funny – “Annie Hall”
8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
I think you guys are amazing and your hands on working with the filmmakers, no one else does. Helping to get our films out to people who would never see them is amazing and pretty unique..
9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has you experiences been working on the festival platform site?
I have been using FilmFreeway since my first doc and it really makes festival submissions so much easier. I remember the days when you had to reach out to each festival separately and then send a screener. FF had simplified the process immensely. Also the discount you get on the submission fee can add up. As well as being alerted to when deadlines are coming up.
10. What is your favorite meal?
Another hard question to answer.
I am a bit of a foodie. Lobster – seafood dinner on my birthday.
Pastrami and Corned Beef sandwich from Katz Deli with a well done square knish with mustard and Doctor Brown’s Cream Soda.
11. What is next for you? A new film?
I have a number of irons in the fire – we have three potential documentaries that we are waiting on for financing. As you know, getting financing for documentary films is never easy. Our two main projects are:
DIsappearing Doctors, – We are exploring the epidemic of physician suicide here in the United States and we are tying the American Healthcare system into that as our current healthcare providers are not just screwing the patients but are making it almost impossigle for physicians do whar they do.
The Second documentary, Which at the moment is called “Dreams of Flight”, which we are also waiting on funding for, is about the Aboriginal Tribes in Australia. There are over six hundred different tribes in Australia and not one of them speaks the same language. Yet they invented the boomerang thousands of years before Leonardo ever thought about flight. We will be delving into the culture of the Tribes as well as the current political climate of unification and the Voice of the People act.
I hope that is what you are looking for. Let me know when you want to do the podcast interview.
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