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Hippodrome to host Sundance film on coal wars
On Jan. 10 The Redford Center at Sundance Preserve will host a free film premiere at 7 p.m. at the Waco Hippodrome of its new documentary, Fighting Goliath: Texas Coal Wars, to boost awareness and engagement in the state’s battle against conventional coal-fired power plants.
The film also will be shown Jan. 11 t the Angelika Theatre in Dallas. Both premieres are free to the public, though seating is limited. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Here’s more from the news release:
Narrated by Robert Redford and produced by Alpheus Media, the film follows the story of Texans fighting a high-stakes battle for clean air and centers around the unlikely partners — mayors, ranchers, lawyers, cities, citizens, green groups, and CEOs—that came together to oppose the construction of 18 coal-fired power plants that were slated to be built in Eastern and Central Texas and being fast-tracked by the Texas Governor.
With the goal of sparking a national dialogue about the impacts and consequences of coal, the film uses the example of Texas to take an intimate look at today’s global energy challenge of powering communities in a way that supports the local economy and protects public health.
In America coal is the largest source of global warming pollution and coal-fired power plants are responsible for more than 30 percent of all carbon dioxide pollution, according to leading non-profit NRDC. Coal causes more damage to people and the planet than any other energy source.
And currently the U.S. Department of Energy reports 121 conventional coal-fired power plants are slated for construction in 40 U.S. states, with 45 of the 121 plants either under construction, near construction, or already permitted, and 76 of the plants in the early stages of development, having the status of being “announced.”
The program for both film premiers includes a screening of the film (30 minutes) followed by a moderated panel discussion. Panels will be comprised of local policymakers, business leaders, ranchers, and lawyers, many of whom appear in the film. The panels will be moderated by Texas journalists.
The premieres are sponsored by the Energy Foundation, Trammell Crow Jr., John and Margie Haley, and Public Citizen’s ‘Coal Block’ Campaign.
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By Evil Clerk
January 4, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this
I wonder about the technical aspects of this — last I heard, Scott Baker had said the Hippodrome doesn’t have the projection equipment necessary to show movies (although they did have a spankin’ new screen at the time).
Wonder if the organizers are bringing their own gear?
By Scott Baker
January 4, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this
Yes, the organizers are bringing their own gear. They are renting the theatre and bringing all the necessary equipment. We actually don’t have a new screen, but rather a quite old but high quality one that has served us well.
We recently cleaned and refurbished our film projector to prepare for showing films, but this film is to be shown via a digital format that we are unable to accommodate at this time. I do hope to add the capability to show digital format films in the near future, but that equipment is still just too expensive for us at this time.
So as of right now, we are all set to show films that are on reels, but not on DVDs. Until we have our own series of films and documentaries, I hope more people from the community will take advantage of the availability to rent the theatre and show a film here. Everything looks and sounds great in the Hippodrome. I’ll surely keep everyone posted on developments towards our ability to show digital format media.
Scott Baker Executive Director Waco Performing Arts Company