Dinner Presentation and Movie Screening – Return of the River

February 27, 2014  Dinner Meeting

Dinner Presentation and Movie Screening – Return of the River, a documentary about the Elwha River

John Gussman, Director and Cinematographer

Jessica Plumb, Producer, Writer, Co-Director

"Return of the River" is a feature documentary that tells the story of the largest dam removal in history, currently unfolding on the Elwha River in Washington State. The film explores an extraordinary community effort to set the river free, and shows an unlikely victory for environmental justice. Told by an ensemble cast of characters, "Return of the River" offers hope amid grim environmental news, chronicling a dramatic success story that has drawn international attention to the Olympic Peninsula. The feature film is scheduled for release in spring 2014. This is an exclusive chance to see excerpts from the finished film and to meet the filmmakers, who have been documenting the Elwha's remarkable journey for four years.

For additional information on the project, including how to support this independently produced film, please visit:  www.elwhafilm.com

Reviews:

"With its stunning photography, in-depth historical background, and deeply-imbued tribal perspective, "Return of the River" is the documentary film that lives up to the grandeur of the Elwha, its renewal, and its promise.”

- Lynda V. Mapes, Seattle Time reporter, author, Elwha, a River Reborn

"Return of the River vividly portrays the epic story of the freeing of Olympic National Park's mighty Elwha River from two salmon-blocking dams.  The Elwha Klallam people, scientists, fishermen, politicians, enviros, and townsfolk all add their voices to a film that is visually dazzling, lyrically evocative, and fluid as mountain snowmelt."

- Tim McNulty, writer

Filmmaker Bios:

John Gussman, Director and Cinematographer

John Gussman was a still photographer specialized in architecture and location work before turning his attention to HD cinematography. Gussman shoots in multiple HD formats; currently the Canon XF300 is his primary camera. He is best known for landscape and time-lapse images. Gussman began documenting the Elwha story consistently in early 2010, after 32 years of hiking, camping, fishing and filming the beautiful Olympic Peninsula. He has long felt a spiritual connection to the Elwha Valley. When dam removal was scheduled, he saw the opportunity to document this once-in-a-lifetime event and decided to focus his creative skills on witnessing the healing of this place and the people who share this land. See www.dcproductions.com for more.

Jessica Plumb, Producer, Writer, Co-Director

Producer and writer Jessica Plumb is a filmmaker focused on the relationship between people and the places they call home. She moved to the Olympic Peninsula a decade ago, after starting her career in Boston and Beijing. Jessica directs a video production company and has produced numerous educational and promotional videos for clients. She has worked on documentary and narrative films screened at festivals in the role of editor, and behind the camera, and has created award-winning short films best described as video poetry. Her video art films have been screened in galleries throughout the United States. Jessica holds a B.A. from Yale University and an interdisciplinary MFA from Goddard College. She also studied documentary film at 911 Media in Seattle and the New School University in New York.

Event Details:

February 27, 2014

Social 5:30 - 6:30

Dinner 6:30 - 7:00

Presentation 7:00 - 8:00

Pyramid Alehouse

1201 First Avenue

South Seattle, WA 98134

206-682-3377

http://www.pyramidbrew.com/alehouses/seattle