1/2 hour Documentary on the Environment of the

British Virgin Islands

The British Virgin Islands is still considered one of the most beautiful places in the world, but as you are aware the BVI now faces a critical time in its history. There are immediate plans for large-scale developments that if completed will forever change the character and the environment of the country.  The beauty and relatively pristine physical surroundings of the BVI will be adversely impacted unless we choose to get involved and lend our support to the British Virgin Islanders who are working hard to preserve the unique character of this place.  

What can we do?  We recently met with the BVI Department of Conservation and Fisheries, one of the government ministries at the forefront of making sure that future development is done without damaging the environment.  The consensus was that there is an urgent need to communicate to BVI residents that the very resources that make this country so beautiful and appealing to visitors around the world, are now in potential peril. It is possible to have responsible development without destroying the inherent natural beauty that makes these islands so attractive in the first place.

We discussed producing a half hour film to be broadcast in the BVI and accompanied with discussions in the local media that would highlight the beautiful and delicate nature of the country. The film would focus on the people and places that make the BVI unique and that will continue to lure visitors from around the world, if they are preserved and strengthened.  We will discuss the success stories, like building an airport while managing to protect the surrounding environment and point out successful ventures in the BVI and elsewhere in the Caribbean, such as Guana Island Resort, that draw high spending and low impact visitors to a pristine setting.

To produce a half hour film over the next few months will take organization, a lot of volunteer effort and probably cost about twelve thousand dollars to complete (see below for preliminary budget).  We need your help and donations to make this happen in a timely manner. In the course of producing the film we will gather information and interviews that will have value beyond the film itself, becoming part of a growing database available online to everyone who loves the BVI.

The film will be produced and shot by Ben Knight and Travis Rummel, the founding partners of Felt Sole Media.  Both Travis and Ben continue to enjoy critical acclaim for their 2005 film, The Hatch a fly-fishing/conservation documentary focusing on fishing the stone fly hatch in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison River and the conservation threats facing this unique eco-system.  The Hatch premiered at the Telluride Mountain Film Festival last Memorial Day and it is now touring with the Best of Telluride Mountain Film tour throughout the United States and Internationally.  The film has also shown at The Vail Symposium, the NYC Gotham Shorts Festival (winner Best Documentary), and the Banff Mountain Film Festival.  The Hatch will also be part of the Banff World Tour Including a feature In the annual Banff World Tour magazine. 

Summary prepared January 19, 2006