LAST STAND: SAVING THE ELWHA RIVER'S LEGACY FORESTS, 23min., USA
Directed by Dan Herz
When a large, ecologically sensitive legacy forest in the heart of the Elwha River Watershed was identified for harvest, the Earth Law Center, Keystone Species Alliance, and Center for Whale Research began using all legal means possible against the Washington State Department of Natural Resources in an attempt to halt the impending clear-cut. Through breathtaking cinematography and intimate interviews, witness the profound beauty and ecological significance of the watershed, as well as the dire consequences of unchecked deforestation.

Get to know director Dan Herz & Star Elizabeth Dunne

1. What motivated you to make this film?

Dan: I met a woman named, Missy Lahren, at an event in San Francisco and she told me about the legacy forests up in Washington state and how she and the law firm where she worked - Earth Law Center, were trying to prevent the state from auctioning off legacy forests for timber harvest. After she explained about the Elwha River, the undamming, the healing of the watershed, the salmon coming back, etc., and how logging could damage the watershed, after spending hundreds of millions of dollars to remove the dams, I felt that it was a story that needed to be told.

Elizabeth: I want people to understand the imminent risk to our last remaining older legacy forests in the Elwha Watershed and Washington state, and really throughout the Cascadia Bioregion. My hope is that through watching the film people will understand what is happening to our forests and why it is important; that they will take action – including by voting for Dave Upthegrove, who was featured in the film, to be the next WA Public Lands Commissioner; and will feel empowered to bring people together in their own communities to protect the places they love.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you

to make this film?

Dan: About 3 months

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Dan: Powerful and Inspiring

Elizabeth: Heartfelt and Motivating

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

Dan:I went up to Washington in the middle of Winter, when days were very short and the weather was mostly rainy and overcast. It was challenging to get all the filming done in the week that I was there. Thanks to cinematographer John Gussman allowing us to use b-roll from his decades of shooting in and around the Elwha Watershed, we were able to complete the film. Also, the accelerated timeframe in which we wanted to get the film completed was challenging, as I had other productions I was committed to.

Elizabeth: It was on a very expedited schedule. I coordinated all the people to be interviewed in less than a week and did 4 days of filming straight while taking my son to and from preschool – the shoots during the weekday were in between drop off and pickup! I felt a sense of urgency since when we started filming, the "Power Plant" plant timber sale had not been canceled and logging was set to begin any day. So we didn't know if we were potentially going to be filming the start of logging. The timing of filming turned out to be serendipitous as we didn't know that the announcement to cancel the sale would be coming when it did. I had literally just finished filming with Dan and was headed over to the Dave Upthegrove fundraiser when I got a call with the news about the sale being canceled. I was ready for a break over the holidays, but we kept on moving forward with edits to the film as there is still urgency for the rest of the forests!

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking

about your film in the feedback video?

Dan:Very pleased and proud to have been a part of this film

Elizabeth: The feedback made me feel uplifted, supported, motivated, and grateful.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

Dan:I have been working as a visual storyteller for over 30 years, mostly in TV. I have always wanted to make longer films, but never could figure out how to do it AND make a living. I knew from my first days as an intern at a TV station that I wanted to do this type of work.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Dan: Goodfellas

Elizabeth: The Snowman (1982). It's a little under 30 min, with beautiful drawings and music and no words and my son loves it.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other

festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking

career?

Dan: I love the opportunity to be interactive with an audience...answering questions after a viewing and hearing first hand what people thought of my work. It is rare in this business to get direct and immediate feedback, and it is such a valuable thing.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your

experience been working on the festival platform site?

Karie - the FilmFreeway platform provided a seamless application process which made it a breeze from start to finish. I rate it 5 stars.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Dan: Grilled salmon, rice and sauteed veggies

Elizabeth: Any meal with fresh, homegrown veggies

11. What is next for you? A new film?

Dan: No current plans for a next film currently, but we have talked about some other environmental films that I would love to develop and produce.

Elizabeth: I'll continue to work for the forest and would like to do other films that help people reconnect or form a deeper connection with Nature and that counter some of the misrepresentations by the timber industry.