Reclaiming a River through Film

I was 15 when I fell in love with the Stanislaus River and joined the campaign to save it. After three years of hope, I watched along with thousands of other activists as the river was slowly suffocated under the polluted water of an absurd reservoir.

Now, forty years later, I’ve rediscovered that hope. I need your help to share this story and revive the river through this narrative feature film.

Please donate today to help keep the project on schedule.

MORE ABOUT THE FILM

Reclaiming Estanislao tells the true story of the campaign to save the Stanislaus River from inundation behind the New Melones Dam, near Yosemite, in the 1970s, tapping fiction to show that it is never too late to right a terrible wrong.

In 1979, at age 15, I joined the campaign to save the river, first by organizing a wildlife rescue for animals stranded as the reservoir rose, then fighting alongside thousands of activists who persevered against the inertia of the big-dam-building era. The campaign shaped me into the activist I am today.

I now work internationally with leaders of bicycle, community, and environmental organizations, but I have never forgotten the Stanislaus River.

In March 2019, as I discussed the fiftieth anniversary of the launch of the Stanislaus campaign with my dear friend Mark Dubois, we both agreed its story must be told. I offered to write a book, as I’ve written several, but Mark insisted this story must be told with pictures. So, I promised him I’d tell our story through film.

Here’s the brief story summary I wrote that summer, which has guided my writing and the film’s development ever since:

Seven river activists, devastated forty years earlier by the drowning of the Stanislaus River behind a boondoggle dam, must rekindle their trust in each other for one last chance to revive the river, and their broken hearts.

As I reconnected with the seven activists I chose to be my main characters, including Mark, each presented vivid story pieces from their own experiences. As I wrote, their distinct personalities became traits of all the activists I’ve ever worked with, including myself. This is their story and that of many others who fell deeply in love with this magnificent place. I am honored to have this opportunity to tell it.

As Executive Producer, I will ensure this story is told exquisitely so that anyone who views it will know that they can save a special place as long as they never give up. I want Reclaiming Estanislao to reawaken an expectation to cherish and protect our planet. I want this film to resonate with anyone who has loved and fought to save a person or place threatened by a destructive disregard for life. This is an opportune time as our society shifts back to caring for each other and our planet, as dam-removal projects replace the spent stampede to build them.

CURRENT STAGE OF THE FILM

Please visit the News page on the film's website for the most up-to-date news.

~ Film production depends on raising the funds needed. ~

Please donate now. Your donation will ensure this film is the best it can be. The Stanislaus deserves nothing less.

DONATION DETAILS

Donations through this GoFundMe go directly to Reclaiming Estanislao, LLC to cover early film expenses. I am the sole member of this LLC managing the film’s funds. Donations to the LLC are not tax-deductible.

If you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to the film, you can donate through our nonprofit fiscal sponsor, The Film Collaborative. They will then transfer the funds to Reclaiming Estanislao, LLC after taking a reasonable administration fee. Find details on the film’s website linked below.

For corporate sponsors, I have posted several levels on the film’s website, with a variety of benefits.

If you would like to discuss sponsorship or a significant contribution, please contact me at sue{at}onestreet.org.

I am donating my time to write and develop the film. Proceeds from the film will support the restoration of the Stanislaus River, specifically to reduce the dam and restore the 13 miles of river it harmed. In other words, to make the film come true.

Thank you for joining me in supporting this endeavor. Please also forward this page to others who can help.

- Sue Knaup, Executive Producer and Screenwriter of Reclaiming Estanislao

Read more on the film’s website: www.ReclaimingEstanislaotheFilm.com