Film: Wild Versus WallSponsor: Sierra Club
Produced by: Steev Hise
Executive Producer: Sean Sullivan
Run Time: 20:15 Min
Release Date: 2008
Background*: The Grand Canyon Chapter of the Sierra Club presents a documentary, “Wild Versus Wall,” about the environmental effects of the current border policy, This film covers the ecological effects of enforcement and infrastructure in the four states that share boundaries with Mexico.
Tucson-based filmmaker Steev Hise has been working on the film since January, 2007. He traveled to Texas and California during the spring to interview land managers, scientists, and activists who are working to limit the ecological impacts of border wall construction.
“I have been covering border issues in southern Arizona for a while,” said Hise. “One of the great things about this project was traveling to other places along the border and to see how people concerned about the recent border militarization have the same outlook as people do here. They are also trying to stop the Department of Homeland Security from running roughshod over natural resources and constitutional rights.”
_
Hise also gathered footage from a diverse array of sources, including some of the Border Patrol’s own employment videos, which show agents blazing along on off-road vehicles. Numerous photographer from [local] Arizona photographers, wildlife researchers and independent observers and filmmakers, have contributed images of the rich ecosystems and species that are impacted by border infrastructure projects. In addition. local biologists lent their eyes and ears
to the factual background of the habitats at stake.
_
* Source: Sierra Club website (edited for this blog).
_
"In my opinion, this is a film about our country's insolent approach to solving human problems, thus suggesting a nation in decline. Clearly, the wall is a counter-intuitive symbol of American ideals. And our government's abject failure in protecting wildlife, the environment and the quality of life on both side of the border. The border wall is unacceptable."
- Bart Santello, Organizer - Arivaca Independent Filmmakers Exhibition
