Our documentary on peak oil...your opinion

[Dissenting_Prole]

Let's say I have ten copies of our documentary on peak oil to send out to the media for review. Where, in your opinion, are the best places to send it for the best exposure? Anybody have contact information for their favorite choices?

http://endofsuburbia.com/



Since World War II North Americans have invested much of their newfound wealth in suburbia. It has promised a sense of space, affordability, family life and upward mobility. As the population of suburban sprawl has exploded in the past 50 years, so too the suburban way of life has become embedded in the American consciousness.

Suburbia, and all it promises, has become the American Dream.

But as we enter the 21st century, serious questions are beginning to emerge about the sustainability of this way of life. With brutal honesty and a touch of irony, The End of Suburbia explores the American Way of Life and its prospects as the planet approaches a critical era, as global demand for fossil fuels begins to outstrip supply. World Oil Peak and the inevitable decline of fossil fuels are upon us now, some scientists and policy makers argue in this documentary. The consequences of inaction in the face of this global crisis are enormous. What does Oil Peak mean for North America? As energy prices skyrocket in the coming years, how will the populations of suburbia react to the collapse of their dream? Are today's suburbs destined to become the slums of tomorrow? And what can be done NOW, individually and collectively, to avoid The End of Suburbia ?

[MikeG]

1. The solution will be for us to begin sterilizing the Third World.

[Dissenting_Prole]

2. How about sterilizing those who use the most energy?

n/t

[MikeG]

3. You know their argument: They produce the most so they get the energy

[NMDemDist2]

4. be sure to send one to Amy Goodman at Democracy Now!

if she picks it up, so will all the other "independent" media sources

www.democracynow.org

[RC]

5. How many years of oil were used/destroyed in Iraq

this last year?

[liberalron]

6. Thank you very much for your good work;

and Good Luck getting this to the people who need to see it. The "Mainstream Media" has given no indication that they are willing, even interested in putting this information out to the public, as critical as it is.

[liberalron]

7. Oh, and by the way,

Peak Gasoline will get us first.

[cliss]

8. Nice work, dp.

There actually are some high-exposure places where you could send these. I would send them, with a follow-up phone call and ask if I could be included in some publicity, or in some way have my name connected with this very important information.

Some suggestions:

1) Write an article about this and submit to CounterPunch. They currently have 20 million readers. They may be able to allow you to publicize your book there. At the very least, you will get incredible exposure to a very large readership that's going to be pre-screened favorable to your book.

2) Send a copy to Air America Radio. See if they can arragne a phone interview. They're currently doing that. They interview people all the time, and it's very interesting. I enjoy listening to the interviews. These people often have a website, or a book that they've just written. Really good media coverage.

3) Send a copy to Powell's Books in Portland (my city). Ask if you can be a part of an evening lecture, or a book signing event. That would be a great way to promote this book.

4) Possibly a daily newspaper. See if you can't find one that's slanted in our direction, rather than with the Rat-publicans who don't want this kind of important information out there.

5) Write an article for a magazine, like maybe The Nation. You'll be able to use the book as a source document, and will distill your own ideads.

Good luck!

[Dissenting_Prole]

9. Psssst...It's not a book

It's a documentary. But I imagine that's an easy mistake to make. Everyone seems to have a book out nowadays.

[cliss]

15. oops. My mistake.

I would still contact Air America Radio.

[Taylor Mason Powell]

10. I can't wait to see this!!

As far as media goes, I would suggest the Wall Street Journal since it tends to be read by "big shots."

Congratulations on what looks like a fine and very very important piece of work. (from the three clips on your website).

I'm sure you've already thought about this, but maybe you could try to get in touch with Michael Moore - he did that whole chapter on Peak Oil in "Dude Where's my Country." He might be able to help you find a distributor if you haven't already... This thing should be Coming Soon to a Theater Near Me!

[kaitykaity]

11. Try Greg Palast.

Buzzflash--talk to them about the Orwell documentary
they are sponsoring. Maybe they'll sponsor yours, too.

Others I can think of:

Eric Alterman
Joe Conason
The Nation
The Progressive

[Shredr]

12. Send it to buzzflash.com

If they like it, they'll probably support it.

[JohnyCanuck]

13. How about Eric Margolis at the Toronto Sun

He's very right wing economically but as you probably know very down on Bush and his gang for the Iraq invasion in his Sunday Toronto Sun columns. I seem to remember that he has brought up the issue at least once that this invasion stemmed at least partly from a desire on the part of Bush gang to control Iraq's oil. However, he did not bring the issue of Peak Oil into the equation. It so happens, I just fired off an email to him on Tuesday thanking him for his coverage of the ongoing Iraq fiasco and asking him if he was aware of the Peak Oil issue and recommending some web sites to him along with your End of Suburbia documentary.

Eric's columns frequently get reprinted on many web sites and he writes articles etc. for other publications besides the Sun, so his voice is definitely heard outside of Toronto and Canada.

[TexasBushwhacker]

14. Are you entering it in film festival competitions?

Both the Austin Film Festival and the Telluride Film Festival are accepting entries right now. Both will be having their festivals prior to the election and both have considerable press coverage. Here are links to their sites:

http://www.austinfilmfestival.com/index.php

http://www.telluridefilmfestival.com/

[Dissenting_Prole]

18. oh, mais oui!

We have been selected for the Planet in Focus environmental film festival in Toronto in September, and have entered the Toronto International Film Festival.

Thanks for the links. I'll check 'em out.

[TexasBushwhacker]

21. Some other possibilities

Theaters in Houston that show independent films:

The Angelika Film Center - 713-225-1470

Landmark Theatres - River Oaks Theater 713-524-2175
Landmark Theatres - Greenway Theater 713-626-0402

Museum of Fine Arts - [e-mail] - Marian Luntz was the curator in 1991 & 1992 and as far as I know she's still there.

Rice Cinema - 713-348-3138 - Director is Charles Dove, PhD - [e-mail]

Aurora Picture Show - Info here:
http://www.aurorapictureshow.org/aboutaurorapopup.html


Theaters in Austin that show independent films:

Alamo Draft House Cinema - Downtown Location -
http://www.drafthouse.com/downtown/frames.asp

Landmark Theater - Dobie Theatre - [phone]
Right by University of Texas campus

The bolded sites can screen DVD's. I know that for a fact. The rest of them probably can as well. Give 'em a call. Be sure and let me know if any of them say "YES". Good luck!

[Eloriel]

16. Just 10?

There was at least one fairly mainstream article on Peak Oil within the last week or maybe 2, I think. I'd look for that reporter.

I'll second some other ideas among these:

**** PAUL KRUGMAN*****
David Sirota
Joe Conason
Eric Alterman
Robert Scheer
Arianna Huffington
Lou Dobbs (believe it or not)
Deborah Norville (believe it or not)
(unless these two get so bombarded with "stuff" that they're a bad choice -- I don't know this market at all)
Seymour Hersch
Sidney Blumenthal

Possibly some of the "must read" bloggers -- Atrios, DailyKos, KurtNimmo, etc.

Michael Moore

[liberalron]

17. liberalron

Dissenting_Prole,

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for getting this out, and do not want to discourage you in the least. All of the possibilites listed here by others are wonderful resources, which I depend on heavily for real information about the world we live. You should definitely persue them; from what I have seen, you should be successful with them.
However, this is pretty much preaching to the choir. The people who need to understand this, more than likely do not get their information from these sources. The people who need to be informing the public about this, and other issues of equal importance and urgency (our "leaders", and I use the term loosely), are not even talking about it. As far as the government is concerned, this is nonexistant. Therefore, the people who need to hear it, are not; and to be quite honest, in my experience, most of them don't want to hear it.
So I would suggest that you see if you can find some ways to get it to those people.
A recent and unexpected bright spot is in the newest issue (June 14, 2004) of Time magazine, the one with Reagan on the front. The "10 Questions For" section in this issue is with T. Boone Pickens, legendary Texas Oilman Supreme.

Anyway, Thanks again; and "don't let go".

[Peak_Oil]

19. June 21-23 in LA there are three screenings

of this documentary. If you live in LA, check out the Mark Taper Auditorium's schedule. I know of a church that's going to be screening it. I'll probably go to one or two, and will bring a friend or two to each one.

If you were involved in the documentary, thanks.

[Hammie]

20. How about George Noory

The Coast to Coast radio show host.