Further Focus on Film: Projecting the Coastal Media Project

The Carsey-Wolf Center’s nine-week intensive environmental media production and documentary studies program involves students from a wide range of backgrounds collaborating to produce short films that tell vital and timely stories about the coastal environment. This year’s quartet of shorts include the very up-to-date Stranded, which dives into the phenomenon that resulted in more than 1,000 reports of sick or dead sea lions and dolphins washing up on shorelines from Santa Barbara all the way down to San Diego earlier this summer due to domoic acid, a neurotoxin released during harmful algal blooms. The film explores the concurrent rehabilitation efforts and urges viewers to become an advocate for marine mammal conservation in our community. 

Also screening: 841, which refers to Sea Otter #841, the frisky critter who has been catching waves and biting surfboards for months, capturing the attention of citizens, scientists, and journalists around the world for her ability to evade capture. Sand Symphony explores an overlooked part of the coast through sand connoisseur Tim Rudnick and sand sculptor Tony Cheatom as they highlight the importance of sand for themselves, others, and the environment. The Salt on Our Skin examines the shorefront environment from an equal access perspective, noting how over the years the rich coastal environment has fostered diversity of people and nature, but local barriers have deterred or prevented the gathering of many groups in Southern California. 

The 2023 Coastal Media Project shorts premiere 7-9 pm on Friday, August 25, at the Pollock Theater on the UCSB campus. Admission is free but reservations are recommended. Visit www.carseywolf.ucsb.edu.