Whether you’ve already pledged to The Great Divide Kickstarter Campaign or not, thank you for your support. We appreciate our community of friends and colleagues more than you know. We have just over $15,000 left to raise in 2 weeks. Let’s do this!
We’ve received some wonderful attention from Westword and Colorado and Company, among others, regarding our film and the Kickstarter campaign. There has also been a lot of engagement from our community on Facebook. Dan Church posted this in response to his Kickstarter donation:
Don’t miss this opportunity to become part of The Great Divide film community, get some great swag and tell your friends that you’re making a movie. Be sure to check out all the great rewards (like raft trips and art prints!). Share this email with your family and friends to spread the word about The Great Divide. Even better, show your support financially by backing the film on Kickstarter! We truly appreciate all your support and every dollar donated to make this film a reality. 
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Spirits are high at Havey Productions. Filming is well under way for The Great Divide (view the film teaser here) and the scripting process is in full swing to produce this important educational film illustrating the history and significance of water in Colorado and the West. 9News, KUSA Denver, has joined the project as its Media Sponsor. What does that mean? It means that 9News will be our partners in getting the word out by broadcasting special news stories on the film production along with the full film in Summer 2015. Stay tuned!
As fundraising for The Great Divide closes, there will be a chance for water-drinkers around the state to get involved in this keystone project. We’ll be launching a Kickstarter campaign in early September to meet our matching grant challenges and complete our funding for the film. Backers of the project will be enticed with exclusive benefits for contributing – donated by some of the film sponsors. Interested in learning how to fly-fish, rafting roaring rivers, touring water facilities, exploring winter wonderlands via snowcat, or receiving your own DVD of the film? Be sure to keep your eye out for our campaign.Production PhotosThe production crew has been zig-zagging the state of Colorado and had to share some pictures from location. Needless to say, we love our jobs.
Ranchers must “move water” several times daily to take advantage of the short hay growing season on the Elk River near Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Photo © Havey Productions
The mighty Rio Grande snakes southward from the snow-crested peaks of the Sangres de Christo Mountains on its nearly 2000-mile journey to the Gulf of Mexico. Photo © Havey Productions
Traditional farmers in Conejos County flood their fields with water from acequias—community-operated ditches with origins that reach back to Moorish Spain.
Photo © Havey Productions
Fishing, rafting, and kayaking make the Upper Arkansas River one of the most heavily utilized recreational rivers in the world. Photo © Havey Productions
Documentary on Colorado water history closes in on funding goal
Havey Productions announced April 24 that funding is nearing completion and production has started on The Great Divide, a feature length documentary that will explore the historic influence of water in both connecting and dividing an arid state and region. Many of Colorado’s top corporations and non-profit organizations have jumped on board.
View Film Trailer Here: http://vimeo.com/haveypro/thegreatdivide
Due to premiere in the Spring of 2015, The Great Divide is being produced by the Emmy award-winning team at Havey Productions, in association with Colorado Humanities. Film production will cover every corner of Colorado and all of its major river basins.
“The destiny of the west is written in the headwaters of Colorado,” filmmaker Jim Havey said. “We are shooting this film to raise public understanding and appreciation of Colorado’s water heritage and hope to inspire a more informed public discussion concerning the vital challenges confronting our state and region with increasing urgency.”
From Ancestral Puebloan cultures and the gold rush origins of Colorado water law to agriculture, dams, diversions and conservation; the film will reveal today’s critical need to cross “the great divide,” replacing conflict with cooperation. An advisory council comprised of a diverse statewide group of water experts is helping to ensure an accurate portrayal of Colorado’s water heritage. “This film offers a very promising way to restore or create an appropriate sense of wonder over the arrangements that support human settlement in this state,” said Patty Limerick, Faculty Director at the Center of the American West.
“Water is precious and very few people really understand where it comes from. Appreciating its importance, the limitations on water quantity and the significance of water quality are all critical areas for the citizenry of Colorado to really understand.” stated former Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar.
A diverse group of sponsors throughout Colorado are contributing to the production, including American Rivers, Linda Boden, City of Greeley, Colorado Office of Film Television & Media, Colorado Parks & Wildlife, Colorado River District, Colorado Water Conservation Board, Colorado Water Resources & Power Development Authority, Denver Water, Eagle River Water & Sanitation District, Upper Eagle Regional Water Authority, Gates Family Foundation, Hydro Resources, Lower South Platte Water Conservancy District, Molson Coors, Northern Water, Northwest Colorado Council of Governments, Poudre Heritage Alliance, Rio Grande Water Conservation District, San Luis Valley Water Conservancy District, Sangre de Christo National Heritage Area, Southwestern Water Conservation District, Tri-County Water Conservancy District, Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District, Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District and the Water Information Program.
“This film will be really helpful to us as we continue to reach out beyond the circle of water insiders to educate and engage the public,” says Amy Beattie, Executive Director of the Colorado Water Trust.
Havey Productions produces emotionally rich and uniquely powerful films that inspire audiences to act. The Emmy Award-winning team has produced many films on the people, places and stories of Colorado and the American West including Centennial Statehouse: Colorado’s Greatest Treasure, Union Station: Portal to Progress and Molly Brown: Biography of a Changing Nation.
For more information visit www.haveypro.com and www.thegreatdividefilm.com.
See the online edition here: http://yourhub.denverpost.com/blog/2014/04/documentary-on-colorado-water-history-closes-in-on-funding-goal/
As a year of preproduction and fundraising nears completion, Team HaveyPro is starting production on The Great Divide, a feature length documentary exploring the historic influence of water in both connecting and dividing an arid state and region.
We’ve achieved some major milestones in the past several months:
- Convened a 27 member Advisory Council, Chaired by Nicole Seltzer, Executive Director of the Colorado Foundation for Water Education.
- Reviewed the film treatment, looking at content and resources critical to the film’s goal of providing a comprehensive and unbiased look at the past, present and future of water issues in Colorado and the West.
- Scheduled a first round of film interviews with a wide range of voices.
With ongoing support from the Advisory Council throughout the production process, The Great Divide film will raise public understanding and appreciation of Colorado’s water heritage and inspire a more informed public discussion concerning the vital challenges confronting our state and region.
Selected shots from the first Advisory Council meeting
A diverse group of sponsors throughout Colorado are contributing to the production, including:
Havey Productions produces emotionally rich and uniquely powerful films that inspire audiences to act. To learn more about this film and sponsorship opportunities, contact Blair Miller, blair@haveypro.com.
We’re rolling on production and happy to be getting some attention. Check it out!
The destiny of the West is written in the headwaters of Colorado.
Tens of millions of people, billions of dollars of agricultural production, and an enormous amount of economic activity across a vast swath of America from California to the Mississippi River are all dependent on rivers born in the mountains of Colorado. In a time of mounting demand and limited supply, the need for all citizens to better understand and participate in decisions affecting this critical resource is paramount.
Havey Productions, in association with Colorado Humanities, is excited to announce The Great Divide, a feature length documentary film, about the timeless influence of water in both connecting and dividing an arid state and region. From Ancient Puebloan cultures and the gold rush origins of Colorado water law to agriculture, dams, diversions and conservation; the film will reveal today’s critical need to cross “the great divide,” replacing conflict with cooperation.
The Great Divide will raise public understanding and appreciation of Colorado’s water heritage while inspiring personal responsibility and informed discussion concerning the critical challenge confronting the state and region with increasing urgency — forging collaborative solutions for managing this most precious resource for a prosperous and sustainable future.
With burgeoning support and enthusiasm, we are excited to begin production on this visually stunning and emotionally rich film that will educate and motivate Colorado and the nation to view western water issues through a historic lens. For more information please email Alysha@haveypro.com. Follow our progress on Facebook… and stay tuned for a look at the film trailer in the coming weeks.
Havey Productions — Creative Films to Inform & Inspire
www.haveypro.com
303-296-7448