Desert or Rainforest

SYNOPSIS

What do you want to become of the Earth? We see how around the world each year more landscapes are impacted by drought and fire, only to be flooded when the rains do come.
That was abundantly clear in the Australian bushfires of 2020. The fires burned 12 million hectares, killing more than 1 billion animals. And when the rains came the landscape flooded. There was no chance for the parched earth to absorb the rapidly draining rain…
But amidst this disaster, in an especially horrific year of heat and fire, there were also examples of places that were cool and moist, that had no problem weathering the fires. One of these places was the Canberra Botanical Gardens, a Rainforest created by Humans in New South Wales, Australia. The rainforest acts as a green lifeboat. Keeping temperatures cool with photosynthesis throughout the year.

CAST & CREW
Producer(s): Zachary E Weiss
Director of Photography: Christopher J Carter
Cast: Walter Jehne

Christopher J Carter
Director

Christopher "C.J." Carter is a Montana-raised filmmaker and professional regional planner known for making difficult shoots, stories, and plans happen. He brings 12 years of experience in documentary filmmaking, land use and integrated water resource planning, strategy development, science communication, and educational design with clients, organizations, and Indigenous communities across Canada, the United States and the world. Logging time with elders, stewards, and leaders working on water, CJ has developed a strong understanding of the pressures facing water and communities -- the power of story, good planning, and the need for a generation of local earth repair professionals dedicated to the future of water. As a dedicated alpine citizen, he is passionate about emboldening headwater's cultures, namely their languages, traditional knowledge, rights and lands. In his free time, he is an avid Alpinist and you can find him tracing skylines and on the land with dear friends.

Apollo M Saldana
Director

Apollo Saldana lives to be in service. Finding ways to be in service to the homeostasis of this planet has led him to obtain skills and experiences in the fields of Permaculture, Natural Building, Ecovillage design, Alternative Governance, and Videography. Apollo was originally a crew member for Elemental Ecosystems. As he continues to sharpen his skillsets, he aims to be a practitioner and teacher of water cycle restoration. Apollo loves to spend his free time training in mixed martial arts. He also believes firmly in the power of community and social equity. So you can find him volunteering and working with urban community gardens, eco non-profits, local homesteads, and community land based projects. All in efforts to develop his social capital, in which he finds to be a priceless resource.