Special Previews: COAL COUNTRY
sbroach September 23rd, 2009
A film by Mari-Lynn Evans and Phylis Geller
http://www.coalcountrythemovie.com
Coal Country, the new film from Evening Star Productions (Appalachia) tells the story of the dramatic struggle happening in central Appalachia communities around mountain-top removal coal-mining. In these communities, miners and residents are locked in conflict: is mining and processing coal essential to providing good jobs, or is it destroying the land, water and air?
Passions are running high in the mountains of Appalachia. Families and communities are deeply split over what is being done to their land. At issue is the latest form of strip mining called ‘mountaintop removal’, or MTR. Coal companies blast the tops off mountains, and dump the debris, or ‘overburden’ into valleys and streams. They then mine the exposed seams of coal and transport it to processing plants. Coal is mined more cheaply than ever with less manpower needed while an ancient mountain range is disappearing forever.
Previews of the film, which will air nationally in November, will be shown throughout the Appalachian region, including all across Virginia and East TN. Singer and songwriter Diana Jones (www.dianajonesmusic.com), is featured on the upcoming “Coal Country” soundtrack. Most of these are free events for the public, with a suggested $10 contribution to the Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards and Virginia Sierra Club’s mountain-top removal advocacy campaigns. At some events, signed, limited-edition prints of Virginian artist Wes Freed’s “Coal Country” painting will also be available for purchase.
Coal is very far from the minds of most Americans, and this film will make you consider where the energy comes from to run the machinery of our daily lives.
The movie was made to offer views from both sides of the issue to foster better ways to communicate and take a look at coal miners with compassion and respect.
Many premiere events across Virginia will include a special appearance by Wise County resident Kathy Selvage whose story is featured in the film. Ms. Selvage’s father was a coal miner and a decades-long member of the UMWA. But when MTR began to tear her community apart, she could not remain silent. Listen first-hand to this coalminer’s daughter describe why she became a grass-roots organizer for the sake of her community’s future with deep respect for its past.
SCHEDULE of SHOWINGS IN VA and EAST TN:
- September 10th Blacksburg, VA The Lyric Theatre–event start time: 7 pm
- September 26th Richmond, VA The Byrd Theatre–event start time 3pm Matinee
- September 29th Johnson City, TN Ball Hall Auditorium—event start time: 7 pm
- October 8th Big Stone Gap, VA Mtn. Empire Community College 6:30 pm
- October 14th Norfolk, VA Naro Theatre—event start time: 7 pm
- October 15th Surry County, VA Garden on the Rolfe (tentative)
- October 16th Burke, VA Burke VA Accotink Univeralist Church
- October 21st Arlington, VA Universalist Unitarian Church of Arlington
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Hi. I just wanted you to know that I saw the film “Coal Country” on the channel “Planet Green” out here in San Jose, CA, so word is spreading all the way to the left coast. I moved to CA in 2005 but grew up in the Piedmont of NC and lived in the New River Valley of VA for six years. I have family in Mingo and Wayne counties WV. I have always considered Appalachia my home but was unaware of this devastation until watching the film. Sad thing is, I have driven past these sites when going to visit my family in Williamson, WV without realizing what they were or the expanse of the damage. Well, now I know, thanks to this film, and am spreading the word. Keep up the good work! We must save our mountains!