Promised Land is no exaggeration! In fact it’s just the beginning.
I’m thrilled that Hollywood and celebrities have arrived on the fracking scene to shine a light on fracking. The movie merely scratches the surface—just barely—of the predatory mafia-esque tactics used by the fracking industry.
They could make a whole new movie if they chose to include the full range of tactics that fracking companies employ, like threats, intimidation and military PSYOPS in our neighborhoods.
How do I know? The frackers told me themselves.
Read all about it on EarthBlog.
PROMISED LAND opens in theaters nationwide this Friday, January 4. Check local theaters for locations and times. Please spread the word and urge people to come to theaters this opening weekend. As many of you know, the gas industry and their allies have attacked the film. Here are some links that you can share:
Gas industry plans to attack the film:
Filmmakers / New York Times Talk
For group sales information, e-mail PromisedLandGroupSales@focusfeatures.com or call 866-690-1092
About Sharon Wilson
Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.
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You know I have always found those that protest the loudest about their innocence are usually the one with the most to hide.
The only ones who will believe the industry’s propoganda are type of people who watch Fox News and those type of people will only sit in their home and complain about the “tree hugger”. They won’t make a difference in this world so keep up the good work and keep fighting the good fight. Industry may not be on the ropes yet but people are starting to fight back and I think they know this type of movie will cause people question their motives and practices. Industry cannot defend their practices or motives or they would not keep throwing out the same old crap about job creation and energy independence.
so you’re going to politicize people’s criticism of the movie. I haven’t seen it but I see it was backed by Media Abu Dhabi, owned by the government of the United Arab Emirates. UAE is a member of OPEC – who has a direct financial interest in stirring up local opposition to fracking.
Can you blame people for connecting the dots? I’ve seen folks here criticize the TRRC solely based on alleged ties to OPEC. Double standard?
Comments please…on the OPEC connection. I’m interested to know if people think it’s an issue.
Thanks for your comment BDerreberry.
I don’t understand how my post has politicized anything. I think you are the one who has politicized it.
Below is my answer to your questions (perhaps my readers will also weight in).
The UAE is a member of Participant Media an American film- and television-production company. This company finances and produces socially relevant films and documentaries “regardless of genre or subject matter.”
I have a couple of questions for you.
1. Who are you? Your comment came from the U.s. House Of Representatives. I find it interesting that someone in your position is complaining about politicizing something by using a Heritage Foundation talking point.
2. Since you are either in a decision making position or working for someone who is, I would like to hear your thoughts on the following:
* How industry uses aggressive intimidation tactics and psyops against American citizens.
* How industry has covered up their trail of pollution for decades with non-disclosure agreements. I think access to the science hidden away in those NDAs would be valuable to the public and decision makers.
* The reports of health and environmental impacts are widespread and growing. There are peer-reviewed studies connecting health impacts and environmental impacts to fracking. Please comment on how you or your boss plan to protect public health and the environment. What legislation will you or your boss be sponsoring?
* How do you plan to address the failure of states to regulate fracking? Please see the report: Breaking All the Rules.
* The oil & gas industry has broad exemptions from our federal environmental laws allowing them to operate in ways that are illegal for other industries. This gives them a huge advantage over other industries. Will you level the playing field so all industry is required to play by the same rules and let the market decide?
Thank you for the conversation starter.
Link(s) please. All references will be considered to the fullest extent of their validity. Thank you!
The financers of this movie are just looking to make money. Not policy.
PROMISED LAND is one of the 9 films to date co-financed by the Participant Media-ImageNation film financing fund (to which the UAE is the biggest contributor).
The fund was established in January 2009. The other movies are THE CRAZIES, FURRY VENGEANCE, FAIR GAME, THE BEAVER, THE HELP, CONTAGION, BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL and SNITCH.
Kinda hard to find an agenda there….
WALL ST. JOURNAL STORY ON ENERGY INDUSTRY’S CAMPAIGN AGAINST PROMISED LAND
Posted on Monday, October 8, 2012
Matt Damon Fracking Film Lights Up Petroleum Lobby
By DANIEL GILBERT
Wall St. Journal
October 8, 2012
The premiere of a Hollywood film featuring hydraulic fracturing is months away, but the energy industry already is preparing for battle.
“Promised Land” stars Matt Damon as a gas-company salesman trying to lease natural-gas drilling rights in rural Pennsylvania, where fracking has become a widespread, though sometimes controversial, technique to release natural gas from shale deposits.
Worried that the movie will portray fracking in a negative light, the industry is working up responses that it says could include bombarding film reviewers with scientific studies, distributing leaflets to moviegoers and mounting a “truth-squad” effort on Twitter and Facebook.
“We have to address the concerns that are laid out in these types of films,” said Jeff Eshelman, a spokesman for Independent Petroleum Association of America, which represents energy producers.
The film’s producers say they don’t have a position on fracking and note that the movie is not set to open until Dec. 28.
“We’ve been surprised at the emergence of what looks like a concerted campaign targeting the film even before anyone’s seen it,” said James Schamus, chief executive of Focus Features, a unit of Comcast Corp.’s CMCSA +0.11% NBC Universal that produced and will distribute “Promised Land” in collaboration with Participant Media LLC. The film was written by Mr. Damon and actor John Krasinski and directed by Gus Van Sant.
Image Nation, which is partially funded by the Abu Dhabi government, provided financing to the film through a deal covering several Participant movies. Image Nation said it invests in Participant films “regardless of genre or subject matter.”
Participant specializes in films about public issues, such as Al Gore’s climate documentary “An Inconvenient Truth,” and creates “social action” campaigns for its films. The campaigns suggest ways to get involved in issues, from tips to conserve energy to ways to help military veterans. The website of the studio’s digital division hosts dozens of postings related to fracking, most of them opposing the practice.
“Fracking is the catalyst for a bigger story about the complex challenges confronting small towns across America today,” Participant Chief Executive Jim Berk said in a prepared statement. The film is meant to “raise awareness of the importance of transparency and regulations for public health and safety,” he said.
http://www.participantmedia.com/2012/10/wall-st-journal-story-energy-industrys-campaign-promised-land/
It is really beyond belief to suppose that backing of a movie, which in fact presents some important, and true, and useful issues about how the “land acquisition” aspect of the O&G industry really does operate could somehow throw nasty and inappropriate sand in the gears of the world or national energy industry.
It is about as likely as asserting that “little green men or women” quietly sneak into the offices of the staffers of the U.S. House of Representatives late at night and change critical language in complex legislation to favor special interests.
Stanley R Scobie, Ph.D.
Senior Fellow, PSE Healthy Energy
Thanks Sharon! I am just a regular citizen visiting my family and posting from my mobile from the House of Representatives free public wifii.
I’m not sure I know enough about the inner workings of the oil and gas industry, so I will reserve judgement on part 2.
I find it interesting that you accept the UAE’s mission statement so readily. Do you understand why some believe you are applying a double
standard? (I’m not trying to engage your personal views on the oil and gas industry)
Stan and Sharon: there are people who regularly question films and reports solely based on its financier. It’s not beyond belief. It’s impossible to make truly objective observations and interpretations without bias. Through the scientific community (and Sharon’s blog) we can cut through some of that bias by scrutinizing work and balancing individual’s leanings.
Let’s all take off the blinders.1) Do you think The UAE’s backing presents a potential conflict of interest? 2) if yes, do you think it impacted the content? If no, why do you think UAE was involved in financing this particular movie.
Sorry, that’s a good story but it’s not how the internet works.
As a person who lived in the fracking zone for 16 years and later became an organizer helping communities and individuals who are affected, the only complaint I have about the movie is that it took a softball approach to reality. As I stated in my blog post, they just barely scratched the surface.
If the UAE funding intended to impact the content and make industry look bad, they missed the mark by miles.
See Alan’s comment.
There is none so blind as those who will not see.
I am asking questions- I’ve made no assertions. Judging from your quote you at least acknowledge the peril of non-objective science and sensationalism. It cuts both ways. Open your eyes and maybe you’ll be able to formulate a compelling argument.
Can’t you see your guilty of the very same tactics you allege the oil lobby of employing?
For ex:
1) you’re unconditional and unquestioned loyalty to anything perceived to help your cause
2) you’re insistence on identifying me personally so that you may discredit my statements. If you are insinuating I’m biased, how would that be different than OPEC money funding this movie?
3) you’re refusal or innability to acknowledge both sides of an argument or story.
“Hypocrisy is the compliment vice pays to virtue”
You have asserted quite a few things here so drop the pretense at innocence.
I did not identify you personally. Could. Didn’t.
It’s interesting that you are only addressing me and not the other commentors. It’s flattering. I’m almost blushing.
Compel this http://www.texassharon.com/psyops/
” I’ve made no assertions. Judging from your quote you at least acknowledge the peril of non-objective science and sensationalism. It cuts both ways. Open your eyes and maybe you’ll be able to formulate a compelling argument.”
That’s some funny shit.
I love it when people tell other people what to do;
“open your eyes”
Always good for a laugh. Seriously.
Heart Tx Sharon!
They’re so funny when they pretend to be regular people.
I have not seen the movie yet but maybe those that have seen it can answer a few questions.
Do the gasholes make threats of violence?
Do the gasholes make threats of lost business if you don’t support them?
Do the gasholes tap phone lines and hack email accounts?
Do the gasholes follow people and run people off the road?
Do the gasholes send moles to infiltrate neighborhood meetings?
Do the gasholes use extreme ways to shut people up?
An answer of no to any of the above warrants a Promised Land sequel.
To American Joe above: How true it is. I have personally experienced ALL of the situations listed above. The GasHoles are just GasHoles–not good people. They use the SYSTEM to get their way whenever they want to do something.
Just someone living in the Barnett Shale since drilling started in Decatur Texas.
I have no agenda, I have a life, and I have better things to do with my life than try and disscredit the natural gas industry. That all changed 5 years ago whent they started drilling on our rural property. It was one of the worst experiences I have ever been thru. We received all the threats as stated above when we ran the landman off of our property with a shotgun. He promptly returned with the sheriff who told us we had no rights in the matter. Move to town to get away from the unregulated drilling and they drilled a gas well in the middle of town 300 ft from city park, hospital, nursing home, and residential homes. I am now dedicated to stopping this horrible destruction of property and quality of life in the name of “job creation and energy independence”. I was pushed into these actions by the calous disregard for anyone who dares to question the tactics of the natural gas industry.
You MR. or MRS. or MS. DBerry need to do you homework and try living in the world of the people whose lives are disrupted or destroyed by the natural gas industry. So what if Promise Land has an agenda. If you don’t like it don’t go see it. The last time I checked it was a free country and freedom of speech is still a protected right.
I doubt we will hear back from DBerry since most government offices close at 5:00, will probably sign back on and starting commenting again in the morning when the government office opens back up.
House of Representative! damn Sharon you are pissing off people in high places or in my personal opinion LOW places.
Not a government office it’s free public wifi and I have not offered an opinion on the dang movie!!!
Simply asking if you think OPEC cash creates bias. Your reply and attack tells me everything I need to know. You employ the same ruthless tactics you criticize. Hypocrites. Nuff said.
You sure are spending a lot of time on that < cough-cough > free wifi and a lot of time hinting about a conflict in a movie you haven’t even seen (or so you say),
Sharon, I have a question for you in response to Bderreberry: Do you care? I can see a potential ‘conflict’ if a particular group is funding a movie, project, etc that is helping to push their agenda. But in a case like this, this is like saying that because my 401K is invested in Energy Companies, then I’m helping to push the Energy Industry agenda.
It’s that ridiculous but it’s all they have.
1 unintended aspect of the gas industry attacking the promised land is creating interest even people that have never heard of it will want to see for themselves what all the hubbub is about.
Gas land was also attacked by the gas industry which helped its popularity and contributed to the reason why it was nominated for an Academy Award.
People love to support an underdog!
I think it is an obvious and pretty apathetic attempt to tie the movie to something which many Americans think is Unpatrotic and anti America to get people so mad they will not go and see the movie. This is the same crap the GOP used during the last election. How did that workout for you? Next you will say the movie causes women to have spontaneous abortions. Chesapeake sold 1/3 of their mineral interest in the Eagle Ford Shale. Does this mean they support Communism?
Unsure about who is fracking who over. From what I read, the Natural Gas industry guilty of wrapping all this up as Energy Independence for the US, whilst at the same time, looking to export LNG. Recent USGS well reports cast doubt on sustainability of Shale Gas, with well decline rates suggesting a lot less gas is recoverable than previously thought.
Caution: May contain sarcasm, humor and things to think about
THANK-YOU Marcellus Shale Coalition
http://blog.shaleshockmedia.org/2013/01/04/thank-you-marcellus-shale-coalition/
So, we should make a short commercial to show before the movie. That’s quite affordable.
Fracker’s Tin Foil Hat too Tight
http://blog.shaleshockmedia.org/2012/09/28/frackers-tin-foil-hat-too-tight/
Image Nation is also involved with Deepwater Horizon’s Final Hour, a movie about the 2010 oil rig disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. Gee, that sounds like a good PR movie for the oil producers to me.
Might as well claim Image Nation’s involvement in the movie “The Help” is the UAE’s attempt to undermine hiring housekeepers or to avoid eating chocolate pies.
Meanwhile – Saudi Arabia is investing $109 Billion Into Solar Energy, Wants 1/3 Of Electricity From Solar By 2032. http://cleantechnica.com/2012/11/25/saudi-arabia-investing-109-billion-into-solar-energy-wants-13-of-electricity-from-solar-by-2032/
UAE, Kuwit and Oman are also boosting use of SOLAR. A recently published research report “GCC Renewable Energy Sector Analysis” by KuicK Research has suggested that solar energy will dominate the upcoming renewable energy development in the GCC region.
The GCC region is largest producer of oil and gas in the world but because of increasing pressure on the natural fossil fuel resources due to the growing population and economy, it has started focusing on diversifying its power generation sources and will be including renewable sources of energy in their energy basket. Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait and Oman have all targeted 10% of power production from renewable sources of energy by 2020 and are rapidly moving towards realizing their targets.
http://www.evwind.es/2012/08/08/saudi-arabia-uae-kuwait-and-oman-to-focus-on-concentrated-solar-power-to-diversify-its-energy-mix/21228/
Why? So they will use less oil/gas and have more to EXPORT to idiot nations which do not have the foresight or political will to create a power infrastructure that is not dependent on fossile fuels.
I forgot about that Tin Foil Hat post. I love that post and the kitty picture.
Thanks for the additional information. Excellent.
stop by in voice your opinion about the promised land
http://www.facebook.com/PromisedLandmovie