Contact Information: For further information contact: David Huff (828) 712-6712 1315 East Blvd., Ste. 203 Charlotte, NC 28203 Media and distribution inquires only:
Can One Man Save the Vanishing Hemlock?
In Groundbreaking Documentary, Back 40 Films Joins Leading Arborist Will Blozan in a Race Against Time to Save Last Ancient Hemlock Forest in Southeastern United States
| Source: Back 40 Films
CHARLOTTE, NC--(Marketwire - December 12, 2007) - In the southeastern United States stands one
of the most spectacular sites in the world, the ancient hemlock forests.
These magnificent old growth trees, towering at times over 170 feet and
living as long as 600 years, provide some of the most diverse eco-system
habitats in the southeast. Yet, deep in the heart of their pristine
tranquility a terror is mounting that, left unchecked, will destroy what
small clasp of ancient ecological history remains in this country.
The soaring and majestic native eastern and Carolina hemlocks have been
infested by a human-introduced insect pest, the hemlock woolly adelgid
(HWA). Few of the remaining ancient hemlock forests are free of this
devastating infestation, and without financial and human resources
allocated to save them, this precious slice of ecological history will be
destroyed forever.
Filmmaker David Huff is raising the alarm through an inspiring and
challenging feature documentary, "The Vanishing Hemlock: A Race Against
Time." In the film, Huff will follow arborist and champion tree finder Will
Blozan (recently featured in The New Yorker in an article on the plight of
the hemlock) deep into the hemlock forests of the southern Appalachian
Mountains. There he will document the devastating impact the loss of these
ancient trees is having on the rich diversity of southern wild
forests. Shot on location in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this
film will reveal the devastating loss, which has already occurred, and
challenge audiences to take up the cause to protect what remains.
"The Vanishing Hemlock: A Race Against Time" has been heartily endorsed by
the Southern Documentary Fund and has been awarded a tax-deductible status
so that much needed funds may be raised, hopefully, in time to bring
awareness to this rapidly progressing biological crisis. "This is part of
our legacy," said Huff. "We must do all that we can to save these forests,
for the rich diversity of life within them, for ourselves and for our
children."
"The Vanishing Hemlock" is a production of Back 40 Films in association
with Musk Entertainment.
Back 40 Films is an independent film production company based in Charlotte,
NC. Rooted in the American South, the company draws on its cultural and
geographical surroundings for inspiration. Working with both regional and
Hollywood based casts and crews, Back 40 Films pulls together some of the
most sought after talent in the industry to make its films. In doing so,
Back 40 Films strives to produce the best in high quality
films. www.back40films.com
For more information on how you can participate in the groundbreaking
documentary, "The Vanishing Hemlock," visit the Southern Documentary Fund's
project page at
http://southerndocumentaryfund.org/works-in-progress/the-vanishing-hemlock
or contact producer/writer David Huff, Back 40 Films at
david@back40films.com.