Sundance in Partnership With the U. S. Forest Service, Present a Premiere Screening of “The Greatest Good,” A Forest Service Centennial Film
Sundance and the Sundance Nature Center, in Partnership with the U. S. Forest Service, Present a Premiere Screening of “The Greatest Good,” A Forest Service Centennial Film
(PRWEB) April 21, 2005
Sundance and the Sundance Nature Center, in partnership with the U. S. Forest Service, presents the premiere of “The Greatest Good,” May 20 th, 2005 in the Sundance Screening Room. The two-hour documentary was produced to celebrate the Forest Service's 100 th anniversary. A special reception will be held in the Sundance Screening Room Lobby at 5:30 pm, followed by the screening at 6:30 pm. The first 40 people in attendance at the event's reception will receive a limited edition Forest Service Centennial pin. The film takes the audience on a journey through the creation of the Forest Service in 1905 as the leading agency in conservation, to how the role of the Forest Service transformed because of World War II, to the vision of public land management for the future.
“It is fitting that Sundance join with the U. S. Forest Service and our friends of the Uinta National Forest to present this documentary amidst the setting of Utah's breathtaking Mt. Timpanogos,” commented Raymond T. Grant, Sundance Executive Director. “The protection of Timpanogos, through its designation as wilderness, contributes to the sense of place at Sundance and motivates our own commitment to maintaining the balance of art and nature.”
The U. S. Forest Service's story is as compelling as it is American, as it details the challenges of maintaining the nation's natural resources in the face of a century of global change. The film was produced by three Forest Service employees, Steve Dunsky and Ann Dunsky of the Pacific Northwest Region and Dave Steinke from the Rocky Mountain Region, over a period of three years.
Producers conducted nearly 60 interviews, viewed more than 500 films, looked at more than 60,000 images, read over 100 books and consulted with hundreds of people in an effort to determine just what is “The Greatest Good.”
“Sundance is a place dedicated to environmental stewardship. It is in this spirit that the Sundance Nature Center partners with the Uinta National Forest in presenting this film that documents the challenges of preserving these treasures that are our national forests,” said Julie Mack, Executive Director of the North Fork Preservation Alliance.
The breath-taking high definition documentary takes the audience on a journey from the timbered shores of the Pacific Northwest to the marble halls of Washington D. C. , as it details the choices regarding how we utilize our natural heritage. They are choices filled with controversy. Whether it's the protection of endangered species or meeting the needs of a growing public, the fate of America 's public lands is constantly challenged.
For more than 100 years, visionary foresters Gifford Pinchot and Aldo Leopold shaped the debate. Their journey from the “wise use” of resources to the idea of a “land ethic” has defined the evolution of the Forest Service. The film outlines this evolution, featuring a new breed of leaders emerging with radical ideas about adopting practices that benefit the great portion of the population and the Forest Service‘s early decades of inventing tools, developing policies and taking actions needed to manage public lands. Then, as World War II transformed the nation, the agency shifted from a role of conservation to one of production.
As the country has evolved, a more outspoken public and new scientific understanding of ecosystems assisted in forming a vision for public land management that continues to guide the U. S. Forest Service.
“In a balanced perspective, the film discusses the major events that have occurred over the last 100 years that have served to shape the Forest Service of today,” commented Peter W. Karp, Uinta National Forest Supervisor.
The film is narrated by Charles Osgood of CBS News and the original score is performed by the Skywalker Symphony, part of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra.
About the Uinta National Forest
The Uinta National Forest, established in 1897, was the first National Forest in Utah. The unique mix of land, people and events have made the Uinta National Forest what it is today and will continue to carry it into the future. In 1984, Congress passed the Wilderness Act in which certain lands were designated for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System. The Mt. Timpanogos Area was included under this legislation. This wilderness area is being managed to maintain wilderness character and serves to protect valuable watershed.
From the very first humans to the hikers and nature lovers of tomorrow, the Uinta National Forest will continue to provide important resources and opportunities for the American people. As the Uinta National Forest Supervisor, Peter W. Karp, said, "Wise and careful use by us all will ensure that these lands will be available and provide the joy we experience today and well into the next millennium. Each of us as owners and stewards has a responsibility to care for the lands and resources of the Uinta National Forest."
About the Sundance Nature Center
This programming arm of the North Fork Preservation Alliance (NFPA) is run in partnership with Sundance. The center is an important new educational resource and interpretive center for residents and visitors. The Sundance Nature Center showcases the incredible diversity of life in the canyon, and helps people understand why and how we can all be a part of protecting it for future generations. The center provides a fitting complement to Sundance's commitment to nature and the arts.
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