In honor of Earth Day and many events designed to draw attention to the state of our fresh water resources, WATER: OUR THIRSTY WORLD, produced and directed by Steven Kochones, will be featured on KCETLink's award-winning weekly series ARTBOUND on Tuesday April 21st at 8 p.m. PT. A selection of several Arclight Productions’ films, originally commissioned for exclusive presentation at the Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles, will be featured this season; marking the first time these documentaries will be broadcast on television. The series will premiere nationally on April 20 at 8 p.m. PT/ET on Link TV (DirecTV 375 and DISH Network 9410).
Organized in association with National Geographic Magazine, WATER: OUR THIRSTY WORLD deals with the precarious state of the world's fresh water. The themes include "Sacred Waters," looking at humankind's inspirational relationship with water and celebrating how precious this resource is to all life on the planet; "The Big Melt," examining the environmental challenges of Tibet's freshwater resource, on which two billion people depend; "Parting the Waters," showing how countries are working together to adapt to the drastic reduction in water levels in the Jordan river basin; "The Burden of Thirst," presenting issues facing African women and children who are responsible for delivering the freshwater needs for their families; "California's Pipe Dream," surveying California's vast water infrastructure, thirsty crops, rampant development and threats to the fragile Sacramento Delta; and "Silent Streams," looking at the challenges facing freshwater species and how scientists hope to save them.
WATER: OUR THIRSTY WORLD well as the other featured documentaries, are produced and directed by Steven Kochones, through his award-winning Arclight Productions banner, as part of long-standing relationship with The Annenberg Foundation. Through their collaboration, they have created a rich library that features the stories of over 100 acclaimed photographers from around the globe.
“These films represent our six-year collaboration with the Annenberg Space for Photography. Together we have strived to give audiences a deep and emotional experience, not just about the still image, but also the subjects that these talented photographers care so deeply about. I am excited that these films can be shared with a broader audience through this unique opportunity on KCETLink,” says Steven Kochones.
The multi-part series will be televised during April and May. Highlighting the work of esteemed photographers from around the world, the series explores the essence of Los Angeles – from the world's water status; nature; and the intersection of art and technology through a variety of digital techniques. Each episode goes behind the lens to celebrate photography as an art form and thought-provoking medium.
The schedule and description of the various installments are as follows:
APRIL 21: WATER: OUR THIRSTY WORLD – Organized in partnership with National Geographic Magazine, the documentary deals with the precarious state of the world's fresh water. The themes include "Sacred Waters," looking at humankind's inspirational relationship with water and celebrating how precious this resource is to all life on the planet; "The Big Melt," examining the environmental challenges of Tibet's freshwater resource, on which two billion people depend; "Parting the Waters," showing how countries are working together to adapt to the drastic reduction in water levels in the Jordan river basin; "The Burden of Thirst," presenting issues facing African women and children who are responsible for delivering the freshwater needs for their families; "California's Pipe Dream," surveying California's vast water infrastructure, thirsty crops, rampant development and threats to the fragile Sacramento Delta; and "Silent Streams," looking at the challenges facing freshwater species and how scientists hope to save them.
APRIL 28: EXTREME EXPOSURE – Featuring arresting imagery from photographers working on the edge of wildlife, climate and environment, Extreme Exposure showcases swamplands captured by Clyde Butcher using a bold interplay of shadow and light; lush jungle photography by Michael "Nick" Nichols that brings the audience face-to-face with tigers and gorillas; Paul Nicklen's transfixing photos of the polar regions and the rare animals inhabiting these isolated environments; and Donna O’Meara and Stephen James O'Meara's vibrant photos of erupting volcanoes and dancing molten lava.
MAY 26: DIGITAL DARKROOM – Featuring the work of digital artists from the U.S. and Europe, Digital Darkroom explores the intersection of art and technology by presenting altered realities using photography and digital (or darkroom) techniques. Each artist is a master of manipulation, compositing highly layered imagery, meticulously stitching together images, or using lighting in highly inventive ways.
L8S ANG3LES (previously broadcast on April 14th watch here), Eight ("8") LA-based photographers and three ("3") photographers from the Los Angeles Times represent richly diverse aspects of contemporary photography and of Los Angeles itself – from film and television celebrities, to coverage of international and local news, to the city's rich cultural scene. The documentary offers a unique display of images along with interviews with the artists speaking about their projects and careers. Highlighting the genres of fine art, architecture, documentary, fashion, photojournalism and celebrity portraiture, the artists contributing to the group show are among the most respected in their fields: John Baldessari, Catherine Opie, Greg Gorman, Douglas Kirkland, Tim Street-Porter, Julius Shulman, Lauren Greenfield, and Carolyn Cole. The work from Los Angeles Times staff photographers Lawrence Ho, Genaro Molina, and Kirk McKoy depict life in this city.
Founded in 1997, Arclight Productions is an award-winning film production company specializing in documentaries, commercials and behind-the-scenes for film and television. COUNTRY: PORTRAITS OF AN AMERICAN SOUND, Kochones’ first feature-length documentary will have its World Premiere at the Nashville Film Festival on April 22, 2015. Since 2009, the company has produced 15 original documentary films commissioned by the Annenberg Space for Photography: L8S ANG3LES, EXTREME EXPOSURE, DIGITAL DARKROOM, WATER: OUR THIRSTY WORLD, produced with National Geographic, the hit “WHO SHOT ROCK & ROLL: THE FILM,” which broke all attendance records, NO STRANGERS, and THE WAR PHOTOGRAPHERS. Arclight also works with major museums such as the California Science Center, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and renowned artist David Hockney. With a professional staff at full-service facilities in the heart of Hollywood, Arclight also boasts film finishing capabilities at high resolutions (4K), high frame rates (60fps) and 3D. http://www.arclightprods.com
