Environmental activist Erin Brockovich has signed on to executive produce “Unearth,” a new documentary that will have its world premiere at DOC NYC on November 16.
Directed, produced and photographed by Hunter Nolan, Unearth tells the story of two sets of siblings – the Salmon sisters and the Strickland brothers – who live in Bristol Bay, Alaska. Both sets of siblings become alarmed when they learn of and fight advanced plans to establish the Pebble Mine—a massive open-pit gold and copper mine—near their homes. The Salmon sisters, Alaska Natives, work on the regulatory front, pushing the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to block the project, while the Strickland brothers, independent fishermen, reveal the truth behind what the Pebble Mine developer is telling the public. This 93-minute doc exposes systemic failings in mining and the balance between the need for materials and their environmental costs.
“This film reminds us of the promise that activism holds in the face of weariness and disillusionment,” Brockovich said. “I am deeply inspired by Christina and Alexana Salmon’s unwavering determination to protect Bristol Bay from the environmental and cultural devastation that the proposed Pebble mine would bring. ‘Unearth’ carries on my legacy of empowering women and communities to overcome systemic injustice.”
Brockovich signed on to executive produce the film after Nolan sent the film to her agent earlier this year.
“When we thought about people who inspired us, Erin was at the top of that list as an individual who has successfully held the industry accountable for its mistakes,” Nolan said. “There was no doubt about it when we had the opportunity to connect with her agent. As soon as Erin saw the film, she was on board.
Nolan co-directed Unearth with the Strickland brothers – Oberyn and Dunedin. He is seeking to distribute the film outside of DOC NYC. The director hopes Brockovich’s involvement with the doc will help lead to an eventual sale.
“Eren’s story is reduced to successfully confronting a powerful entity,” Nolan says. “It’s an incredible acknowledgment that she sees our film as a continuation of that story. People are hungry for hope and inspiration, and we feel that Erin’s role as EP helps signal that our film can feed that appetite.”
When President-elect Donald Trump recently chose former New York congressman Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, it was seen as a step backward for America’s environmental policy and historic climate regulation. Under the EPA’s new leadership, Nolan’s “Unearth” could be seen as a battle-cry document.
“Bristol Bay will remain at risk until we as a society learn the value of healthy communities, clean water and healthy ecosystems,” Dunedin Strickland said. “As the mining industry races to meet growing demand for extracted materials, the need for effective regulations and the means to enforce them is greater than ever. In the face of the tailwinds for extractive industries that are likely to be under the new administration, our film asserts that each of us can, and does And he must be the hero we’ve been waiting for, regardless of who’s in power.