Elemental, a new documentary about wildfires in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest, will be screened on Saturday, July 30, at Santiam High in Mill City.
Doors open at 5:45 at the high school auditorium at 300 SW Cedar St. The screening, which starts at 6 p.m., is sponsored by the city of Gates. The event is free for all Canyon residents, but interested parties should register in advance at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/elemental-film-special-screening-for-santiam-fire-survivors-tickets-382907756407.
Oregon documentary-makers Trip Jennings (director), Sara Quinn (co-producer) and Ralph Bloemers (executive producer) began work on Elemental in 2017 by tracking the Eagle Creek Fire in the Columbia River Gorge. The creators also investigated the 2020 wildfires and the piece includes interviews with Santiam Canyon residents.
One of the goals of the movie is to explore the threats and challenges of wildfires in a hotter, drier, more crowded world and to examine whether our current approach to reducing wildfire risk is working.
After the documentary, which is narrated by actor-director David Oyelowo, the makers will host a Q & A discussion that also will include information from home hardening experts.
