There are still opportunities to see this new feature documentary about light pollution and the disappearing night sky. The film leads viewers on a quest to understand how light pollution is affecting people and the planet. The film asks a simple question: what do we lose when we lose the night? Those who know Charlestown’s stars might ask what will Rhode Island lose if we lose the last beautiful oasis of dark along our Atlantic coast?
When: Thursday December 15 and Saturday December 17, both at 7p.m.
Where: Kettle Pond Visitors Center at Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge
50 Bend Road, Charlestown, Rhode Island
Film Trailer: http://www.thecitydark.com/#/Trailer
This is a free event, but please register for this event by sending an email to astronomer@frostydrew.org and note how many people will be attending and what showing you will be attending (December 15 showing or December 17 showing).
Frosty Drew Observatory presented the Rhode Island premier of THE CITY DARK to standing room only crowds on December 9.
After moving to New York City from rural Maine, filmmaker Ian Cheney asks a simple question, “Do we need the stars?” Exploring the threat of killer asteroids in Hawaii, tracking hatching turtles along the Florida coast, and rescuing injured birds on Chicago streets, Cheney unravels the myriad implications of a globe glittering with lights - including increased breast cancer rates from exposure to light at night, and a generation of kids without a glimpse of the universe above. Featuring stunning astrophotography and a cast of eclectic scientists, philosophers, historians and lighting designers, THE CITY DARK is the definitive story of light pollution and the disappearing stars.
- FEATURING -
- Neil deGrasse Tyson - Astrophysicist, Hayden Planetarium
- Don Pettit - Astronaut, NASA
- Ann Druyan - Co-writer, Cosmos
- Jack Newton - Astrophotographer
- Chris Impey - Cosmologist, University of Arizona
- Jeffrey Kuhn - Astronomer, University of Hawai’i
- Roger Ekirch - Historian, Virginia Tech
- Jane Brox - Author, Brilliant
- Bill Sharpe - Historian, Barnard College
- Susan Elbin - Ornithologist
- Dr. Steven Lockley - Professor, Harvard University
- Dr. Richard Stevens - Epidemiologist, University of CT
- Dr. George Brainard - Neurologist, University of Pennsylvania
- Dr. David Blask - Cellular Biologist, Tulane University
- Jon Shane - Criminologist
- Herve Descottes - Lighting Designer
- Awards -
- Best Score/Music - SXSW Film Festival (Music by The Fisherman Three and Ben Fries)
- Grand Jury Prize for Best Feature - Environmental Film Festival at Yale
- Best Professional Documentary - Real to Reel Film Festival
- Best Documentary - Hardacre Film Festival
- Audience Award - Kandy International Film Festival in Sri Lanka
- Best in Show - Rappahannock Independent Film Festival in Fredericksburg, VA
- Official Selection - SXSW, Mountainfilm in Telluride, Geek Film Festival, Indianapolis Film Festival, Woods Hole Film Festival, Maui International Film Festival, Bryce Canyon Astronomy Festival, Independent Film Festival Boston, Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital
THE CITY DARK was brought to Charlestown in a cooperative effort of Frosty Drew and the Charlestown Planning Commission to bring attention to Charlestown’s dark skies and to build public support for their protection.
The Planning Commission has written a dark sky ordinance and hopes to inspire other neighboring communities to do the same.
“The dark skies above Charlestown was the principle reason for siting Frosty Drew Observatory in the Ninigret Park in 1989. Dark skies are almost nonexistent in the eastern United States. Reconnaissance photos show a light band from Florida well into Maine along the seacoast unbroken except for a single stretch centered on Charlestown Rhode Island. To find similarly dark skies elsewhere in New England you need to travel to the most rural northern regions of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine” (from the Frosty Drew website)
I am interested in seeing this movie and despite the best attempts of multiple showings, this has been a bad time to get away to see it. Do you know of any plans to reshow it after the holidays, or if the library can get a copy for circulation?
As always, thanks for being there for all of us, and happy holidays to all.
This is from Frosty Drew’s Facebook page today:
The movie The City Dark is being received very well. If you haven’t had a chance to see it yet, it will be shown next in Scituate, at the January meeting of Skyscrapers, Inc., Friday, January 6th, at 7:30 P.M., at the Scituate Community Meeting House, Route 116, Scituate. Also, we will show it at Frosty Drew Friday, January 13th, beginning at 6:00 P.M. Our goal is to increase awareness of excessive light, and consequences that can arise from it, including the loss of the night sky. Please try to come to a showing if you can.
Frosty Drew holds the license for the film. They will be showing it around the state and also locally again. We’ll try to keep you posted as to dates and location.