Mining Phosphorus - Florida Phosphate Film

Phosphorus, the most critical element in modern agriculture, has been acquired through phosphate strip mining in Florida for over a century, but Florida’s phosphate is quickly running out. When it is gone, the United States will be dependent on phosphate imports.

A new source of phosphate is discovered in North Florida. Local land owners are determined to mine it, but environmentalists vow to stop them before they can begin. The environmentalists point to Polk County, where strip mining for phosphate has polluted water and air for decades.

A county permit is all that stands in the way of the mining. The fight between mineral security and a healthy environment embroils two rural counties in North Florida, where the future of phosphate mining will be determined by a few public servants.

This documentary film was a 2018 Student Academy Award Finalist. It screened at numerous film festivals including the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival.

Contents:
00:00 - Introduction to phosphate
01:05 - Title
01:15 - Proposed phosphate mine in Bradford County, Florida
03:25 - What is phosphate?
04:55 - Neighbors oppose phosphate mine
06:50 - Previous environmental damage caused by phosphate mining
08:10 - Polk County
09:30 - Phosphate mining seen from above
10:55 - Mosaic sinkhole spill
12:07 - Mosaic neighbors believe their well water is contaminated
13:20 - Mine advocates defend their environmental record
13:45 - Mine opponents strategize
14:28 - County commissioners take tentative steps toward mine approval
15:30 - Mine opponents believe some commissioners want the mine for potential jobs
16:25 - Mine proponent won't give up property rights
17:00 - County commissioners will have to weigh individual rights against concerns of community
17:18 - Credits

Written and Produced by Alan Toth and Laura Newberry

Directed and Edited by Alan Toth

Videography by Alan Toth, Laura Newberry and Craig Hickerson

Creative Advisors - Spencer Nakasako and Mike Shen

Technical Advisor - Chris O'Dea

Color by Gary Coates

Additional Video provided by Cheng Liu, David Wilcox and John S. Quarterman

Drone Photography provided by Klara Fletcher

Music by Terry Devine-King, Dan Skinner, Adam Skinner, Randall Breneman, Jeremy Sherman and Socorra Camposanto

Post Production Audio by Berkeley Sound Artists

Re-Recording Mixer and Sound Designer - Bijan Sharifi

Dialog Editor - Eric Reimers

Sound Effects Editor - William Sammons

Archival Footage provided by Conus Archive, Ivan Veselinovic, Anna Medvedeva, Santa Korts, The State Archives of Florida and Jehuda Photo

Featuring - Jack Hazen, Courtney Snyder, Jim Tatum, Kristy Simpson, Marc Kubinec, Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson, Andy Mele and Ed Golly

Special Thanks - Canon USA, Blackmagic Design, Chris O'Dea, Jon Else, Orlando Bagwell and The Doc Crew 2018

Funding provided by The Fine Cut Fund at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism by Minette Nelson and David Eckles of the Filmmaker Fund

Additional Funding provided by The Berkeley Journalism Working Draft Fund

©Alan Toth 2018

Видео Mining Phosphorus - Florida Phosphate Film канала Alan Toth