November 30, 2011 by Ben.

Whew, I just got back from St. Louis, Costa Rica, and Pittsburgh…and boy are my arms tired. It’s been a fantastic couple of weeks for the YERT film - (hey, we just won Best Feature Documentary for our international premiere at the Costa Rica International Film Festival!!). Here are some snapshots and a few things I learned while traveling.

St. Louis (11/11-13):
* Always remember your wallet when taking a road trip to St. Louis (or your Aunt Karen will never let you live it down when you get there).

* When in St. Louis’ incredible City Museum, keep track of your 3-year-old…no, really.

* Treating said 3-year-old to a celebratory ice cream cone and root beer at said museum may seem like a good idea at the time…

…it is not.

* The St. Louis International Film Festival is really cool. They’ll even take a picture of you outside their marquee.

Costa Rica (11/14-18):
* Always remember your passport when flying to Cos…don’t worry, I did actually remember my passport.

* 48 hours is not nearly enough time in Montezuma, Costa Rica.

* But, if 48 hours is all you can get in Montezuma, Costa Rica…take it!

* Don’t try to cross the river to hike through the jungle to get to the big waterfall if it rained the night before because the river will look like this and you will die.

Instead, cross the river the next day when it’s calmer…

Of course, when the waterfall you’re trying to get to looks like this…

…I can understand why people might throw caution to the wind.

* Zip lines are harder to pull off as you get older.

* The Costa Rica International Film Festival is also really cool! And they dig fun environmental docs!

TEDx (11/19-20):
After a long day of travel from San Jose, Costa Rica to Farmington, PA by way of MIA and PIT, I finally rendezvoused with Mark at what can only be described as rural Pennsylvania’s answer to the Palace of Versailles for a truly remarkable experience presenting YERT highlights at Pittsburgh’s TEDx conference where we were very well received.

* Pennsylvania doesn’t have Las Vegas, but it does have Nemacolin Resort. And holy honkin’ hotel, Batman! This place is decked out!

* There is a certain inescapable irony about holding a conference focused on “power” in an enormous, sprawling hotel with giant chandeliers in every hotel room. Kind of like an environmental road trip…

* In a pinch, a hotel room bathtub can be used as a washer and an iron as a clothes dryer…for all of your wet, stinky Costa Rica “jungle clothes”…on the morning of your presentation.

* TEDx is really cool. You might even meet someone like, oh, say…C-3PO. Though he’s harder to spot without the full metal body suit.

Finally, as exciting as the traveling’s been, it’s always a joy to come back home to family.

Here’s to an even more fruitful and exciting 2012! Oh, and don’t forget to BUY YOUR YERT DVDs before the holidays - they make great gifts!

Happy Holidays!
-B (& J & M)

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November 11, 2011 by Mark.

Dear YERTians,

We continue to receive overwhelmingly positive feedback about the YERT film, as we travel from screening to screening to meet audiences around the country. It seems that people everywhere are ready for, as we like to say, “an environmental documentary film that isn’t depressing.” Read on for more news…

• YERT is “Best Environmental Film” at SOAPIFF!
• The International Premiere of YERT in COSTA RICA
• More Upcoming Screenings (KY, CA, CT, MO, GA, PA)
• DC Screening Success!
• Exploring Distribution Options

YERT is “Best Environmental Film” at SOAPIFF!
We’re thrilled to announce that the YERT film received another award - this time from the Southern Appalachian International Film Festival, or SOAPIFF for short. We have a special chapter in our film that specifically grapples with mountaintop removal mining (MTR) in West Virginia, featuring a flight on SouthWings, an interview with several MTR activists including Larry Gibson, and beautiful music by Ben Sollee (in this case, “Panning for Gold“). It is our small tribute to those working hard to rescue Appalachia from mining companies that are actively working to scrape life from the region. Learn more and get involved at ILoveMountains.org.

The International Premiere of YERT in COSTA RICA
Ben will be heading down to one of the most environmentally forward-thinking countries on earth for the International Premiere of YERT at the Costa Rica International Film Festival! The YERT film’s reputation is starting to open doors on its own, and we were invited by the festival to apply. One thing let to another, and now Ben is going to need some non-toxic sunscreen for his hop down to Costa Rica for the big event: Wednesday, Nov. 16, 8pm, at the El Sano Banano in Montezuma, Costa Rica (Nicoya Peninsula). I know that most of you probably aren’t planning to swing down there next week, but we definitely want you all to know about it. (For the record, in 2010 Costa Rica ranked 3rd in the world on the Environmental Performance Index developed at Yale and Columbia Universities. The United States placed 61st.)

More Upcoming Screenings
There can never be too many YERT screenings, and we’re glad to announce a fresh batch of events before Thanksgiving! We have over 10 screenings planned around the country during the next week. Check out our screenings page for more details and our calendar of events. And don’t forget to tell your friends and family to go see the YERT Film in their area! Here’s a quick reference list of events coming up through the end of November:

UPCOMING YERT SCREENINGS
(click each for details or here for full calendar)

• 11/11/11 @ 7pm - Connecticut Science Center, Hartford, CT
• 11/12/11 @ 7pm - Connecticut Science Center, Hartford, CT
• 11/12/11 @ 2pm - St. Louis Int’l Film Festival, St. Louis, MO** - with special meet-up w/ Ben at City Museum after screening at 5pm.
• 11/13/11 @ 4:30pm - St. Louis Int’l Film Festival, St. Louis, MO**
• 11/15/11 @ 6pm - Center for Sustainable Energy, San Diego, CA°
• 11/15/11 @ 7pm - Foxhollow Farm, Crestwood, KY
• 11/16/11 @ 1pm - Westport Historical Society, Westport, CT
• 11/16/11 @ 7pm - Emory University, Atlanta, GA
• 11/16/11 @ 7:30pm - Albright College, Reading, PA*
• 11/16/11 @ 8pm - INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE of YERT in COSTA RICA**
• 11/30/11 @ 5:30pm - Kingsley Association & UGGC, Pittsburgh, PA*

Key:
*Mark attending for Q&A
**Ben attending for Q&A
***Mark + Ben attending for Q&A
°Mark or Ben for videochat Q&A

DC Screening Success!
With barely two days of lead time, we packed the house with over 40 very enthusiastic viewers at last weekend’s YERT screening in Washington DC, then sold 17 DVDs after a standing ovation and extended Q&A with both Mark and Ben. The screening was designed to coincide with the Tar Sands Action, and we handed out over 1,000 fliers to a huge crowd of activists (10,000+) gathered all around the White House. Not only did the screening go well, but the larger event (protesting the possible KXL pipeline from the tar sands in Canada) was a great success! Obama decided to delay approval of the pipeline - and most analysts believe that the news spells the end for the project. A W E S O M E. Read Bill McKibben’s full report here.

<--Photos from the screening in DC!

Exploring Distribution Options
We don’t have a lot to report here yet, but we have received a steady stream of interest from distributors, agents, and others interested in helping us get the YERT film seen more widely around the country, and the world. Stay tuned - we’re looking at possible screening tours, Earth Day/Week/Month events, and generally brainstorming about how to get the film in front of more peole. Got ideas? Please e-mail them to us at team@yert.com.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and we have so much to give thanks for here at YERT. Thank you for your enthusiastic support and encouragement. And don’t forget to join the conversation on Facebook. Peace out.

Best,
Ben, Mark, and Julie
team@yert.com

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November 3, 2011 by Mark.

We have quickly assembled this screening to coincide with the Tar Sands Action in Washington DC - but everybody is welcome to join. It is open to the public. Mark Dixon, YERT Producer, will be available during and after the screening for Q&A. Feel free to share the following “blurb” widely!

********YERT SCREENING IN WASHINGTON DC********
The award-winning environmental docu-comedy called “YERT - Your Environmental Road Trip” will be screening in Takoma Park/Washington DC, and you’re invited!

“Here’s a trip you’ll wish you’d taken, and you’ll be glad you get to watch!”
-Bill McKibben, Author and Environmentalist

Please join YERT Producer, Mark Dixon, at this very special screening, arranged specifically to coincide with the Tar Sands Action at the White House. Details are below…

Sunday, 11/6/11, 8pm
Seekers Church
276 Carroll St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20012
METRO: One block from Takoma Station, RED line. Details below.

Here’s a quick synopsis: 50 States. 1 Year. Zero Garbage? Called to action by a planet in peril, three friends hit the road - traveling America with hope, humor…and all of their garbage - to explore the good, the bad, and the weird across every state in search of the extraordinary innovators and courageous citizens who are tackling humanity’s greatest environmental crises. As the YERT team layers outlandish eco-challenges onto their year-long quest, an unexpected turn of events throws the project for a loop in this award-winning docu-comedy. Featuring Bill McKibben, Wes Jackson, Will Allen, Janine Benyus, Joel Salatin, David Orr, and music by Ben Sollee, Daniel Martin Moore, Mark Geary and more.

Winner, Audience Award, 2011 Environmental Film Festival at Yale
Winner, Best Environmental Documentary, 2011 DocuFest Atlanta
Winner, Chris Award, 2011 Columbus International Film and Video Festival
Winner, Best Environmental Film, 2011 Southern Appalachian Int’l Film Festival

METRO INFORMATION FROM WHITE HOUSE: The Seekers Church is located about one block east of the Takoma Metro Station on the RED line. (Please note: there is some construction of the Takoma station, so you might need to take a shuttle bus. They’re advising folks to add 30 minutes to their travel time.)
- From the corner of 15th St. NW and G St. NW (East of the White House) walk three blocks on G St. NW to the Metro Center Metro Station (12th NW and G NW).
- Catch the Red Line toward Takoma Park. Travel ~17 minutes/8 stops to Takoma Metro Station.
- Exit the metro station and walk about one block East (away from the tracks) along Carroll/Cedar St. NW. The Seekers Church is on your right (276 Carroll St. NW) at the intersection with Cedar St. NW.

More YERT videos and info at http://www.yert.com .
Facebook event at https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=134326523340450 .
********************************************

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