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One-hour version of Powerful stimulates debate about Energy security

david — Sun, 01 May 2011 00:27:00 +0000

Probably the hardest thing a filmmaker can do is cut away material. When you have spent so much time filming and then selecting your best material, it is so tough to then shorten your film even further. Yet, doing just that can often lead to a better product. Like so many producers, directors and editors before me, this is my story too.

Getting my film Powerful: Energy for Everyone down to 95 minutes was a slow and painful process. Just imagine how it felt being asked (told!) by my distributors to make versions of 52-minutes (for International television) and 48-minutes (for North American advertisement-filled television). But it was very much worth it. Being forced to cut the film to its core essence and messages made me rethink what it would take to excite, educate and entertain an audience in less than an hour.

The task also got me thinking about creating a version that would be used for public debate and discussion. If a teacher, city manager, environmental group, community energy co-op or utility outreach officer had just 90 minutes to show a film, lead a discussion and then take audience questions, what would be the key elements that should be in that film? With this objective in mind, I and my co-producer Michael Dobbin and editor Lisa Virtue completed these shorter versions and sent them out to our distributor Filmoption International to take to the major film and television markets.

And then the request started coming in to make Powerful: Energy for Everyone available to just the kinds of audiences I had envisioned. Colleges, universities and even high schools. Town energy planners, energy co-ops and more. So, I created a few DVDs with the 52-minute version and put it to the test. The feedback was great.

So now anyone can request the short or long-version of Powerful with a public screening license and use it to stimulate much-needed debate about our energy future on this special planet of ours. Energy security, waste-to-energy, green buildings, the pros and cons of wind energy, the real potential of solar power, green collar jobs, biodiesel, the economics of nuclear energy… Powerful is just the film for leading into a serious discussion about energy, and power.

To inquire about screening Powerful: Energy for Everyone in your cinema, city hall, campus … wherever, contact me by phone at 1-613-730-0870 or email david[at]davidc.ca

Clips from Powerful added to YouTube

david — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 21:47:09 +0000

As a newly-elected city councillor in the city of Ottawa, Ontario, time is scarce for blogging, making films and marketing my film Powerful: Energy for Everyone.

But I finally managed to post six different scenes from the film on YouTube. This should give viewers (and potential buyers and groups interested in booking a screening) a good sense of the look, feel and subject matter of the film.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Enjoy!

David Chernushenko

Special Screening of Powerful: Energy for Everyone

david — Mon, 10 May 2010 17:18:15 +0000

Join the Living Lightly team for a special event: the first big-screen showing of David Chernushenko’s Powerful – Energy for Everyone.

This upbeat film looks at how we can make energy more democratic and democracy more energetic. Come and see how the transition to renewable energy can renew us as individuals and society.

Tuesday June 8, 7-9pm (FULL)

9:10-11pm (NEW)

Museum of Civilization, Gatineau (Hull), Quebec

Entry is by invitation. To receive one, email david[at]davidc.ca

Cost: There is no admission price. However, donations are most welcome. Cash donations will be accepted, and cards will be available for major donations (eligible for tax receipt) to the Films for Change programme administered by the Tucker House Renewal Centre.

Parking for bikes and cars is available on site. Consider carpooling, cycling or coming by bus (OC Transpo #8 and multiple STO routes)

Support for this special screening comes from Sustainable Ottawa Energy Co-operative,

and the Tucker House Renewal Centre.

Power and Energy – Radio discussion

david — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:04:56 +0000

I participated in a live internet radio show with my friend Cara MacMillan on her Voice America show Demand More.

We talk about energy options, the pros and cons of each, and why I came to the conclusion that renewable energy is the way to go, not just for environmental and social reasons, but for economic ones and for reasons of “security” and “autonomy” as well. Check it out and send in your comments, please.

http://www.voiceamerica.com/voiceamerica/vepisode.aspx?aid=45637

My new film Powerful:Energy for Everyone is now weeks away from completion. In it, I explore all of these topics and more. I look forward to sharing it with the world.

David Chernushenko

Powerful Interviews: Eric Martinot

david — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 12:56:43 +0000

In this series of extended interviews on green energy and a future powered by renewable power, renewable energy analyst Eric Martinot discusses the growth of the renewable energy industry, the importance of good government policies, and the promising future.

Parts of this interview will be featured in the upcoming David Chernushenko film, Powerful: Energy for Everyone.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Powerful Interviews: Tim Weis

david — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 12:47:50 +0000

In this series of extended interviews on green energy and a future powered by renewable power, Tim Weis of the Pembina Institute in Canada discusses how provinces like Ontario and Alberta can be running their economies with a much larger portion of their energy coming from renewable sources.

Parts of this interview will be featured in the upcoming David Chernushenko film, Powerful: Energy for Everyone.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Powerful Interviews: Preben Maegard

david — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 12:42:17 +0000

In this series of extended interviews on green energy and a future powered by renewable power, Danish wind and renewable pioneer and expert Preben Maegard discusses the Danish experience, the potential of wind and biomass, and the policies that will get us to a renewable energy society.

Parts of this interview will be featured in the upcoming David Chernushenko film, Powerful: Energy for Everyone.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Powerful Interviews: Paul McKay

david — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 12:35:34 +0000

In this series of extended interviews on green energy and a future powered by renewable power, Paul McKay discusses how we can move from a power system dominated by fossil fuels and nuclear, to one that is based on conservation, efficiency and renewable sources.

Parts of this interview will be featured in the upcoming David Chernushenko film, Powerful: Energy for Everyone.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Powerful Interviews: Paul Gipe

david — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 11:51:30 +0000

In this first of a series of extended interviews on green energy and a future powered by renewable power, Paul Gipe discusses the potential for Ontario and Canada, but with a global message. What are the obstacles and how do we get past them? What policies would make a real difference.

Parts of this interview will be featured in the upcoming David Chernushenko film, Powerful: Energy for Everyone.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Can Canada Catch the Renewable Energy Boom?

david — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 19:57:17 +0000

In February I put to some immediate use some of my growing collection of footage and interviews being amassed for the next film Powerful: Energy Security for Everyone. While these will find their way into this feature length film, you can view a 6-minute video prepared by James Greatrex and me for the Pembina Insitute’s outreach and education work on renewable energy. Have a look.

Click here to view the embedded video.