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- Ripple Effect Film Project
The stars came out to shine during the Ripple Effect Blue Carpet Premiere at The Morton Theatre on March 26, 2023. What a way to close out the EPA WaterSense Fix a Leak Week! Thank you to everyone who packed the house to see what our talented young filmmakers created and to make lasting memories.
Congratulations to Marcel, Jadin, & Sahara Fielteau took top honors in the 2023 Ripple Effect Film Project. Their film entitled "24/7" received the Best in Festival Award.
Ripple Effect Film Project Best in Festival: 24/7
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Ripple Effect Film Project
CALL TO FILMMAKERS IN K-12th GRADE
The Ripple Effect Film Project invites local pre-K-12th grade filmmakers to submit short water-themed films for consideration for the Ripple Effect Blue Carpet Premiere. The event showcases the finalists' films on the big screen at the historic Morton Theatre in downtown Athens.
Look for the 2024 call for films in October 2023.
LOCAL FILMS DEBUTED AT THE World Water Film Festival on Sunday, March 19, in New York City. The festival kicked off the United Nations Water Week and Conference, with an expected audience of approximately 20K from 440 water organizations in town for the International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable Development.
The films shown were the 2022 Best in Festival, Thirsty World, by Waylon Vaughn, and a 2023 Best in Category winner, The Day the Aliens Took the Water, by Banks County Primary's 2nd Grade.
THEME: A RIPPLE EFFECT
The over-arching theme for 2023 was "A Ripple Effect." Through film, students lend a voice to water, reminding us that by caring for each little drop, we can be the change we need in this world of water. Similar to how tossing a small stone into a lake creates far-reaching ripples, a single interaction with water, positive or negative, has the power to create a far-reaching ripple, affecting whether or not we can ensure a water-secure world. If we choose to use water wisely in our homes, we place less demand on our water supply and help our community move through a drought. When we leave a fast-food bag on a picnic table, the wind blows the trash to the ground, where it is carried away to the river by stormwater. Your actions matter.
Filmmakers used their imagination, creativity, and artistic talents to make a splash in our world. They created 30 to a 90-second short films illustrating the ripple effect in the following water-related topics:
You may feel like you are one small drop, but your actions have the power to create a ripple. Deciding to use water wisely and encouraging others to do the same protects our water supply.
Household leaks are the biggest source of wasted water in the United States. You can reduce water waste by stopping leaks and conserving water. The Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense program makes it easy for you to use less water. Using third-party testing, products using 20% less water than the traditional counterpart and perform as well or better earn the coveted WaterSense label. Look for the logo and install these items when replacing/updating fixtures or installing outdoor watering systems.
FILM IDEAS:
Share ways to be water efficient
Show what the WaterSense label looks like
Illustrate the benefits of using WaterSense products
Chase down leaks at home or at work
Explain how WaterSmart, the customer portal for ACC water customers, allows you to take control of your water use
RESOURCES:
ACC Water Conservation Office
ACC WaterSmart
Water Use it Wisely
EPA's WaterSense
EPA's WaterSense Fix a Leak Week
Detect and Chase Down Leaks
Fix a Leak Week Family Fact Sheet
Drip Calculator
WaterSense Statistics and Facts
Shower Better Month
Sprinkler Spruce Up
Did you know that Athens relies on three sources for its drinking water? We pull from the North Oconee River, Middle Oconee River, and Bear Creek Reservoir to meet our water needs. Our actions, such as quickly repairing an automobile oil leak, carefully measuring how much fertilizer to put on the lawn, and participating in river clean-ups can have a positive ripple effect on our rivers. On the flip side, if we throw fast-food wrappers out the car window, leave pet waste on the ground, or let excess sediment run into the stream, stormwater washes these items into the river and negatively impacts our water quality.
FILM IDEAS:
Promote participation in the annual Rivers Alive clean-up
Follow a piece of litter from the ground, the back of a truck bed, or other paths to a waterway
Show how to keep litter out of waterways
Explain point and nonpoint sources of water pollution
RESOURCES:
Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful
Rivers Alive Athens
Rivers Alive
NOAA Marine Debris Program
EPA's Trash-Free Waters
Litter Fact Sheet, Carmel, IN
How's My Waterway?
Project WET: Explore Watersheds Activity
We rely on water to keep our bodies clean and healthy, to fight fires, and to keep our economy flowing. Could you imagine a day without water? From washing our hands to filling a fire pumper truck to washing sheets at a hotel, we could not go a day without H2O.
Drought and pollution can limit the amount of available water. Communities are looking for new sources of water to extend the supply. Athens, GA recently purchased a quarry to use in the future as a reservoir and is installing purple pipes to incorporate recycled water into our supply.
We also depend on a team of water professionals who work behind the scenes 24/7 to ensure our homes, businesses, and schools never go a day without water. As the current workforce reaches retirement, fewer people are coming to take their place to provide this essential service.
FILM IDEAS:
Introduce drought
Recycled water (what it is, the urban water cycle, the concept that all water is recycled, etc.)
Athens (or other communities) drinking water sources
Focus on community helpers (water professionals)
Thank essential workers for their work behind the scenes
Make a recruitment video to call people to work in the water industry
Explain how our economy relies on water resources
Show ways we depend on water for recreational purposes
RESOURCES:
Imagine a Day Without Water
Georgia Association of Water Professional's H2Opportunity
Charity Water - The value of clean water
What is the Ripple Effect Film Project?
Local K-12 students have the opportunity to write, produce, and star in short, water-themed films. The submissions are narrowed down to the finalist round, then judged on creativity, originality, technical skill, and message content. The finalists' films are shown on the big screen during the Blue Carpet Premiere, where the winners are announced and cash prizes are awarded.
The festival's theme changes each year slightly but always involves water and opportunities to incorporate the Georgia Standards of Excellence into the production. The 2022/2023 Ripple Effect Film Project theme is A Ripple Effect to emphasize how our interactions with water recognize the role clean water plays for all people, our environment, our communities, and our homes.
The event is part of the Athens-Clarke County Water Conservation Office's promotion of the EPA WaterSense Fix a Leak Week - March 20-26, World Water Day - March 22, and the UN 2023 Water Conference, which kicks off March 19, 2023.
Brought to you by ACC Water Conservation Office, Stormwater Management, Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful, & Leisure Services.
Find out more about fixing leaks around your house at EPA WaterSense.
2022 BEST IN FESTIVAL AWARD WINNER
Title: Thirsty World
Category: Healthy Water, Healthy Environment
Filmmakers: Waylon Vaughn
School: Clarke Middle School