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Congressman to Host Wild Horse Documentary Screening

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Press Release from Moving Cloud Productions

“Wild horses are living things who have a right to coexist in what is a vast landscape, which is the American West. Let’s do something about this.” –Viggo Mortensen

Moving Cloud Productions & Congressmen Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)
announce a special showing of the ground-breaking film
Wild Horses & Renegades
Acclaimed documentary screens at 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 7, 2011 on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. at the Capitol Visitor Center Orientation Theater South.

Producer/Director James Kleinert

June 21, 2011 (Santa Fe, NM) … Viggo Mortensen, Daryl Hannah, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, Raoul Trujillo. “Dances with Wolves” author Michael Blake, Pulitzer Prize-winning Native American author and scholar N. Scott Momaday, former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. All have something deeply in common besides celebrity and talent – a passion for the plight of the American wild horse.

These noble animals, one of the last living symbols of the power and romance of the West, are currently under siege by brutal Bureau of Land Management roundups and general range mismanagement – a dire situation fueled by a growing corporate push to resume uranium mining and expand oil and gas production on currently protected land.

BLM’s own estimate puts the number of wild horses in holding pens at more than 40,000, at a taxpayer cost of $120,000 per day. A few are adopted, some die in the pens, and many are sold over the border into Mexico for slaughter for human consumption. Their only chance for survival, let alone increasing their numbers, lies in public awareness and action.

Santa Fe filmmaker James Anaquad-Kleinert has powerfully highlighted the animal’s plight in his documentary Wild Horses and Renegades (75 minutes, Moving Cloud Productions). The film has its Washington D.C. premiere at 5 pm Thursday, July 7, at The Capitol Hill Visitor Center Orientation Theater South (East Capitol St. North East, 20515). This screening supports proposed legislation that will reinstate protection of America’s Wild Horses and out Public Lands. Moving Cloud also has produced a six-minute call-to-action video that sets gorgeous footage of wild horses with U2’s hit song, Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses. 

US Congressman Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), energy consultant Randy Udall, and former Bureau of Land Management Director Jim Baca are also interviewed in the film. Baca bleakly notes, “Our public lands are run by the oil, mining and livestock industries and it’s their way or the highway.” Hannah adds, “Wild Horses & Renegades  explains why we are seeing massive wild horse and burro roundups and why these majestic, beautiful, iconic creatures are being threatened and facing possible slaughter.”

Beautiful, poignant, and compelling Wild Horses and Renegades screened at the International Wild Life Film Festival on May 12, in Missoula Montana, where it won Honorable Mention in Cinematography, Investigative Journalism, and Music Editing/Sound Track.

In addition to its screenings, the film is the subject of a major story in the May 2011 issue of Horseback magazine. Outside magazine will highlight the documentary, in its July 2011 issue.

“If the public could view what’s being done to wild horses, the public would stand up and take action. This is just not a film about America’s wild horses; this is a film about what is happening to America itself!” states Blake.

In addition to Wild Horses and Renegades, Kleinert has produced winter sports films and in-depth environmental films with a strong Native American element, including The Edge of Telluride and Spirit Riders, an award-winning documentary that showed in part on HBO.com (www.spiritridersmovie.com). He is a former World Cup competitor in aerial freestyle skiing.

For an interview with the director or to request a review copy of Wild Horses & Renegades, email jameskleinert@mac.com. To view the U2 music video and other powerful clips, visit www.theamericanwildhorse.com. Photos and other press materials are available on request.

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13 replies »

  1. I was hoping the screening would be hosted by a Representative. This is very good news.

    Hopefully some of those celebs will attend, there will be free food and an open bar…..because if you want a Rep/Senator and staffers to show up, there better be free food and booze with a celebrity sprinkled in.

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  2. Whatever it takes to get them to show up , i am so Happy Rep Raul Grijalva will Host, i am also counting on and hoping Viggo Mortensen attends also hoping( pardon the pun I dont think wild horses could keep him from attending) I had really wished en light of the next unneeded round up on July 1 this would have been done at least a week in advance of it….. To stop this round up we need to head them off at the Pass (to coin another phrase from the past )

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    • Denise, this is from the Congressional calendar on capitol.net:

      Senate Recess – June 27 – July 5
      House Recess – July 18 – 24

      With everything that’s going on in D.C., I don’t know how many members of Congress would be willing to attend, but we could ask them to send staffers. It would be great if we could send staff back to their bosses with a copy of the video. For those who don’t make it, maybe send a copy to their office. I wonder how much that would cost. Naturally, James would have to agree to whatever’s done.

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      • Thanks.

        I went to House.gov and tried to figure it out; reading the actual calender with the color coded dates didn’t clear it up for me. But I did see that there was going to be committee action so assumed they would be around.

        Seriously, free food and drinks with celebs would get some of them there. I gotta think human motivation is a key factor to consider….no matter the issue.

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      • I was wrong about the Senate, but I think the House is correct. As we all know, the Senate can tie things up in committee FOREVER! Sigh …

        July 4 – 10 – Senate Recess
        July 18 – 24 – House Recess

        Here’s the link to the schedule at The Capitol, in case I’m still misunderstanding:
        http://www.thecapitol.net/FAQ/cong_schedule.html

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  4. Sorry for off topic question , but is there a site that reveals what each reps stand is on The Wild Mustangs??????

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    • Arlene – I don’t think it’s a question that’s far OT at all. And tho I don’t know the precise answer, you can use the Compassion Index rating at the Animal Welfare Institute’s webpage here:

      http://www.awionline.org/ht/d/sp/i/11091/pid/11091

      to find how your (any) legistators stand (by the AWI’s ratings on Animal Welfare issues currently before Congress). Hope that helps you. It helped me to see that my 2 Senators from NY are cosponsors on the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act of 2011 (S.1176). And I have received positive feed back with regards to our Wild Horses and Burros, and not in the form of a ‘form letter’, especially from one of these Senators to whom I have corresponded. Will write her to see if she’s going to be in DC on the 7th of July and urge her to attend this showing. Tho, sadly, my guess is that few gov. officials will be in DC the week of the 4th.

      *I don’t see a link here to the AWI, so hoping I’m OK posting that link here, feel free to delete if inappropriate.

      ~ Jan

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  5. This filmmaker has already produced some beautiful footage, together with the assist of The Cloud Foundation – eyes will be opened. Go ajead and check it out. Make up ypur own mind.

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  6. Oh this is wonerful and sincerely feel ALL OF CONGRESS SHOULD BE MANDATED To watch and become educated. Also a video of horses slaughtered in Mexico and Canada..

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