Press/Media

THE STORY BEHIND “FINITE WATER”

The “Finite Water” documentary discusses global water concerns as seen through the eyes of an average person.

After attending the Global Water Summit in Paris as an academic participant, it inspired me to make a documentary without having any experience in filmmaking.

“Is it possible to make a documentary for the average person, from an average person’s viewpoint and be able to reach people on the same level as myself” … it was important to try to make it happen.” - Dianne Wennick

The film opens the discussion about water conservation, harvesting methods and adaptation to a new reality, where one could comprehend and develop awareness about global water concerns.

Several interviews and discussions are conducted concerning water management and our future’s outlook.

Our goal is to instill the idea that adaptation will take place in many places and developing new methods begins with observing what is happening around us.  It all begins with one’s own thought process, fresh thinking and exponential changes.

We hope to draw attention to how water concerns will affect us and open the discussion about future adaptation to such a significant change.  

Also, we have dedicated this film to our children who will witness a far different planet than ours today and we hope that this film will help to make a difference for the next generation.

HAWAII-PRODUCED DOCUMENTARY FILM

“FINITE WATER”

CAPTURES NUMEROUS INTERNATIONAL FILM AWARDS

Raising Global Awareness of Water Conservation:

A Grass Roots Effort Born in Hawaii

Oahu Halau to Perform in Italy at Renown Film Festival

(Honolulu, Hawaii) Film producers of the 40-minute documentary, Finite Water have announced the film will be the featured presentation at the 2020 Cittadella GeoFilm Festival held in Cittadella (PD), Italy. Finite Water was selected from 5,830 entries from 72 countries for The Golden Earth International Film Award. Executive Producers Dianne Wennick and Zachary Thomson will accept the award at the final gala ceremony on November 21, 2020. Halau Kiawekūpono O Ka Ua, a Oahu-based Halau (Kumu “Ulu” Dietrix Jon Ulukoa Duhaylonsod) which was featured in the film, will also perform Ke Wai, Ke Kumu Ola (a traditional dance, translated as “Water, The Source Of Life), at the award ceremony. The 2020 Cittadella GeoFilm Festival will also commemorate the 800-year old anniversary of the historic wall that surrounds the city.

Finite Water explores global water concerns as seen through the eyes of an average person. After attending the Global Water Summit in Paris as an academic participant, Mrs. Wennick was inspired to make a documentary without any prior experience in filmmaking.

From Mrs. Wennick, “Finite Water is a documentary for the average person, from an average person’s viewpoint that attempts to reach people on a personal level. It was important to make it happen. Change begins with one’s own thought process, fresh thinking and exponential actions. Perhaps we all have to start somewhere - and for me, it is now, as I realize it’s never too late to make a choice that will benefit the future. The smallest changes made on an individual basis in water conservation can affect usage worldwide as our aquifers cannot keep up with demand. I believe water issues are not isolated to any given region. Also, in order for change to happen, traditional ideas must be set aside to allow for a new way of thinking that can help to resolve water concerns worldwide. Adaptation to a new reality is already being felt and discovering new methods to harvest water will be the key to our existence. We hope to share a very important message of hope for our generation and future generations. We are forever thankful to the many people who have made this film a reality and selflessly contributed to sharing our message. We are also appreciative to the many festivals that have acknowledged our film. Our voices have been heard.”

From Mr. Thomson, “What inspired me to do this film was the importance of this critical life sustaining issue of taking care of our water. Everyone can get behind this issue and do their part. We can get very overwhelmed nowadays with all that is expected of us so we wanted to distill it down to manageable and easy to implement suggestions. As simple as turning off the water while brushing your teeth, to encourage further generations, to dreaming up new solutions. Ultimately we wanted to show a spectrum of ideas that any individual can accomplish. Mainly three things: raise global awareness, share simple ways to manage our water use, and encourage everyone to do just a little more. We cannot leave it up to someone else. In other words, be the change you wish to see in the world. Start with yourself. If we all just do a little we can accomplish a lot. This is our planet. Let’s leave it better than how we received it. It was an incredible experience to have so many talented people come together and give their time to make this project come to fruition. What a testament to people’s sacrifice and willingness to be a part of something greater than themselves.”

Several interviews and discussions about permaculture are conducted concerning water management and the future outlook.  Filmmakers visited Jason Leue who is a permaculture advocate advancing sustainability in Waianae, Hawaii. In the film Mr. Leue shares how during heavy rains, rainwater often has no plants or foliage to stop it from running off. By designing a system of trenches, also know as swales, rainwater may be absorbed in the ground helping to replenish water underground.

Jason Leue is a character animator turned organic farmer. Three years after he started his farming business, his soil was dead. He struggled to grow anything but weeds. Ready to give up growing organically and about to spray pesticides on his land, he discovered Permaculture – a holistic growing technique that works with nature and not against it. After taking the diploma course, he completely converted his land to mimic a food forest. Now, with minimal watering, on the dry side of the island, he is able to harvest tens of thousands of organic fruits yearly. Like an oasis in the desert, his beautiful green orchard in the middle of an arid landscape, has become a model of farming efficiency for future generations.

Similar in concept to the fog catchers currently used in Chile and Morocco, Assistant Professors of Industrial Design, Jonathan Boreyko and Brook Kennedy of Virginia Tech have designed fog harps that passively collect water from microscopic droplets of water suspended in the wind.

Also featured is the coordinator of the “Greening the Desert Project” in Jordan. Geoff Lawton, presents one of his student’s permaculture food forest, grown in the arid, hostile climate. The garden captures water and also utilizes grey water, which is used to hydrate the plant patches. His projects sustain the food and water needs of many communities.

The Directors interviewed John Pitre, an Internationally acclaimed artist, inventor and socio- political philosopher and aviator, often been referred to as a modern-day Leonardo da Vinci. Having impressive success as an inventor he holds many patents in a wide variety of fields, and also holds the distinction of being one of the most published American artists in history, whose paintings and reproductions have sold millions of copies worldwide.  His art addresses issues such as ecology, overpopulation, responsibility for stewardship of the Earth, the quest to understand the mysteries of the universe, and the fragility of life on our planet as well as man’s responsibility for it.

 “Congratulations to both Dianne Wennick and Zach Thomson for creating this important and very well done movie about impending global crisis concerning the shortage of fresh clean drinking and agricultural waters on our earth. And for informing us about what we can do to conserve and harvest more of it for the betterment of mankind. - Keep up the good work - and thanks for your efforts “ - John Pitre

This important film hopes to stimulate discussion, awareness and action on an individual and organizational basis about the importance of water conservation, adaptation of harvesting methods and acceptance of the world’s new reality of water shortage, and in many countries, severe drought conditions.

The film is dedicated to the world’s children who will witness a far different planet than today with the hope that the film’s message will help make a difference for future generations.

The Hawaiian Hālau, Kiawekūpono O Ka Ua, performs a meaningful hula that conveys the need to pay respect and take responsibility as caretakers of our water and the earth. 

Environmentalist and Humanitarian, Richard Chamberlain narrates the film. Mr. Chamberlain is an internationally recognized actor and singer.

Martin Rabbett composed and performs the award winning, original theme song, Finite Water.  Mr. Rabbett is currently working on several musicals and is an accomplished musical composer, producer and director.

Support for the film may be given through their GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/finite-water-italy to help fund the travel expenses of their Italy trip in November 2020 – where both cultures come together to draw attention to global water concerns.

About the GeoFilm Festival: The festival will be held in Cittadella, Italy as part of the city’s year-long celebration of the town’s 800-year old historic wall that surrounds the city. From November 2019 through November 21, 2020, the festival will screen 280 films that have been selected as finalists vying for the coveted Golden Earth International Film Award. Event organizers reviewed 5,830 films submitted from 72 countries around the world organized by Rocco Cosentino.

The Cittadella GeoFilm Festival focuses on films that explore issues of the affect of global climate change, the need to change individual lifestyle and ways to adapt to attempt to change the future health of the world.