Current Project ... Escalante: The Bones of the Earth

Appearing in the program are a number of individuals who not only know the country well, but also share a common respect of the wild beauty that exists there. Outfitter Ken Sleight (the model for the character Seldom Seen Smith in Edward Abbey's book The Monkey Wrench Gang), Escalante guidebook author Rudi Lambrechtse, writer Scott Thybony, poet and naturalist Ann Weiler Walka, and archaeologist Don Keller have all collaborated on the project. Their comments and insight add yet another dimension to the program.


Filmed, written, and edited by: Brian Cass Length: 56:40 The unique and tantalizing landscape of southern Utah's Escalante Basin is the subject of this new documentary by Brian Cass. Over three years in the making, Cass has succeeded in conveying the mood and character of this fantastic desert that is part of one of our newest national treasures--Grand Staircase- Escalante National Monument. Traveling along the expansive bench lands and deep within the maze of slickrock canyons, he has captured the essence of Escalante in all its moods. Storms, flash floods, narrow slots, cascading waterfalls, river crossings, and tales of mishap all appear in the program.
The documentary features the natural history of the Escalante basin, a region that has been shaped by deep and varied layers of sandstone rock, dramatic elevation change, and water. We are then transported along with members of a backpacking trip deep within the wilderness and towering canyon walls to witness remarkable remains of a prehistoric people. And, we learn of historic and more recent accounts of hardship, perseverance, and tragedy by those who traveled in this remote area.
Appearing in the program are a number of individuals who not only know the country well, but also share a common respect of the wild beauty that exists there. Outfitter Ken Sleight (the model for the character Seldom Seen Smith in Edward Abbey's book The Monkey Wrench Gang), Escalante guidebook author Rudi Lambrechtse, writer Scott Thybony, poet and naturalist Ann Weiler Walka, and archaeologist Don Keller have all collaborated on the project. Their comments and insight add yet another dimension to the program.
This is the first documentary to focus on the spectacular desert of the Escalante basin on the Colorado Plateau. The place is revealed in a manner that is both educational and sensitive to the environment. It is a program that amazes, inspires, and offers a resounding reason for preserving our remaining wilderness.
	ESCALANTE: The Bones of the Earth produced by Echo Productions, LLC contact: Brian Cass Echo Productions, LLC 318 W. Birch Ave., Suite 2 Flagstaff, AZ 86001 928.214.1090 echo@echoprod.com