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Background

Long drives in search of waves, to parts of British Columbia that few people have seen, two surfers are astounded by the destruction of the natural habitat. The impacts of the logging industry are vast, invading the furthest corners of Vancouver Island and into what remains of ancient, old growth forest. It’s impossible to look in any direction without seeing mountain slopes buzzed, like bad haircuts.

As long-time friends and surfers, Michael Darling and Drew Austin, driven by a shared concern for the environment, started thinking: Is this normal? Is this right? If more people got to experience this, would this even be allowed to happen? So many questions and no answers. They were decided to find some, by exploring the island, learning its history, listening and talking with the people living here. Thus began the creation of “Beyond the Green Veil”.

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Location

In British Columbia, across the Salish Sea, there is the Vancouver Island. It is a true haven for biodiversity and home to some of Earth’s last remaining old-growth forests. These ancient forests have played a vital ecosystem role for thousands of years.

However, within the last two centuries, roads and logging rights have provided access far and wide into the Island. It led to wipe out 80-to-95% of British Columbia’s old-growth forests - the majority of which, within the last 50 years.

Yet, the main argument is that these forests contribute immensely to the British Columbia’s economy, providing $3.5 billion in GDP and supporting 38,000 jobs.

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The plight of British Columbia’s old growth forests has not gone unnoticed. Environmental activists and native groups have risen to defend the island’s remaining ancient trees and have actively engaged in civil disobedience, to protect them. Blockading forests, including major highways, they’ve fought passionately for their preservation. Starting from specific groves to blanket preservation of all old-growth. The 1980s brought the first major acts of civil disobedience to preserve old growth. “War in the Woods” were a series of blockades related to clearcutting in Clayoquot Sound, British Columbia, in an effort to halt the logging of ancient trees. In response, authorities made close to 1,200 arrests as they enforced a court injunction allowing logging operations by Teal Jones, a logging company.

To date, despite the government’s announcements about a two-year deferment of logging to protect certain areas, activists point out that many hectares remain unsecured, while other crucial locations are excluded from the protection plan.

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Synopsis

Beyond the Green Veil sets to explore the juxtaposition between backcountry recreation and the access the logging industry provides. Most outdoor enthusiasts are also environmentalists, caring deeply for the natural world and the locations. However, access to these spots is dictated by a necessary but destructive logging industry. Michael Darling, a professional surfer, explores this idea, linking up with professional backcountry skier, Chris Rubens, and snowboarder, Timmy Taussig. They understand each other’s worlds by means of an eight-day camping and touring trip in the Selkirk mountains and a surf trip to the west coast of Vancouver Island. Without shying away from the reality, what they learn challenges audiences and recreationists to contemplate their own role in shaping the future of our environment.

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Cast & supporting cast

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Michael Darling

Michael Darling is 6’2 and mostly arms and legs. This is probably the reason for his style and apparent ease of manoeuvres when the professional surfs. He is, with Drew, at the initiative of the project: when exploring the North of Vancouver Island in search of waves, he wanted to highlight these parts that no one ever sees and wanted to show these remote areas. From the age of 11, surf has been part of his life, which has been the reason he is now recognized for his abilities. Michael is not only a distinguished surfer, but an intelligent, ambitious individual, working full time as an engineer.

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Chris Rubens

A globally recognized skier for the last 20 years, truly dedicated and extremely passionate about skiing in the mountains, Chris spends as much time as possible in the backcountry every winter, specializing in putting beautiful lines down mountains for both film and photo projects. Chris is not only a successful skier, but a farmer, with his new business venture “First Light Farms”. In more recent years however, the environmentally conscious skier has placed a greater focus on minimizing his carbon footprint, educating others on the realities of climate change, and encouraging realistic daily changes people can make to address the issue.

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Timmy Taussig

The stoke master. New York born and Northwest bred, Timmy Taussig is so much more than an accomplished pro snowboarder. Through his non-profit Camp Stoked, he provides kids with the opportunity to experience empathetic joy, a love for nature, and personal growth through board sports. The kind natured Pemberton based rider has podiumed freeride and banked slalom competitions and is featured in core films and snowboard publications. When he is not smashing pow, Timmy is passionately surfing, skateboarding, and hiking in his backyard.

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Elena Jean

Elena Jean is an award-winning filmmaker specialising in documentary, natural history, outdoor and dramedy stories. In a time of widely felt isolation, fear and disconnect, Elena aims to inspire a renewed sense of adventure, hope and curiosity. She does this by combining research-backed ideas with wild creativity, documentary and fiction, in explorative, playful, character-driven and genre-defying films and writing. Elena’s home is British Columbia, where she finds herself constantly inspired by the world around her; and, often reading, running, surfing, diving or learning some new, obscure skill such as nunchucking.

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Drew Austin

Drew Austin is a cinematographer and director specializing in immersive action sports films, music videos, commercials and docs. He is dedicated to organic moments by putting himself in the right place at the right time. Hailing from Tofino, BC, Drew spends the majority of his time chasing professional surfers around the whole of Vancouver Island. Constantly in awe of his surroundings, Drew’s new mission is to help preserve the beauty of the natural world through his work, by combining his degree in Environmental Sciences with his love for film. For him, film is not only an artistic expression, but a medium to do good.