Film Katrina - Stories from the lower ninth ward.

June 2010

Louisiana Sweet Crude will be debut online Monday June 14, 2010. Louisiana Sweet Crude is a tribute to the fishermen of the Gulf Coast, the beauty of the wetlands and the diverse wildlife threatened by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

October 2008

In My Heart: A Child's Hurricane Katrina Story will be showing at The 31st Mill Valley Film Festival. The festival will take place October 2-12, 2008. In My Heart: A Child's Hurricane Katrina Story is schedule to play on Friday October 3rd at 9:00 pm at the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center 2, as well as on Saturday October 11th at 4:15pm at the Throckmorton Theatre. In My Heart: A Child's Hurricane Katrina Story was selected to be screened within a "The Home in My Heart" program which features up-and-coming Bay Area filmmakers' short films. The Mill Valley Film Festival showcases international feature films, documentaries, shorts and children's films. This year over 1,500 entries were submitted, and only the top five to 10 percent are selected for screening. The full schedule of the festival as well as where to purchase tickets are available at the California Film Institute

May2008

Twelfth Annual Commencement Ceremony California State University, Monterey Bay Saturday, May 17, 2008. Estée and Clinton graduate!

The Teledramatic Arts & Technology Department at CSU Monterey Bay present the 2008 Capstone Festival Friday May 16, 2008 at 6:00pm at the CSUMB World Theatre. Doors open at 5:30pm. The Capstone Festival will feature In My Heart: A ChildÕs Hurricane Katrina Story directed and edited by Estée Blancher Produced by Clinton Kuska.

On Thursday May 15, 2008 Estée Blancher will be honored at CSU Monterey Bay's Service Learning Department's Spotlight on Service Learning. The festival will highlight her service for organizations dedicated to helping the Gulf Coast recover from Hurricane Katrina. Estée involvement with the Gulf Coast Civics Works Project will be focused upon at the festival

April 2008

On Saturday April 26, 2008 Estée Blancher and Clinton Kuska were honored at the CSU Monterey Bay Awards Convocation. Estée received the Outstanding Senior for Social Justice Award, as well as with the Teledramatic Arts & Technology Department's Service Learning Award. Clinton was awarded for his Summa Cum Laude status, which is a special distinction given to students who will graduate with at least a 3.9 grade-point average or higher.

February 2008

February 5, 2008, The Gulf Coast Civic Works Project will be hosting a Mardi Gras celebration on Fat Tuesday at San Jose State University. Activities began at 9 am and continue to 9 pm.

January 2008

Protest Vigil on Saturday January 26, 2008

Calling for Senator Dianne Feinstein to support the Gulf Coast Housing Act (SB 1168).

3:00-5:00pm

2460 Lyon at Vallejo San Francisco, CA

For more information about long term effects on individuals and communities Click Here

November 2007

On Monday November 12, 2007 from 6-9pm, filmmaker Estée Blancher will be showing her film entitled Heaven Come Down: Stories of the Lower Ninth Ward at the East Village Cafe located on 498 Washington Street in Downtown Monterey. Screenings will be held every hour on the hour followed by a community discussion with the filmmaker regarding the current situation, and the efforts by the Gulf Coast Civics Works Project (GCCWP) to help the residents of the Gulf Coast. The event is sponsored by community members as well as CSUMB's local Ragin' Cajun Club, and will be televised on AMP TV channel 25 for residents of Monterey and Marina. If you wish to learn more about the ways in which to help support the residents of the Gulf Coast, come out to East Village Cafe on Monday November 12th.

September 12th - October 15th, 2007

Stardust and Empty Wagons- Stories of the Katrina Diaspora. At the Brava Theater in San Francisco.

Brava Theater

August 2007

Look forward to the upcoming release of a radio piece about the survival story of Daryle Johnson and the final version of Heaven Come Down.

August 6th through the 21st, Estée will return to southern Louisiana to continue filming.

July 23, 2007

The CNN sponsored Democratic candidate's debate selected questions submitted by the public on YouTube. Estée wanted to know what initiatives the various candidates are taking to rebuild the Gulf Coast,

April 15, 2007

Estée Blancher is currently completing the spring semester at California State University Monterey Bay. Work has continued on the Film and several new projects have evolved in collaboration other talented students. Please stay posted to upcoming summer events, screenings, and changes to the website.

December 16, 2006- January 9, 2007

Estée will be returning to Louisiana for three weeks to continuing filming the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Saturday and Sunday November 18 & 19, 2006

Hurricane Katrina and Local Disaster Preparedness: Human Rights Violations Teach-in

Estée will be presenting Heaven Come Down and speaking about the film.

Sunday November 12, 2006

2:30pm Heaven Come Down will be screening at the Committee for South African Solidarity Film Series. Followed by,"A World Apart," a film about social conditions in South Africa.

1212 Broadway Oakland, CA 94612

Friday, November 3, 2006

Heaven Come Down is a finalist in the 2006 CSU Media Arts competition. The film will be showing along with the other finalists on Friday, November 3rd from 6pm to 10pm.

Join us for the 16th Annual Media Arts Festival!

The CSU Media Arts Festival is a film, video and new media competition established in 1991 to showcase the best work of the CSU. In addition to the student competition and screenings, the Festival also offers three days of seminars and events geared towards professional advancement for CSU students and faculty. You will not want to miss this opportunity! Please join us!

Friday, November 3, 2006 and Saturday, November 4, 2006 CSU Channel Islands Bell Tower Building One University Drive Camarillo, CA 93012

Located in the Conference Hall 1.

California State University Media Arts Festival