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St. Louis, MO JULY 2015
The film opens in The St. Louis Filmmaker's Showcase July 2015 in University City, MO. I grew up in U. City and watched many films in The Tivoli Theater my whole life. It was really special to open with my family, friends, and the St.Louis community coming out in full support.
Dayton, OH Oct,4 2015
The Neon theater was near Mound Laboratories, an Atomic Energy Commission facility that did nuclear weapons research during the Cold War. This would be my first trip outside of St.Louis with the film for workers battling illnesses from their work.
River's Edge Film Festival Paducah, KY Nov 2015
Tony West, the Film's Director
Denise Brock who is featured in the film, started out trying to help her mother Evelyn Davis, receive compensation for the loss of her father Chris Davis. Her fight would impact the lives of nuclear workers and their family members across the country.
Greg Welsch, who read the Merril Eisenbud memos
in the film was also at the festival screening a film he co-wrote
Much like the infamous West Lake Landfill, radioactive material was dumped in this landfill near the plant.
Brian Zink, who is featured in the film signs an autograph for a "happy fan" (AKA Jenny Slaughter).
The festival would allow us to screen the film for workers of the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant that enriched uranium from 1952-2013.
Workers from this plant were the first compensated by the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act
The historic flood Wall in downtown Paducah tells the city's history.
Workers from The Honeywell Metropolis Works Plant featured in the film also attended the screening.
The St. Louis International Film Festival Nov 2015
Los Angelas, CA Dec 3, 2015 Laemmle theater
Great Friends and family, love you guys.
D' Lanie Blaze (center) who designed my incredible movie poster.
The screening was near the Santa Susana Field Laboratory which provided development and testing of liquid-propellant rocket Engines from 1953-1980. D'Lanie's father became ill working at this complex.
My Brother Marlon West, who guided and encouraged me in making this film
Kansas City, MO Dec 15, 2015 Tivoli Cinemas
Thanks to Richard Mabion and Mike Murphy of KKFI for a great interview
The Kansas City Plant, formally the Bendix plant, built non-nuclear components for nuclear war heads for the Atomic Energy Commission
A big thanks to
Maurice Copeland, a former worker of the plant for being instrumental in bringing the film to KC. Maurice continues to fight to get workers from the plant compensated and the plant cleaned up.
Back Home to St. Louis Wehrenberg Des Peres 14
Thanks family and friends
Chris Ballew (left) Creative Consultant on the film
Denise Brock with her daughter Jenny Slaughter
Wendy Verhoff, historian featured in the film.
Harriman, TN near Oak Ridge Jan 2016
The Historic "Princess Theatre"
Oak Ridge was established in 1942 as a production site for the Manhattan Project. The plant enriched uranium for the first atomic bombs. It currently has the highest payout of any of the more than 350 site that were part of the Manhattan Project and Cold War at more than 2 Billion.
I took this picture from what were the "colored seats" in the past as I watched a test run of my film on the screen. Progress.
Greendale, IN Jan 28, 2016 Greendale Cinema
Ray and Mooch, former Fernald workers and two of the greatest guys you will ever meet.
Fernald was a uranium processing facility from 1951-1989. It was also the sister plant of the Weldon Spring Site.
Fernald Preserve Visitor Center
A former Fernald worker contacted me after seeing this picture and wrote, "I worked there for 24 years, both production and clean up. You talk about a shock is when you worked in eveery building, then one day you have to wear these suits. OKKKKK."
The Weldon Spring Cell
that can be walked.
The Containment Cell at Fernald, which holds radioactive materials is more restricted than the Weldon Spring Cell which also holds Radioactive material
Heading 3
Santa Fe, NM March 2016 near Los Alamos
While I screened at "The Screen" in Santa Fe, I would drive up to
Los Alamos to sightsee
The old guard tower at the gate to Los Alamos still stands.
Check point replica of the main gate
The view from the top of Los Alamos.
Robert Oppenheimer had camped and gone horseback riding
in New Mexico and fell in love with it's stunning beauty.
That would help lead Leslie Groves to this area and ultimately
to choose this location for The Manhattan Project.
Las Vegas, NV March 12, 2016
The film Screened at The Atomic Testing Museum, which is amazing and a must visit if you are in the area.
In my hotel room before the screening
Hard to imagine that they tested Atomic weapons this close to the strip.
The Vegas Five
Boise, ID April, 25 2016
I would team up with the legendary environmental group, The Snake River Alliance for multiple screenings across the state of Idaho. Shown here in their offices with Liz Paul, who I enjoyed listening to and learning from.
Screening at "The Flicks" theater
Thanks for the hospitality friends : )
Not hard to see why this group has fought so hard to keep this land as beautiful as it is and free of nuclear waste.
Ketchum, ID April 26, 2016 Magic Lantern Cinemas
Wendy Wilson, Beatrice Brailsford, and Liz Paul
of The Snake River Alliance. Veterans of the the environmental movement and just great people. It was an absolute honor hanging with them.
When it comes to organizing a community there's non better than these women.
Stopped by Arco, ID on the way to Idaho Falls
Just down the road from Arco, is EBR-1 The Worlds First Nuclear Power plant. In 1951 it would light these 4 light bulbs signaling the age of nuclear power.
In the 50's, someone came up with the idea that we needed nuclear powered bombers. These are two atomic jet engines that they tested out here in Idaho. They worked but the plane was never built. Scientist said it was too dangerous. Ah.....Yeah.
Idaho Falls, ID April 27, 2016
Idaho National Laboratory does nuclear reactor
research for the Department of Energy.
Pocatello, ID April 27, 2016 Portneuf Valley Brewing
Portsmouth, OH May 11, 2016 Portsmouth Cinemas
Great to have my cousin Jamar with me on some of these trips. Selling DVD's and being an all around hit where ever he goes. Thanks cuz
Much like Puducah, Portsmouth has made amazing use of their flood wall with incredible artwork telling their city's history. This section pays tribute to the Gaseous Diffusion Plant. Built from 1952-1956. The plant enriched uranium for nuclear weapons. Now set for decommissioning, it was one of only 3 such plants in the U.S, along side Paducah and Oak Ridge.
Vina Colley, was an electrician at the plant. When she became ill from her work there, she became an advocate for worker safety and an environmental activist. She received a number of threats but she fought on.
Vina's work to keep workers and the public safe would play a large role in the creation of The Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Act.
Arvada, CO June 7, 2016 Elvis Cinemas
The Rocky Flats Plant was a nuclear weapons facility that operated from 1952-1989. Long torn down, I was amazed to find that this sign was the only thing to mark the existence of this historic plant by our government. It was the only prominent site that I had been to with no museum.
The Rocky Flats Plant had a number of environmental incidents that lead to widespread contamination. The EPA would raid the plant and it was eventually shut down.
With the Federal government failing to properly mark the history of the plant, artist Jeff Gipe who's father worked at the plant would install his life size "Cold War Horse" sculpture. The horse wears a hazmat suit, rubber boots and a respirator. With the government wanting no part of it, the Cold War Horse stands on private property.
Thanks to Tiffany Hansen of Rocky Flats Downwinders
and my good friend Trish for the Tour
To learn more about the contamination in this community go to Rocky Flats Glows
Kennewick, WA June 22, 2016 Carmike Cinemas 12
The Hanford B Reactor was the first large scale nuclear reactor. It produced plutonium during the Manhattan Project that was used in the Fat Man Nagasaki bomb.
There is a section on Hanford in the film and the many workers that became ill working at this plant
To learn more about the current challenges at the site see the work that Tom Carpenter is doing at Hanford Challenge
Intake vales that pumped water into the plant from the Columbia River to cool the reactor.
Enrico Fermi's office inside the plant.
These great folks really know their stuff and gave us an incredible tour. A must see if you are anywhere near the area.
Granite City, IL July 9th 2016, Granite City Cinemas
Diane Ratliff, resident of Venice, IL and who's story is featured in the film, stands in her backyard with the former Dow Chemical Plant behind her. The plant dumped over 100,000 tons of radioactive material in a lot near her home. Diane and her family asked the EPA for testing in their neighborhood after a number of people in the area developed cancer.
Over 10 years later, they are still waiting.
Former Dow Chemical plant worker Bill Hoppe, was one of three workers that I first met. A cancer survivor, he had been denied compensation from The Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act.
I had never heard of the program. This is where the story began for me and I had no idea where it would take me.
Aiken, SC August 30, 2016 Regal Mall 8
The site was built in the 1950's to refine materials for nuclear weapons. This plant has one of the highest pay outs in the nation with over 1 Billion in compensation paid to over 10 thousand workers. I wasn't allowed in for a tour.
She strolled in and announced her age of 93. A former worker at SRS, she began her work for this country at Oak Ridge as an 18 year old. She told me stories and I just listened.
Some of the people that helped make the screening happen. (Thanks for everything Tiffiney)
St. Louis, MO October 17th 2016
Missouri History Museum
I have long been a fan of our awesome History Museum. It was an honor to screen my film there. Denise and Brian joined me for the Q and A
Los Alamos, NM October 20 2016 Reel Deal Theater
During the Manhattan Project all residents were required to have I.D. Even cute little kids like Cornelia.
The Bradbury Museum didn't shy away from the harm done to our own people. I was surprise to find this in the museum but impressed when I did.
The home that Robert Oppenheimer occupied in Los Alamos during the Manhattan Project. You can visit this and other landmarks on The Walking Tour.
Livermore, CA March 29 2017 The Vine Theater
Historic Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, named after Ernest Lawrence, who won the Nobel Prize for his cyclotron is seated front row 4th from the left. Also pictured is a young Robert Oppenheimer.
The yoke for the 60 inch cyclotron.
Sandia Lab's primary function is to maintain the reliability of nuclear weapons
Augusta, GA August 31 2017 Regal Exchange
Some of the workers from SRS live in Augusta, GA across the river, so anther trip to accommodate those folks.
Shout out to the awesome crew of my sponsor, United Energy Workers Healthcare
Pinellas Park, FL January 2018
The Pinellas Plant produced radioisotope-powered electronic components for the United States
nuclear weapons program.
Always an honor meeting the workers that went to work to protect this country.
One of the brightest 8 year old's I have ever met.
He understood the film completely.
I was blown away.
Professor Denise DeGarmo, who is featured in the film came to the screening and joined me for the Q and A. After meeting the workers that night she decided to lend her skills to help sick workers get compensated. Thanks for all you do and have done Denise.
Amarillo, TX February 1, 2018 Regal Theater
The Pantex Plant was a conventional bomb plant during World War II then later converted to a nuclear weapons assembly and disassembly facility.
There were a number of environmental and health concerns with this plant, from increased cancer rates to low birthrates.
Grants, NM March 31 2018 The West Theater
Most of the uranium used in this country from 1944-1986 came from the Navajo lands of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. I visited the New Mexico Mining Museum while in Grants.
Many members of the Navajo Nation became ill from working in these mines with little protection.
I looked at photo after photo in the museum and never saw anyone wearing a respirator.
These mines are now closed, but the Navajo Nation is still dealing with contamination in their community. The EPA is attempting to address the contaminated homes, water sources and abandon mines.
Berlin, Germany Oct 10 - 2018
Thanks for the honor of being a part of this great international festival.
Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA February 27, 2020
A huge thank you to Professor Scott Knowles and Drexel University for the opportunity to speak at the Student Conference of Global Challenges
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