Sheryl Crow, Viggo Mortensen and Ginger Kathrens Speak Out to
Save The American Mustang in Kleinert’s New Film. Filmmaker calls to
protect legendary American wild horses in the West.

Washington, DC (March 10, 2010)—International award-winning filmmaker, James Kleinert, screens his latest star-studded film, Disappointment Valley … A Modern Day Western, featuring Sheryl Crow, Viggo Mortensen and Darryl Hannah, on Wednesday, March 24 in Washington DC. Kleinert’s documentary examines the politics behind the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) controversial policies on public lands while questioning the fate of America’s wild horses and burros.

The screening begins at 6:00pm at Busboys and Poets, 14th and V, Washington, DC. The film will be followed by a Q&A with Kleinert and Emmy-Award Winning filmmaker and wild horse advocate, Ginger Kathrens, who also appears in the film. The screening will be followed by the “March for Mustangs” rally on March 25th in Lafayette Park from 1:00pm- 3:00pm to stop the destruction of America’s wild horse and burro herds. Actress Wendie Malick will join speakers Kathrens, Kleinert and more for a 1:30pm press conference.

“Wild horses are living things who have a right to coexist in what is a vast landscape, which is the American west.”- Viggo Mortensen, Actor/Advocate

Disappointment Valley centers around dramatic footage of heart-wrenching wild horse roundups and interviews with Jim Baca, (former Director of the Bureau of Land Management), Michael Blake, (Writer, Dances With Wolves), Sheryl Crow, Viggo Mortensen, Daryl Hannah, Congressmen Raul M. Grijalva, American Indian Actor and advocate Raoul Trijullo, energy consultant Randy Udall, scientific experts, animal rights and environmental activists. Probing deeply into the issue, the documentary examines the effects of the 2004 legislation that cleared the way for the removal and slaughter of America’s wild horses.

“The BLM is not just trying to destroy wild horse herds, they’re really challenging the system of democracy in the US and this is a very, very dangerous path they’ve gone down” –Ginger Kathrens, filmmaker of the popular PBS Cloud: Wild Stallion of the Rockies programs and Director of The Cloud Foundation.

Disappointment Valley documents the struggle of the legendary mustangs who have long symbolized freedom, individualism and the wild spirit in America. However, greed and corruption take center stage, exposing deceit within the BLM.  The film delves into the current impacts on western public lands by oil, gas, mining and corporate cattle grazing.

“I hope this film will not only educate viewers about the disturbing, massive removals of our wild horses but inspire change to protect these precious animals in the West,” explains Kleinert. A former World Cup competitor in freestyle skiing aerials, and a top action, environmental and Native American filmmaker, Kleinert’s short film Wild Horse Spirit was pivotal in the 2007 Emmy award-winning PBS series Natural Hero’s.

“As remarkable as a distant sight of wild horses can be, it remains the tip of a glorious iceberg. The actual lives of wild horses reveal to humanity the privilege of having a life on the planet earth and how vital it is to respect the privilege.”- Michael Blake, Author Dances with Wolves and Twelve the King.

James Kleinert works closely with the Spirit Riders Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit. The Spirit Riders Foundation produces multimedia state of the art audio-visual programming to educate, enlighten, entertain and to create positive understanding, hope and action among people and cultures. These materials are designed to foster harmony and understanding by empowering the human spirit, mind and body.

Reservations for the screening are recommended but not required, please contact: Elizabeth Slagsvol at BSlagsvol@mac.com or Makendra Silverman, Makendra@TheCloudFoundation.org, 719-351-8187
Venue capacity: 80 people

Disappointment Valley Trailer & Information

James Kleinert, filmmaker Moving Cloud Productions

PSA by Moving Cloud Productions on mustangs in danger

Spirit Riders Foundation

American Herds – “What’s Left?”

March for Mustangs- March 25th, DC Rally:

News Story on Calico, rising death toll & skewed numbers from George Knapp (KLAS- Las Vegas)

BLM Daily Reports from Calico Roundup/Fallon Holding

Humane Observer blog

“A Cruel Waste” – explanatory youtube video

Rebuttal to Salazar’s plan in LA Times

The Cloud Foundation position paper on Salazar plan—Oct. 2009

Good Morning America at Calico

New York Times “Horses Die in Roundup”

After campaigning for Obama, Sheryl Crow at odds over his administration’s wild-horse plan (Associated Press)

Mestengo. Mustang. Misfit. America’s Disappearing Wild Horses- A History

Frequently Asked Questions on Wild Horses

Stampede to Oblivion: An Investigate Report from Las Vegas Now

Photos, video and interviews available from:
The Cloud Foundation
news@thecloudfoundation.org
719-633-3842

Media Contacts:
Makendra Silverman
Makendra@TheCloudFoundation.org
Tel: 719-351-8187

Anne Novak
Anne@TheCloudFoundation.org
Tel: 415-531-8454