After its two screenings were sold out in advance, "Guardians of the Gulf" was given an unprecedented third screening, a honor bestowed upon only 3 of the over 225 films shown at this year’s Sarasota Film Festival.

The production of "Guardians of the Gulf", a 53 minute high definition documentary, was completed in December 2007 and then, went quickly to post production for submission to the 2008 Sarasota Film Festival. In mid-February, The Essential Image Source was informed that "Guardians" had been selected and invited to be in the festival. The screenings of the EISF documentary took place on April 7th, 8th, and 10th.

EISF high definition documentary about the Florida red tide, “Guardians of the Gulf”, has been selected and invited to be a part of the Sarasota Film Festival this year. It will be screened on April 7th and 8th. Both screenings have been sold out. However, a third screening for April 10th has now been set by the film festival.

Tickets may be purchased on line at sarasotafilmfestival.com, or the box office at 1991 Main Street, Suite 108, Sarasota, FL or by calling 941.366.6200.

For more information on this EISF film project, click on link to  “Guardians of the Gulf”

The Essential Image Source Foundation is honored to feature Raymond Ordway, one of this country's finest vaqueros, as its Featured Film Member this month.

Ordway participated in the "The Legacy of the California Vaquero" film production shoot in October 2007. Ray and his wife, LaVerne, have become significant supporters of the documentary project and EISF truly appreciates their contributon to this historical venture.

To read more about Ray, click this link to his article at Featured Film Members.

Photographer, Jay Dusard, joined “The Legacy of the California Vaquero” film crew in October during the first production shoot of EISF’s latest high definition documentary. As a still photographer at the shoot, Jay captured black and white photographs, as well as color photography, of the vaqueros, in addition to the behind the scenes action. Recognized globally for his black and white photographs of the working cowboys and landscapes of the American West, Jay studied and taught with Ansel Adams and Frederick Sommer.

With over thirty of the finest working vaqueros in the country, EISF began production of its high definition feature, “The Legacy of the California Vaquero” during October 25-28^th, 2007.  Four Sony professional high definition cameras, a Steadicam, and a talented crew captured engaging oral histories of these living legends, their unmatched horsemanship and skills with cattle and a display of gear that would be the envy of any Western collector. The film subjects--men and their families from California, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, Idaho and Wyoming and all proponents of the California vaquero traditions--traveled with one hundred of their finest horses to the film location, participating also in a private gathering of historical significance as these masters showcased their abilities and demonstrated and discussed the value of these time tested traditions.

Cannons Marina on Longboat Key recently donated the use of a 20-foot Grady White boat and 150 horse power Yamaha motor for the August production filming of a documentary on Red Tide, regarded worldwide as a highly toxic algae bloom. The ten day shoot of Gulf filming in August was the third production trip on the project and included numerous days of on-the-water filming. The Grady White boat provided a stable platform for filming while also providing the speed to facilitate quick trips to several locations and the maneuverability and design to access a variety of marine habitats. The documentary, filmed entirely in high definition, is intended to raise the public’s awareness of Florida red Tide, its impact to the environment and economy, and the current research into its possible prediction, causes and potential prevention. The documentary will be shown in early 2008 at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium’s Immersion Theater in Sarasota, Florida.

With Susan Sember as Executive Producer, Mary Jo England has joined The Essential Image Source Foundation as a co-producer on "The Legacy of the California Vaquero" high definition documentary project. Bruce Sandifer, an accomplished bridlehorseman, has joined the project as an equine technical advisor, as well. Production begins on this feature length high definition documentary in October. For more information, please see "The Legacy of the California Vaquero" under the Projects section of our web site.

The Essential Image Source Foundation and the Ava Gardner Museum have joined together in a project to preserve the museum’s vast collections, utilizing high definition and electronic asset management technology, and to produce additional high definition cultural and educational interactive products, as well as producing new high definition videos for its theater.

For more information on this project, visit our Projects page and also please visit the Ava Gardner Museum’s web site at www.avagardner.org.

The Essential Image Source Foundation ("EISF") and START ("Solutions To Avoid Red Tide") have joined in an unprecedented partnership to produce a red tide high definition documentary on the Gulf coast of Florida. Additional partners and collaborators on the project include Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) and NOAA’s (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Coastal Center for Fisheries and Habitat Research (CCFHR).

A group of leading scientists and researchers met this month to provide scientific support, filming opportunities and other contributions, led by Dr. Bud Cross, EISF Scientific Advisor, and Dr. Patricia Tester, Division Chief, Plankton Ecology, NOAA/ National Ocean Service.

The initial production of the high definition documentary began on August 17th. The documentary will be premiered at Mote’s Immersion Theater in Sarasota, Florida in 2008.