Independent Lens
Without Arrows
Without Arrows chronicles three generations of a Lakota family as Delwin Fiddler Jr., an acclaimed dancer, returns home to the reservation in South Dakota to heal past wounds.
The Caldera (Working Title)
The Caldera follows the development of the world’s largest lithium deposit, exploring the profound changes to the region as the U.S. shifts towards renewables.
- Length
- 60 minutes
- Funding Initiative
- Open Call
Producer/Director
Sean Grasso
Sean Grasso is a filmmaker from Oregon. In 2021, after a close encounter with California’s largest wildfire, he shifted his lens toward the stories of America's communities and the wild spaces affected by climate change. This led him to film The Caldera, which follows a community on the frontlines of the transition off of fossil fuels.
Co-Producer
Jessie Sears
Jessie Sears, a proud member of the Karuk Tribe, is deeply committed to indigenous stories, environmental justice, and leveraging compassion through film. Residing in Portland, Oregon, Jessie’s work spans documentary, public broadcast, commercial, and narrative projects, focusing on human connections and our unity with nature.
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The Film
In America’s transition to renewable energy, the McDermitt Caldera now sits at the epicenter. This ancient volcanic basin, straddling the border of Oregon and Nevada, is home to the world’s largest deposit of lithium.
The Caldera examines the developing mining projects within this unique landscape. The film follows the profound impact on the local community made up of the Ft. McDermitt Paiute Shoshone tribe and ranchers. As the community navigates the potential of cleaner energy and economic development, they confront the challenge of preserving their ancestral land, which has been integral to their culture and way of life for generations. The region’s expansive sagebrush ecosystem also serves as a critical habitat for the greater sage-grouse, drawing attention to the intersection of local conservation efforts and the broader global climate crisis.
By following the unfolding lithium projects and the impending changes to the community and land, the film places these developments within the larger context of America's shift toward renewable energy. It explores the complex dynamics of pursuing global cleaner energy solutions while grappling with the regional environmental and cultural ramifications, offering a nuanced view of progress and preservation.
