A Wild Idea is an award winning documentary about the Yasuní-ITT Initiative, Ecuador’s unprecedented proposal for fighting global climate change: In exchange for payments from the world community, the country will leave untouched its largest oil reserves.

AWARDS

Best Student Film – Green Screen Film Festival, 2011.

Best Short Film – Colorado Environmental Film Festival, 2012.

Silver Star – Cinema Verde Film Festival – International College Competition 2012.

Best Thesis Film – 8th Annual ReelHeART
 International Film Festival, 
2012.

Green Award –  Third World Indi Film Festival, 2012.

Third Place Environmental Film –  My Hero International Film Festival, 2012

Honorable Mention Award for Portrayal of Human vs. Wildlife Interaction – International Wildlife Film Festival, 2012.

Honorable Mention Award for Documentary Short – International Film Festival for Peace, Inspiration, and Equality, 2012.

Highly Commended – Newcomer category, Wildscreen Panda Awards, 2012

The film takes the viewer to the Yasuní National Park, in the Ecuadorian Amazon, capturing the rain forest’s stunning biodiversity.  The film also focuses in the millions of barrels of oil lying beneath the part of the park known as the ITT Block.

A Yasuní grasshoper.

Exploiting the ITT seemed to be the logical step Ecuador had to take, but political changes have transformed the way the country views oil development. Through testimony representing different perspectives and rich archival video, A Wild Idea shows how the seemingly utopian ideal of keeping valuable oil underground turned into an official proposal.

As the film progresses, the complex initiative becomes easy to understand. The audience sees what’s at stake if the proposal is not accepted. And the political twists and turns that made it possible and that could also threaten the success of this revolutionary idea.

If accepted, the Yasuní-ITT initiative will protect perhaps the most biodiverse place on Earth. It would also respect the rights of two of the last nomadic tribes that live there in voluntary isolation. And it would avoid the emission of hundreds of millions of tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Canoe trip at the Yasuni National Park.

A Wild Idea is a thought provoking film that explores the complexity of oil development within a fragile ecosystem, its local and global implications, and its effects on the planet as a whole.

The Making of A Wild Idea

A Wild Idea, was directed and produced by Verónica Moscoso. This film was Verónica’s master thesis at UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. Production and postproduction took approximately a year.

The project was possible thanks to The Anzinger Endowment, Margaret and Will Hearst Fund and the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.

For more info, go to the official site awildidea-movie.com

Like A Wild Idea in Facebook.

Historias con sabor a sueño (Dream-Flavored Stories) is the name of Verónica’s first book, published by Letramía in Quito, Ecuador in 2001. This book is a compilation of five fantasy stories. Each one is like a metaphor of some of the author’s life experiences and the teachings they left her. The result are narrations similar to fairy tales for grown ups.

“While I was developing the plot I felt so involved in my imagination and had so much pleasure, that I lost the notion of time. I enjoyed every second that I worked on the creation of the stories, re-rewriting and editing.”

vero

The following is a taste of each one of the stories.

Entregué mis cuentos (I Gave Away my Stories)

“One full moon, I entered my room to discover a faint but warm yellow light glowing in the middle of the dark. With curiosity, I approached and saw that the glow was coming out from a stack of papers where I wrote my stories. I wasn’t afraid, but when I touched them I did so very carefully. The tips of my fingers were able to feel a beat and amid the silence I could hear the stack of papers breathing slowly and deeply, as if were a baby.

La Maldición (The Malediction)

“One night, a mysterious halo of the full moon bathed the temple. The villagers of the town of Non, believed that it was a divine sign of prosperity. They gathered to admire this miraculous spectacle. Joel missed the moon. He slept early, as always. That night while Joel was breathing calmly, deep in sleep, he dreamt about a white-golden luminosity that spoke to him with no words, ‘When thou lose thy fear of the darkness thou will save thy people.’ “

En la Luna (At the Moon)

“Everything I’m about to tell happened while I lived for three months on the Moon. My parents were a bit worried but despite of it they were proud. My friends on Earth were jealous and said, “You are so lucky!” I was happier every day at the Moon Station learning and working together with a team of friendly, adventurous and energetic young people. “

La Estatua de Apolo (The Statue of the God Apollo)

“The immense marble statue of God Apollo resided inside the temple. It’s face was serious and solemn. A  Greek robe half covered a youthful and robust chest. The statue was white and beautiful, a true work of art. It was so perfect that men and women fell in love with it.”

Mateo y la Montaña (Mateo and the Mountain)

“Mateo felt happy. Like all adventurers, he believed he was prepared to face any situation he could encounter. Mateo approached them and they approached him. Then, an enormous cloud drifted away letting the moon illuminate the squalid bodies of some half-human half-canine creatures.  They spoke between growls with their slobbery muzzles.”

This hour-long radio documentary explores the past and present of Flamenco, an art forged by the gypsies, acclaimed by the kings and now known all around the globe. You’ll hear the sounds of classic and modern Flamenco and listen to the testimonies of those who feel the art it in their blood.

Since 1874, the Victorian lighthouse at East Brother Island has continued to be a landmark for sailors.

“The light has to be on. If it’s not we have to tell the Coast Guard and there’s a back-up that comes on,” said Anne Witts, who together with her husband Ed, is the innkeeper at the lighthouse.

As the innkeepers, the Witts have to take care of much more than just the light. Around 26 years ago, the East Brother Light Station became a bed and breakfast destination that receives guests from Thursday through Sunday; its earnings are used to maintain the facilities. For the last year and a half, the Witts have been working around the clock, keeping the light station alive.

In 1971, the station was placed on the National Register of Historic Places—that saved it from being demolished and replaced by a light on a tower. It was falling apart from lack of funding to restore it, until the East Brother Light Station, Inc., a nonprofit corporation group, was formed 1979.

Today, the restored structures at the station are still standing, but because they are more than 100 years old, they need constant attention and care. “We fix things every day,” said Ed Witts. Volunteers come on the second Saturday of every month and work on projects around the island. The volunteer board that meets once a month is constantly doing work, too.

The bed and breakfast is a small and cozy place. Guests stay the night in one of the four bedrooms located in the lighthouse building, or at the one in the fog signal building. To get there, customers must make reservations in advance and are picked up by boat from Point San Pablo Yacht Harbor. From the harbor it takes ten minutes to get to the light station, and passengers can enjoy the marvelous views of the San Francisco skyline, Mount Tamalpais, and the Marin coastline.

The experience at the bed and breakfast is definitely a unique getaway. Guests enjoy the views, the food, and get to know the other guests and innkeepers. They also get a tour of the island and the restored lighthouse and foghorn buildings. The original, 136-year-old foghorn is demonstrated for the guests every morning. However there’s an electric modern one inside the building that goes on all winter long.

The only water at the island is rainwater collected on a cistern, and the island has its own sewer treatment plant. Only guests who are staying longer than one night are allowed to take showers. “If all guests were taking showers we would have to close,” said Anne. “We don’t have enough water.”

Anne is the cook at the lighthouse. “When people are fed well, they are really happy and Anne feeds them really well,” said her husband fondly.

Lighthouse guests are usually couples that are celebrating birthdays or anniversaries. “We do a romantic theme,” said Ed. “That’s what the lighthouse is known for.”

As innkeepers, the Witts have Coast Guard licenses to be able to pilot a boat, and they have to do a lot of boating to keep the lighthouse running since everything has to be taken on and off the island. “We try to take all of the laundry and propane and garbage off at the end of our week and bring it all back at the beginning,” said Ed Witts. They also have to transport enough food for the guests and themselves. “We try not to make many extra trips because is very time consuming and expensive,” he said.

The Witts have Tuesdays off, which they spend at their home in Pittsburg; the rest of the week the couple has their plate full innkeeping at the light station. When asked what happens if one of them gets sick, Anne said laughing, “We keep going—there is no ‘stop.’”

The couple has loved their time at the light station. Anne, originally from Belgium, and Ed, from the Bay Area, actually met sailing in Italy.  When they moved from Europe they applied for the job as innkeepers. They said that the job was a perfect fit for them, but they are ready to pass it on in four months when their contract expires. “If you keep doing it for too long, you can burn out,” Ed said.

The Witts aren’t tired of the beautiful views and the ocean, though—when they are done with their work at the light station, said Anne, “We are going to take care of our house and then we’re going sailing for a few months.”

By: Verónica Moscoso | August 13, 2010

Story originally published at Richmond Confidential

Through this short multimedia piece you’ll enter the world of bondage and also you’ll learn about the life of an expert bondage instructor.

Produced by Verónica Moscoso in 2010.

There is a lot to be said about Capoeira, a mixture between a martial art and a dance. This short radio documentary takes us to the Capoeria world and showcases the capoeristas from the Capoeira Arts Café.

The voice of Pauline Winter narrates this documentary produced by Verónica Moscoso for Full Circle at KPFA 94.1 fm.

For two hours it was as if all that surrounded Joel Alcaraz, 10 and Greg Lope, 33, had disappeared. Divided physically by a chessboard and mentally connected by the game, they competed at the Contra Costa College Community Chess Tournament this past Saturday.

“If I beat him, he is just a kid, but if I loose, I got beat by a kid,” Lope joked lightheartedly after the game. Lope won, but it was tough and he knew it would be — he had seen Alcaraz play before.

The Chess Tournament had 28 participants from ages 6 to 50. Photo by Veronica Moscoso.

Lope and Alcaraz were two of the 28 participants of the fourth tournament organized by the West Coast Chess Alliance, a nonprofit community-based chess advocacy group. Co-directors, Trendell Ball and Will Delaney are promoting chess by teaching it in Bay Area schools, nonprofits and community centers. Some of the participants were their students. Contra Costa College supported the event by providing the facilities and the chessboards. Players all ages were welcome and registration was free.

The turnout at the tournament included a very diverse crowd of people: The youngest participant was 6 years old and the oldest was 50. Some were Richmond residents and some came from surrounding cities. “Chess is a great equalizer,” said Ball. “You can compete on an equal basis with anybody.”

The event was a “quad tournament” in which players are divided in groups of four. Each participant has to play all the members of their group, so they play three games. “The quad is a fun way to play,” said Ball because it’s a friendly format for beginners. “Players talk and get to know each other in their group. Plus you have more winners.”

Gabriel, 6, was the youngest winner. Photo by Veronica Moscoso.

There were seven quads (groups of four) and seven winners in this tournament. The kids who won went home with a trophy. “Young people love the trophies,” said Ball.

Jaqueline Leal, 10, didn’t win this time but she wants to compete again, “so I can win the trophy.” Leal learned to play at Girls Incorporated of West Contra Costa, a nonprofit involved in education and advocacy for girls. She says she likes how chess makes her focus and she likes the challenge of competing. At home she plays chess with her 13-year-old brother and she writes down moves and strategies to win.

Do Nguyen, 17, who is from a family of Vietnamese immigrants, learned to play a year ago and has started studying chess moves, too. He sometimes plays Chinese chess with his dad or his brother. Like many other players he likes the challenge and the social aspect of the game. “You go to tournaments and you meet new people,” he said. “You get challenged pretty much every time you’re playing and every time is different.”

Joel Alcaraz, 10, was the only child who asked to be put in a quad with adults. Photo by Veronica Moscoso.

At this tournament, chess players were divided by age. Alcaraz was the only child who asked to be put in a quad with adults. He didn’t care about winning, “I want to learn,” he said. If Alcaraz had played kids his age or older, he would have definitely won said the organizers.

The parents of some of the participating children were at the tournament. Joel Alcaraz’s father, Noi Alcaraz, was one of them. He taught his son to play chess when he was four. “He used to play with me before, but I never win now,” he said, laughing, “I tell him, you’re not learning anymore when you play with me.”

For Alcaraz, it’s great to see his son be so passionate about chess — it was his dream to be a great chess player but “I didn’t have the chance to excel,” he said. Now his son plays chess online and although the family lives in Vallejo, his father takes him to the Berkeley Chez Club every Friday.

Family members take pictures and video of their children at the tournament. Photo by Veronica Moscoso.

Silvia Naldoza, the mother of 8 year old participant Vans Naldoza, said that her son learned to play just a month ago when she persuaded him to join College for Kids at Contra Costa College. Naldoza said her two sons play chess at home. “I know it really challenges their mind. It’s like a mind marathon and I want them to have their brain exercised,” she said.

“Chess can be used to promote positive self-esteem in a student because it’s a thinking game and a lot of the youth today aren’t being challenged enough in terms of thinking,” Ball said. His nonprofit is about promoting the positive values embedded in chess. “There are a lot of academic crossovers,” he said, but the group also wants to promote community and family chess playing.

Some family members competed at the tournament. Brother and sister Mauricio and Julissa Morfin from Peres Elementary School in Richmond both competed in different quads — Mauricio won the trophy. Father and son David and Gabriel McDonald competed in separate quads too, and both of them won. At six years old, Gabriel was the youngest winner.

Other adults who do community work with youth were there to support the kids, including Doretha Morris, the executive director of Girls Incorporated of West Contra Costa County. Eight girls, ages nine to 14, were competing.  For Morris, chess is a really positive thing. “It’s all about increasing their analytical and critical thinking skills. I know that chess will really help them in math as they go along with school,” she said.

One of the winners Mauricio Morfin, 11, and proud sister Julissa, 9. Photo by Veronica Moscoso.

Carlos Taboada, who runs the chess team at Richmond High School and is a school counselor, came to support two of the kids from the school’s chess club and his own son David. “It is very valuable activity to cultivate mental discipline in the students,” he said of chess.

“We think that chess can improve academic skills,” said McKinley Williams, president of Contra Costa College, who attended the tournament. Williams said he’s read research that shows how chess can improve mathematical reasoning, critical thinking and attention span. “It’s a great support for someone that is involved in academic pursues,” he said.

Williams is such a supporter of chess that now the campus has a few outdoor tables with chess boards. “We wanted to make the college a place where people can come and play chess casually,” Williams said. A couple years ago, he even invited to campus Maurice Ashley, the first African-American to attain the title of International Grandmaster of Chess in 1999.

According to Ball, on top of the academic values, chess promotes educational values that can be very useful to youth. “It’s about thinking strategically. You need those type of skills in general to navigate in life,” Ball said.

Laurel Darnel, 13, one of the winners. Photo by Veronica Moscoso

Laurel Darnel, 13 was one of the tournament winners from of Girls Inc. She enjoys basketball but she enjoys chess, too. She plays at the computer for two or three hours a week when she is at home. “You really need to know how to focus to play chess, and it’s the same in life — you need to focus on things and know where you want to be,” Darnel said.

According to Ball, some life skills can be taught through chess; for example, taking responsibility for your actions. “When you make a move on the chess board there are consequences that can be good or bad that you have to deal with,” Ball said. He said that chess can also be used to teach kids about being persistent. “If you keep playing and making moves, you can get yourself out of a bad situation.” One very important lesson, he said, is to think before you act. “Think about the consequences of your actions before you make a move that is going to be detrimental to yourself,” Ball said.

One of the outdoor tables with chessboards at Contra Costa College. Photo by Veronica Moscoso.

One of the missions of the West Coast Chess Alliance is to bring chess to minority groups. The alliance has programs at Perez Elementary School, Girls Incorporated, College for kids in Contra Costa College, Cornado YMCA and at the West Oakland Library. “A problem that youth has, and particularly those that are considered at-risk, is they aren’t making good decisions,” Ball said. “Chess, the game itself, is all about making decisions.”

By: Verónica Moscoso | August 2, 2010

Story originally published by Richmond Confidential

Coffee reading is an ancient art practiced around the world. In this short movie, Veronica Moscoso captures what coffee reading is about, through the testimony of an Arminian-Iranian woman who grew up around this practice. She explains that Coffee reading is about seeing the future, but it is also about family, community, friendship, socializing and creating an intimate bond between the ones participating in it.

A hot air balloon ride in the early morning of Santa Rosa, California was an opportunity to capture the beauty of the experience from High and up. Pictures by Verónica Moscoso.

BART and bus riders from Richmond and neighboring cities give their opinion about the verdict in the Johannes Mehserle trial. The jury found Mehserle, a former BART police officer, guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the 2009 shooting death of Oscar Grant on an Oakland train platform.  The verdict caused protests and vandalism in the streets of Oakland.

By: Veronica Moscoso | July 9, 2010

Story originally published in Richmond Confidential