More Media Attention for Colorado City
 
By Buster Johnson
Mohave County Supervisor
MohaveCountyNews.com
 
Senator Linda Binder and I attended Yavapai College's Zaki Gordon Institute Shorts Film Festival in Phoenix. Each year they have a wrap up premiere screening of their graduates' short films. Seven films were premiered. The topics all varied and had some very interesting content.

I was there mainly to view "Hidden in the Heartland". A film by Dot Reidelbach. This was a documentary film about the abuses in Colorado City. "This story is told through the voices of polygamists still living in the town, women who have escaped, men who have been evicted and reporters who have extensive knowledge of the ongoing criminal activities."

The film was very well edited and flowed quite well. The stories told were hard hitting and very personal. The room was extremely quiet as the story was told and everyone present was riveted to the screen. The film crew did an excellent job of telling the story in a twenty minute short. The film won Best Director in the Documentary category and Audience Choice Award.

They are in the process of making a 90 minute film that will go into more depth. They are looking to screen this version at the Sundance Film Festival in Cannes. They are in the process of trying to set up for a showing at our own Havasu Film Festival later this year.

This is the second documentary that I have participated in this year and both films have received great reviews. The other film will be shown at the Sundance Film Festival also. With two major projects being viewed at these prestigious gatherings, hopefully the general public will be driven to get involved.

I was able to meet up with some folks that I met over six years ago. They have gone through some tough times readjusting to mainstream life and were looking well. The struggles these people are forced to endure are shameful and deserve more help than we have given them.

If anyone would like further information you can contact the filmmaker at www.hiddenintheheartland.com. Or, you can contact my office at 453-0724 and get information on both pictures. They both deserve your support.
 
MohaveCountyNews.com
Originally published September 21, 2004
 
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