WWR-Windfall director Laura Israel and others from Meredith NY

Windfall hits the small screen – Director Laura Israel — Sun. 5/13/12, 7pm ET

Discussion with Laura Israel the director of the movie Windfall includes two Meredith residents, Keitha Capouya and Ken Jaffe, MD. Keitha currently serves as Meredith’s Town Supervisor and Ken runs Slope Farms which specializes in grass-fed, organic beef. Annette Smith, Executive Director of Vermonter’s for a Clean Environment, co-hosts this episode.

Laura Israel, Director/Producer

WINDFALL director Laura Israel grew up in New Jersey and after earning a degree in film from NYU, she edited music videos for Lou Reed, Keith Richards, David Byrne, New Order, Patti Smith, Ziggy Marley, Sonic Youth and many others. Laura has worked as photographer/filmmaker Robert Frank’s editor for nearly two decades; the films have screened all over the world and won many awards. She also edited Stephanie Black’s feature documentary AFRICA UNITE, LIFE FOR A CHILD directed by Academy Award nominated DP Ed Lachman and MUSIC OF REGRET by photographer Laurie Simmons. Editing credits include advertising and television promo campaigns that have garnered AICP awards, International Film and TV awards, a GLAAD award, an Emmy award, and a Monitor award for editing. This is Laura Israel’s first film as director, and she was named one of Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces of Independent Film.

ABOUT THE FILM

Wind power… it’s sustainable … it burns no fossil fuels…it produces no air pollution. What’s more, it cuts down dependency on foreign oil. That’s what the people of Meredith, in upstate New York first thought when a wind developer looked to supplement the rural farm town’s failing economy with a farm of their own — that of 40 industrial wind turbines. WINDFALL, a beautifully photographed feature length film, documents how this proposal divides Meredith’s residents as they fight over the future of their community. Attracted at first to the financial incentives that would seemingly boost their dying economy, a group of townspeople grow increasingly alarmed as they discover the impacts that the 400-foot high windmills slated for Meredith could bring to their community as well as the potential for financial scams. With wind development in the United States growing annually at 39 percent, WINDFALL is an eye-opener that should be required viewing for anyone concerned about the environment and the future of renewable energy.

Keitha Capouya – Meredith Planning Board chairperson for 5 years. Although this is a volunteer position, Keitha diligently takes on the task of critically researching the Meredith wind proposal for over a year in order to write a wind facilities zoning ordinance for the town. Keitha reveals that she has owned a publishing company with her husband and in fact, has written and edited encyclopedias.  Keitha currently serves as Meredith’s Town Supervisor.

Ken Jaffe, MD – Doctor from Brooklyn NY, moved to Meredith to raise grass fed beef. Also has a degree in public health, and explains the sound issues and potential health concerns with wind turbines. Ken is Frank Bachler’s closest neighbor, and is the first resident to find out about the proposal. Ken practiced family medicine for 25 years, after which he studied public health at Columbia University. This let to a strong interest in the relationship between human health and the way we raise livestock. He currently operates Slope Farms in Meredith, NY where he raised grass fed beef for restaurants, butcher shops, and individuals.