Public Information Division

Filming in Iceland, October 2006 Slide Show

Air: The search for one clean breath is a large-screen format film originally funded by a United States Environmental Protection Agency and produced by the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District and the communications firm, Media 360.

Goals

• To showcase “air” nationally in the spectacular wide-screen IMAX format to a general public audience at some of the big-screen theaters located at science centers, museums, planetariums, and observatories. The film will blend animation with footage of atmospheric phenomena and live-action recreations using an original music soundtrack and featuring a celebrity narrator.
• To provide viewers with the story of air – its personality, lifestyle changes, struggle for identity, and endurance as the “majestical roof” surrounding our planet.
• To provide viewers with information on what various countries, new technologies, communities, organizations, and individuals are doing to clean the air.
• To provide students with an introduction to the study of air that will continue with a information guide to the film which will be distributed to teachers nationwide.
• To inspire viewers with the message that they have the power to affect the air quality in their communities.
• To distribute the film at selected IMAX theaters in the US as well as distribute copies on DVD, VHS, and Beta tape to all air quality agencies in the country.

Project Sponsorships

Former VCAPCD executive officer Dick Baldwin with San Diego County APCD staff filming historical re-enactment scenes at St. Michaels by-the-Sea Church in Carlsbad, California in September 2006

• The United States Environmental Protection Agency (original grant)
• The United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park
• The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District
• Iceland Air
• The Port of Long Beach
• Warner Brothers Studios
• Nordica Hotel, Iceland
• Media 360
• Dubscape

Technical Review Committee

This 11-member committee consists of scientists, policy makers, and air quality experts who agreed to review the draft script and submit edits, revisions and suggestions to the producers. The committee consists of the following members.

• Alan C. Lloyd, Ph.D., former Secretary, CalEPA
• Dr. Joel Schwartz, Harvard University
• Dr. James Lents, University of California, Riverside
• Susan Bullard, US EPA, Office of Transportation and Air Quality
• Tim Dye, Vice President, Sonoma Technology
• John Bachmann, United States EPA, Research Triangle Park
• Debbie Stackhouse, US EPA, Research Triangle Park
• Joe Sherman, author, GASP: The swift and terrible beauty of Air
• Dolly Arons, President, Arons Air Quality Services, Houston, TX
• Richard H. Baldwin, consultant, former Air Pollution Control Officer, VCAPCD
• Mike Villegas, Air Pollution Control Officer, VCAPCD

(For current film updates call (805) 662-6984 or visit airthefilm.org)

Winner of the 2008 International Mercury Communications Award

This is our fifth issue of Clean Air Today and we have dedicated it to the reality of global climate change.

This supplement answers some questions about global climate change and presents some actions individuals and businesses can take to prevent it. If you would like additional copies, contact public information manger, Barbara L. Page.

Seabee Days Port Hueneme, June 2007

There's always time for clean air!  We attend many events in Ventura County each year to talk with the public about air quality and what individuals can do to help clean our air. We have large or portable colorful graphic displays to educate the public about air quality.

We distribute lots of air quality "stuff" at these events. If you have a special event that you would like us to participate in, give Barbara a call at (805) 645-1415.

In March 2004, the District was recognized nationally for its commitment to preventing air pollution and improving air quality. The APCD was one of only 13 recipients across the country to receive the prestigious U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Air Excellence Award. This is the second time the District has been recognized with the award. The Clean Air Excellence Awards Program was established in 2000 at the recommendation of the Clean Air Act Advisory Committee, a senior-level policy committee that advises the agency on implementation of the Clean Air Act. The awards program recognizes both individuals and organizations that have undertaken the risks of innovation, served as pioneers in their fields, and improved the environment in the process.

Call and request a copy of our  new Speakers Bureau Brochure

Speaker's Bureau - Coming to you with a clean air message

Public Information is out and about in the county talking about clean air and what individuals can do to help. We are “hitting the road” with video-based presentations to service organizations, businesses, community, senior and church groups. We can show you an inspiring and entertaining video and we’ll update you on current air quality projects in our 25-minute presentation. And we’ll give you some really great handouts too.

• Global Climate Change Power Point presentation. What exactly is global climate change? What is the District, California and the country doing about it? What can an individual do? Engineer Don Price will address these topics in a 20-minute presentation he’s developed on global climate change. There will also be some time for a question & answer period after the slide presentation.
• Health Effects of Smog (CARB, 2003, 20 minutes) – How does SMOG hurt your health? Watch this video and find out. You may be surprised. Even when you don’t see or notice it, SMOG can cause damage to your body. This video shows where SMOG comes from, how it’s formed, and who is most vulnerable.
• A 20-minute presentation on Ventura County's air. Why is air pollution so bad for your health? Where does it come from? Do we have a problem here in Ventura County? This presentation explains it all.

To schedule a presentation or for more information, call Barbara at (805) 645-1415.