A new independent film from Gregory Kallenberg, Haynesville is being released by Three Penny Productions. Kallenberg’s background is in film and writing, with a focus in journalism and television. His credits include Eating Levi, an internationally successful film about Levi Oliver and his quest for competitive eating fame. Mark Bullard is the producer of Haynesville. ENN was provided a copy of Haynesville to review since energy and environmental aspects are key to the film. Haynesville provides interesting insights into the future role of natural gas in meeting the country’s energy needs. It is essentially two movies intermingled into one. It deals with both the impact of selling gas exploration rights on three parties in northern Louisiana and the promise and pitfalls for an expanded role for natural gas in the US. It can often become a bit confusing as the movie jumps between these two themes.
A new independent film from Gregory Kallenberg, Haynesville is being released by Three Penny Productions. Kallenberg’s background is in film and writing, with a focus in journalism and television. His credits include Eating Levi, an internationally successful film about Levi Oliver and his quest for competitive eating fame. Mark Bullard is the producer of Haynesville. ENN was provided a copy of Haynesville to review since energy and environmental aspects are key to the film.
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Haynesville provides interesting insights into the future role of natural gas in meeting the country’s energy needs. It is essentially two movies intermingled into one. It deals with both the impact of selling gas exploration rights on three parties in northern Louisiana and the promise and pitfalls for an expanded role for natural gas in the US. It can often become a bit confusing as the movie jumps between these two themes.
The sellers of gas exploration rights include a hunter who gets a good price for his gas rights, buys a new Cadillac, is generous to his family and friends, but bemoans the changes to his land. The next beneficiary is a local church that has built a new sanctuary and is rehabilitating a closed school for a Christian academy, although it is never too clear whether the church had a single contributor or a group from its congregation.
The final seller represents a coalition of small land owners who need the money. This group is dynamically led by a single mom who educates herself on the nuances of mineral rights. There are some significant legal complications that have not yet been solved which leaves the viewer looking for more resolution. You can get rich from selling these rights, but it isn’t always easy or without drawbacks.
The second theme provides background on the huge US gas supplies found in shale rock. This gas can now be accessed through the improved techniques of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing where fluids are forced into the rock deep underground to release the gas. Haynesville is one of these major deposits. Some experts suggest that these formations could support our gas requirements for the next 100 years if they can be successfully extracted.
The movie interviews many different experts who indicate the need to move towards alternative energy and the role natural gas can play in generating energy when the winds aren’t blowing and the sun is not shining. There is presently no economical way to store electricity in large amounts. The movie covers some environmental concerns but does not explore the controversy over the potential for the chemicals used in the fracturing process to pollute underground water tables. This subject is being presently reviewed by many governmental agencies.
In sum, Haynesville is a good primer on the merits and pitfalls of shale gas, but the viewer will want to pursue additional sources for a more comprehensive perspective.
For more information: http://www.haynesvillemovie.com/
