Letter Re: Documentary Film Producer Seeking Interview Subjects

Hello to the Readers of SurvivalBlog:
I do hope you’ll consider the following request. I produce documentaries for a company called Engel Entertainment We have been around for more than a dozen years, and have a solid track record producing award-winning and highly rated programming for all of the major broadcasters (the History Channel, the Discovery Channel, PBS, National Geographic, etc.). My most recent film was a two-hour special for History Channel called “Black Blizzard”, about the American Dust Bowl (this is actually re-broadcasting this Friday night, January 9th, at 10 p.m. if you’d like to see a sample of our work.

I am now in the process of developing a new film about survivalism. While working on the Dust Bowl film, I met men and women who had lived through what I came to think of as a kind of mini American Apocalypse – a decade of no rain, no crops, dust storms that killed livestock and children, and created grinding poverty — truly “the worst hard time” as one book called it. These folks endured and are some of the most stoic, pragmatic, wonderful people I’ve ever met. During this time, I also read [Cormac McCarthy’s novel] “The Road,” and I’m sure that, too, inspired my thinking. What I would like to do in this new film is present a solid history of the survivalist movement as background, and then take a look at the current state of preparedness of the American public in the event of a catastrophic event. I am looking for leaders and participants in the movement who would be willing to share with us their philosophies and strategies for the future.

Jim Rawles kindly agreed to allow me reach out to you. Ideally, I am looking for a spectrum of individuals, families and groups who would consider the possibility of welcoming a film crew into their lives for a short period of time (which could be anywhere from an afternoon to a few days, depending upon what we agreed). Jim has helped me understand the need for security, and we are willing in every case to work with you to respect OPSEC, including using pseudonyms and not revealing the locations of your homes or retreats. We are willing to be driven in and out of your location blindfolded (and would obviously cover the costs that would be associated with meeting and transporting a crew in this way to protect your security.)

With the American economy in a free-fall, the timeliness of this subject couldn’t be more relevant, and I would like to stress to you that we plan to approach the subject with respect and an effort to provide useful information to our audience. If you are interested in this project, please contact me at: survival@email.engelentertainment.com
Yours sincerely, – Amy Bucher, Senior Producer, Engel Entertainment