White RiverStories

White RiverStories is an interview-based series of short films that profile key individuals that have a unique connection to the beautiful treasures along the White River in Madison County, Indiana. Developers in Anderson, Indiana intend to dam the White River to create a reservoir for the proposed purpose of economic development and a regional water supply source...in an area already rich in underground aquifers. The consequences of building such a dam are dire and include displacing hundreds of residents through eminent domain, destroying a free-flowing river, inundating a protected State Nature Preserve, and creating an eroding lakeshore dangerously close to 2,000 year old Native American earthworks in Mounds State Park. White RiverStories reminds our community, and others, of the rich natural, cultural, and recreational resources that we need to protect for our children and grandchildren.

  • Mark G. Dawson
    Director
    White RiverScapes, A Ripple of Hope, The Crystal Arch Project
  • Mark G. Dawson
    Producer
    White RiverScapes, A Ripple of Hope, The Crystal Arch Project
  • Mark G. Dawson
    Cinematographer
    White RiverScapes, A Ripple of Hope, The Crystal Arch Project
  • Mark G. Dawson
    Editor
    White RiverScapes, A Ripple of Hope, The Crystal Arch Project
  • Douglas Blue Feather
    Soundtrack
    2015 Indian Summer Music Awards Winner "Best Contemporary Instrumental" for CD Rhythms Of The Night - Also nominated for "Best Native American Flute"
  • Danny Voris
    Soundtrack
  • Dan Valleskey
    Key Cast
  • Michael Pace
    Key Cast
    The Lenape on the Wapahani River
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Web / New Media
  • Genres:
    Documentary Short, Environmental
  • Runtime:
    6 minutes 13 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 31, 2015
  • Production Budget:
    0 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    AVCHD 1080p
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • White River Short Film Festival
    Anderson, IN
    United States
    April 29, 2018
  • Wild & Scenic Film Festival (Indiana Forest Alliance)
    Bloomington, IN
    United States
    January 14, 2018
  • Indiana Short Film Festival
    Danville, IN
    United States
    October 9, 2016
Director Biography - Mark G. Dawson

Mark is a producer/director, as well as cinematographer, camera operator, and editor on most of his projects. He worked as a TV news photographer/editor in Kentucky for 7 years earning 17 state and regional awards in the process. He then spent two and a half years as a staff producer for an award-winning Nashville, Tennessee film and video production company. Since 1998 Mark has been honored with Telly, ADDY, Aurora, Angel, and Ava awards as well as two Regional Emmy Awards and three nominations. Mark served as cinematographer for the acclaimed documentary "A Ripple of Hope" which was screened at several festivals across the USA including the Newport Beach Film Festival, where Mark represented the film. He has shot across the USA and around the world and is an Active Member in the Society of Camera Operators (SOC) and the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) Lower Great Lakes Chapter.

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Director Statement

White RiverStories is my first venture into activist filmmaking. The plan of some in my community to destroy the White River by damming it to create a reservoir left me no choice but to act. It's my hope that White RiverStories will make difference in our fight to save our White River so that it, and its surrounding treasures can be enjoyed by future generations.