Filming this weekend for hemlock documentary

Posted on by Kent Priestley

This weekend, a film crew from Back 40 Films will finish location shooting for the company’s upcoming documentary, The Vanishing Hemlock, in the Cataloochee section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The film’s subject is the spread of the hemlock woolly adelgid, an exotic pest that is destroying native hemlock trees in their habitats along the Appalachian mountain chain. The East’s largest hemlocks are found within the Smokies, and have been hit hard by the adelgid since it was first recorded there in 2002.

Weather permitting, plans for this weekend’s shoot include Black Mountain arborist Will Blozan‘s climb of the “Usis” hemlock, one of Cataloochee’s largest hemlocks.

Back 40 Films is based in Charlotte. The company is receiving financial assistance for The Vanishing Hemlock from the Southern Documentary Fund.

— Kent Priestley, staff writer

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5 thoughts on “Filming this weekend for hemlock documentary”

  2. Ellen Pfirrmann

    Using the word vanishing puts a lighter touch on what is nothing less than complete destruction of a vital ecosystem. Thanks to David and Back 40 Films for bringing the dying of the hemlocks to the attention of the entire country.

    Ellen

  3. Ben Riley

    I am glad to see that the hemlocks are being documented. Kudos to all involved and to the Southern Documentary Fund for supporting this film. I hike and bike in Pisgah Forest and it has been heartbreaking to watch these amazing trees die.

  4. Chris Francis

    I too am saddened at the passing of the great hemlocks, but we often see that as one species dies out another takes its place, and a new type of habitat is created. God’s creation is remarkable that way!

  5. Darren Conrad

    I am very proud to know that there are such wonderful people still left in our society that care about our heritage and our natural environment. Kudos to my friend, David Huff, and all his fine associates, who are in total support of this project. I am proud of this project, Mr. Blozen, and all the great other humanitairians who will bring this story to life.

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