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The Last Stand: Heroes At Ballona Wetlands
A Three-Part Film Series produced by Sheila Laffey, directed by Todd Brunelle
Link to Movie
Click on this short version (2004), 24 minutes
The Last Stand 3-Part Film Series on the Ballona Wetlands
1. The Struggle for the Ballona Wetlands (1999), 60 min.
2. The Last Stand: Update 2000, 60 min.
3. The Last Stand: Heroes at Ballona Wetlands (2004) 24 min.
The series includes three spirited films which examine the controversial land use struggle near Los Angeles International Airport related to the Playa Vista development which included the proposed DreamWorks' Studio until DreamWorks withdrew in 2004.
The series centers on the issues, politics and players involved in the debate over one of Southern California's remaining wetlands ecosystems and one of Los Angeles' last open spaces. The films provide a stimulating forum for wetlands issues, particularly in southern California where wetland losses have reached 95%, compared to 50% lost nationally.
The Ballona Wetlands drama includes scientists, environmentalists, development advocates, actors, filmmakers, authors, Native Americans, labor unionists and politicians set against the backdrop of Hollywood and a wetlands ecosystem. The film also shows the various functions of wetlands in a dynamic and entertaining way.
Dr. Joy Zedler, Aldo Leopold Professor of Restoration Ecology at the University of Wisconsin describes the various functions of wetlands which she refers to as "rainforests in miniature." Dr. Zedler is considered one of the foremost wetlands expert in the country. She is the former Director of the Pacific Estuarine Research Lab, San Diego State University and was the recipient of the National Wetlands Award (for science research) awarded by Environmental Protection Agency and Environmental Law Institute, May, 1997. Dr. Zedlar is the author of Wetlands Restoration and serves as a member of the Board of Directors of The Nature Conservancy.
The film concludes with examples of land preservation solutions at Bolsa Chica Wetlands at Huntington Beach, 35 acres at Fomosa Slew in San Diego, and 30 acres of Madrona Marsh in Torrance. It includes clips from a 1959 film which shows the beginning of development at Point Reyes National Seashore and information about its preservation as a National Seashore three years later.
Production stills from The documentary films
Ed Asner narrates the film.
DIRECTORS: Todd Brunelle, Sheila Laffey
PRODUCER: Sheila Laffey
EDITOR: Lorraine Salk
ASSISTANT EDITOR: Mary Duprey
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Sheila Laffey, Michael Tobias
Actor Ed Begley Jr. at screening of The Last Stand: Struggle for Ballona Wetlands film (2001) feature at Laemmle Beverly Hills
Actor/activist Martin Sheen and Mary Wright locked developers doors in protest. When police arrived Martin exclaimed “Wait, we can explain everything.” Hence the laughter. They were not arrested.
Todd Brunelle and Sheila Laffey filming at Madrona Marsh in Torrance where 800 tons of concrete were removed to restore wetlands.
Activist Leslie Purcell above site of Native American burial grounds next to Playa Vista site.
EWALA (Earth/Water/LA) walk to Ballona Wetlands. About half of the wetlands were built on, about half preserved. Issues continue. To date, lawsuits have saved what remains.
Show More
Ed Begley, Jr and Controller Kathleen Connell before removing developers’ fence to open Area C, land that was finally saved. With Roy van de Hoek, Wetlands Action Network.
Dr. Bernard (Bernie) Endres was an attorney and oil field gas migration expert, recognized for investigating oil and gas leaks,
particularly in Playa Vista/Ballona areas. He worked with groups like Grassroots Coalition on issues related to SoCal Gas
and Sempra Energy. He points to So Cal Gas, operator of the of underground methane storage field, alleged to negatively impact the wetlands.
L-R, Visiting frog, Anabel Munroe, Director of Ethos Film Festival, festival filmmakers, Producer Sheila Laffey, Susan Suntree (FrogWorks writer) at festival screening November 2023, Laemmle Monica Theater.
L-R, Sheila Laffey, Susan Suntree, Marcia Hanscom, Wetlands Action Network.
Press coverage
MAJOR PRESS ON FEATURE FILMS
"The Mudslinging in the Wetlands," Lorenza Munoz and "Wetlands" More Promotion Than Documentary," James Bates, Los Angeles Times, April 24, 1999
"Business Writer Was Wrong Choice for ‘Wetlands’ Review", four letters to the editor, all supporting the filmLos Angeles Times," May 1, 1999
"Counterpunch: Production Team Takes Issue with the Ballona Wetlands Stories," Los Angeles Times," by filmmakers Sheila A. Laffey, Todd Brunelle, Lorraine Salk, Jay Elliot, May 10, 1999
"DreamJerks: Steven Spielberg and His Billionaire Partners Would Bulldoze E.T. to Get the Playa Vista Megadevelopment Built on L.A.’s last Surviving Wetlands. But Outraged Citizens May Topple These Giants," cover story, "New Times Los Angeles, June 3-9, 1999
SAMPLES OF MAJOR PRESS FOR THE LAST STAND: HEROES AT BALLONA WETLANDS, 2004 Short, SEVERAL SCREENING
Argonaut Newspaper, The Last Stand finalist in Ethos Film Festival Laemmle Monica, Nov. 9,
Santa Monica Daily Press, Jack Neworth Nov. 10, 2023
The Last Stand: Heroes at Ballona Wetlands - Santa Monica Daily Press (smdp.com),
https://smdp.com/2023/11/10/the-last-stand-heroes-at-ballona-wetlands/
LOCAL PRESS
‘The Last Stand,’ Teaches Importance of Ballona Wetlands, Daily Bruin," newspaper of UCLA, April 16, 1999 by David King
"Wetlands Screening to Show Saturday," Daily Trojan," Newspaper of USC, March 5, 1999, by Claire Luna
"Documenting the Battle Over the Ballona Wetlands," Culver City Chronicle, June 2, 1999, by Lawrence C.
Ross, Jr.
"Documentary Film on Wetlands to be Shown Here Next Week," Santa Monica Mirror," December 1-7, 1999
"A terrific, clear statement of the Ballona issue." Haskell Wexler, Oscar winning cinematographer ("Bound for Glory," "Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf?")
"From Walden to Wao Kele O Puna to Wetlands," chapter by Producer Sheila A. Laffey, Ph.D. in "The Search for Reality: The Art of Documentary Filmmaking", edited by Michael Tobias, Michael Wiese Productions, 1998 (available in bookstores or contact www.mwp.com or 818-379-8799)
LOCAL PRESS / REVIEWS ABOUT THE LAST STAND. STRUGGLE FOR THE BALLONA WETLANDS. 1999 AND 2000 UPATE HOUR LONG FEATURE AND THE LAST STAND: HEROES AT THE BALLONA WETLANDS
Westside Life Magazine
Santa Monica Mirror
Santa Monica Mirror
The Video Project
South Coast Today
Letter to LA WEEKLY Editor responding to HAEFELE ARTICLE
LETTER TO "THE LA WEEKLY" FROM PRODUCER, CO-DIRECTOR Sheila A. Laffey, Ph.D - RESPONDING TO ARTICLE
Dear Editor,
I am responding to Marc Haefele's attack on our film, The Last Stand &Mac220; The Struggle for Ballona Wetlands ("The Last Stand," May 12) Haefele has added this award-winning documentary to his many salvos against citizens and groups which have raised concerns about the many problems plaguing the Playa Vista development in Playa Del Rey.
In terms of Haefele's dismissing the film as "anti-Playa Vista" "The Weekly's" own critic, Hazel Dawn Dumpert, perceptively wrote that "while the film constructs a solidly convincing argument for leaving the wetlands be, it also presents a clear-eyed and even- tempered account of the many factions battling over Ballona's fate. The filmmakers not only refuse to demonize the smiling politicians who exalt the promise of jobs, the DreamWorks lackeys tirelessly toeing the company line, or the citizens desperate for economic opportunity; they also decline to lionize the scientists, fishermen, amateur ecologists and political activists working to save the microcosmic ecosystem from extinction." (1/99) Now that is what I call a real review compared to Haefele's distorted diatribe!
Rather than posturing that the film is "based on a lie," Haefele should review "The Last Stand" more closely to see how many of the maps, plans and documents (including one that lists 82.2 acres of the concretized Ballona Channel as open space) were actually created by the developers themselves.
If Haefele had his glasses on he would have noticed bulldozers directly behind host Ed Asner on the bluffs east of Lincoln, which all too clearly show these vehicles barreling along the edge of a pocket wetlands all in one shot, not manipulated by editing as he suggests. Cuts to long shots of bulldozers are clearly shot from the same location. Aerial footage provides additional confirmation in showing the area before bulldozing (January 21, 1998) followed by a dissolve to aerial footage of the same area three weeks later (February 13) which shows bulldozer tracks right through the wetlands with its waters newly muddied.
Haefele may not understand that editing wildlife and bulldozers in a music video of Joni Mitchell's song is not meant to suggest that these images are all in one location. This art form appears in the opening sequence before Ballona Wetlands is even mentioned. Although it is true that the area with dancing herons which he mentioned is protected, the heron hatchlings, whose growth is documented in the film, are indeed gone from the tree in which they were originally filmed, possibly disturbed by developer's road work west of Lincoln, as alleged in a lawsuit. And the snowy white egrets that graced the green grass just West of Lincoln were forced to move on.
One wonders if Haefele even listened to the film. As many as fourteen pro-development advocates provide their points of view. He can count them and even hear several of them speak several times! It was quite a feat for us as filmmakers to find so many pro-development advocates willing to speak when Playa Capital, its lawyer and three consultants, City Councilwoman Galanter ,four people on the board of Friends of Ballona Wetlands, DreamWorks' principals, Southern California Gas Company and Wall St. brokers all declined to be interviewed. The one "Friends" Board member, Mary Thomson, who did agree to participate, presents that group's point of view on an aspect of the development. We had to go out of our way to film a meeting with pro-development advocates and get footage of some of the others mentioned above who spoke at City Council meetings and press conferences.
Critics of the development appearing in the film include Dr. Joy Zedler, author of "Wetlands Restoration", and Law Professor Robert Benson whose remarks can hardly be seen as lending themselves to "propaganda." Since many propaganda films are government sponsored, Haefele's calling our film "propaganda" is even more inane. If anything, the film presents documented campaign contributions to politicians from vested interests supporting the development and a headline from the "LA Times" referring to Playa Vista's lobbying as one of the costliest.
Haefele's "propaganda" label is ludicrous and demonstrates a serious lack of understanding of documentaries. Having taught communications courses for many years I have often urged my students to examine what biases they may bring to their considering any media. Since Haefele's readers have been subjected to his numerous distorted pro-Playa pieces it is time to ask why he is in the developers' camp.
It is significant that Haefele does not write about the many problems with Playa Vista covered in the film, including corporate welfare, campaign donations, increase of traffic and smog, loss of open space and yes, Marc, even wetlands (go see for yourself!), toxic leaks (one of which is shown adjacent to the proposed elementary school), subsidence, Wall St. real estate investments in the property, etc.
Haefele's attack has echoes of the campaign to discredit and suppress the film spearheaded by the "Friends"of Ballona Wetlands, a group which settled with the developers, who have gone so far as to contact PBS and even a film festival urging them not to show the film. These attacks indicate their desperation in not wanting the public to see evidence of toxic leaks at the site and the many other problems plaguing Playa Vista.
We don't know what Haefele is referring to when he mentions a "director's cut." "Update:2000" of "The Last Stand" aired on 25 PBS stations in April and PBS does not air programs which do not include more than one side of an issue. The film has won eight awards and screened at a dozen festivals. Awards include a Cine Golden Eagle, Gold Star Award at World-fest Houston where judge said it was a "must see" film and several Best Documentary Awards.
Your readers can tune in to an airing of the updated film on June 30, 10 PM on KLCS 58/37 and come to their own conclusions.
Sheila A. Laffey, Ph.D., Producer, Co-Director, The Last Stand &Mac220; Struggle for Ballona Wetlands and "Update:2000"
RESOURCES
PBS - THE LOST HISTORY OF THE BALLONA WETLANDS
HISTORICAL ECOLOGY OF THE BALLONA CREEK WATERSHED
PBS - GABRIELENO TONGVA MISSION INDIANS
AI - EARLY HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES
SNOWY EGRET PHOTO BY JONATHON COFFIN: SEE MORE PHOTOS OF BALLONA WETLANDS WILDLIFE
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