Photos of “Where Heaven Meets Hell” courtesy of Sasha Friedlander

Sasha Friedlander visited East Java, Indonesia for the first time while she was studying at an arts university with a one-year student visa.

Within the rainforests of East Java is the volcano Kawah Ijen, where miners work to extract sulfur for products used everyday — like sugar and cosmetics. After seeing the volcano and the mining process, Friedlander decided to make the film “Where Heaven Meets Hell.”

“[The volcano] was spectacular, but I was really shocked to see the contrast between the beauty of the landscape and the mining operation that was going on there,” Friedlander said. “Because of my language skills, I was able to start a dialogue with some of the miners we encountered 
there and their stories are really interesting to me. So then I spent the next two years trying to get back to make the film.”

“Where Heaven Meets Hell” screens at the Rio Theatre on Jan. 19. The screening’s proceeds benefit the sulfur miners in East Java through Ikawangi, a group committed to helping alleviate the problems facing the miners. Ikawangi accepts donations, but Friedlander said this is not the only way people can help improve the miners’ situation.

“Before I made this film, I had no idea that sulfur was used for bleaching sugar, for lotion, cosmetics products and matches,” Friedlander said. “I hope that people will be more aware and just pause before they consume certain products or use certain cosmetics. Maybe they will think ‘there’s actually sulfur in this and in certain parts of the world this is how sulfur is being extracted.’”

The film held its world premiere in March 2012 and was directed, produced and edited by Friedlander, who spent time in the same unsafe conditions as the miners.

“I had an idea of what I was getting myself into when I decided to take on the project, in terms of the danger of climbing the volcano and being exposed to the toxic gases,” she said. “I knew from the beginning that I wanted to sort of just assimilate and live in similar ways to the miners’ lifestyle.”

Although Friedlander planned the trip with the purpose of making the film, she was not sure if the miners would be open to letting her into their daily lives. She did not discover she would be welcomed until she met them again.

“They immediately invited me to come and live with them and their families,” she said. “They were always so concerned about my well-being. They were so kind to me.”

“Where Heaven Meets Hell” follows four out of 500 miners who risk their lives as they work to support their family. The film displays the suffering of their families as they make ends meet for food and shelter, but not enough to cover schooling costs. Often, families are stuck in an endless cycle as generation after generation must put themselves in danger to make a living.

“I first started making the film to somehow start a foundation for the miners,” she said. “It wasn’t just a film, it was something where people could actually get involved if they were moved to do so.”

The film has motivated many people to get involved by donating money. The Women’s Empowerment Network (WEN) has joined with Ikawangi by accepting donations to improve the lives of the miners.

Julie Aguiar, who is on the board of directors for WEN, said Ikawangi has started creating a school assistance program and training for women in homestyle industry projects. These new projects help with educating the children of sulfur miners and assist the women in supporting their families financially.

“The film is so moving,” Aguiar said. “And after you see it, you really want to help empower the miners so that they can change their lives. It’s inspiring.”

“Where Heaven Meets Hell” screens on Jan. 19 at the Rio Theatre. The film starts at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $10 at the door. 

Filmmakers from all over the Pacific Rim, as well as local filmmakers, bring their work together to emphasize the importance of diversity to a broad audience while staying true to the film festival’s theme: “When Strangers Meet.” Illustration by Matt Boblet.

Get a taste of the Pacific Rim’s culture, minus the plane ticket, at this year’s 23rd annual Pacific Rim Film Festival (PRFF), which offers us a look into the eyes of people from cultures and places much different from California. With free admission and a variety of films and speakers, the Pacific Rim Film Festival is a great opportunity to not only enjoy cinema, but also gain a new perspective on other parts of the world.

During the free, six-day 23rd Pacific Rim Film Festival in Santa Cruz and Watsonville, films and documentaries from the Pacific Rim region will be screened, as well as several live speaker events after the screenings.

Filmmakers from all over the Pacific Rim, as well as local filmmakers, bring their work together to emphasize the importance of diversity to a broad audience while staying true to the film festival’s theme: “When Strangers Meet.”

Films will be screening Oct. 14-19 in Santa Cruz at the Del Mar Theatre and Rio Theatre, and in Watsonville at the Cabrillo College Watsonville Center. All screenings are free, barring the Closing Night Benefit.

Ever since the Pacific Rim Film Festival started at the Del Mar Theatre in 1988, filmmakers have been keeping the theme of cross-cultural awareness alive in Santa Cruz and Watsonville through their films.

The film “Resilience” is a great example of how PRFF weaves the theme of cross-cultural dialogue into its film selections. The film documents the reunion of a Korean mother and her American son after nearly 30 years apart. As we watch them build a relationship, struggling with cultural differences and misunderstandings, the details of the story itself become secondary to the dialogue inspired by the film’s themes.

This year, the PRFF features films from Japan, South Korea, China, New Zealand, the Philippines, New Mexico, India, Australia and the U.S., providing viewers a truly comprehensive look at the Pacific Rim culture.

At the Closing Night Benefit screening, Bay Area filmmakers Brian Lilla and Greg Miller will present their film, “Patagonia Rising.” The film raises awareness and suggests potential solutions to the issue of international water and power shortages. Lilla himself will be attending the screening and holding a Q&A session after the film. This special screening event will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. at the Rio Theatre in Santa Cruz.

More films from the Bay Area include Eric Thiermann’s documentary, “It Tolls for Thee: Bells and Their Stories,” which explores the use of bells around the world. Thiermann will make an appearance at the screening followed by a musical performance.

The film “Family of the Wa’a” shares the journey of paddlers (including Santa Cruzans Dave Loustalot, David Waynar, Theron Forrester and Matt Muirhead) through the Hawaiian Islands, from the island of Hawai’i to Kure Atoll in a wa’a (canoe).

Since PRFF has become a popular event, it is recommended that viewers arrive to the screenings early.

PRFF has remained a popular and well-known event, as shown by the generous donations received each year from UC Santa Cruz, Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County, Ow Family Properties and other local groups. Their donations have kept the free admission a tradition for 23 years.

By bringing these provocative cultural films to Santa Cruz, PRFF sets a precedent of sharing through the arts. By filling up the theaters for every screening, Santa Cruz will show how much it is appreciated.

Courtesy of Big Hassle Publicity.

If you’ve ever seen Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros perform, you might already have an idea of what it was like to interview singer Jade Castrinos. Her answers sound as if she’s thinking them for the first time, strung together to the point that they don’t really seem like sentences at all. But, not unlike the very lyrics she helps write, they convey a feeling of something close to a memory, saying so much with so little.

I welcomed a chance for Jade to open up about herself and the band, beyond simply the songs they sing. I spoke to her over the phone as they geared up for their first major tour, on which Santa Cruz is the second stop. By the end of our conversation, the only thing Jade seemed sure about was that she was very excited about the trees. As for me, I knew that Jade’s eccentricity could only be described as magnetic.

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City on a Hill Press: So I just read a review that described your group as more of a ‘traveling vagabond family’ than a typical band. Is that accurate?

Jade Castrinos: I mean, that’s a part of it, but that’s not the whole thing — we’re definitely a band and gather around the purpose of music. But the family idea, it’s kind of the lifeblood of the whole thing. Like the song ‘Home,’ that’s Alex [Ebert, the lead singer] and I just professing our love for each other as best buds. But we are like siblings, so there is definitely a ‘vagabond family’ thing, yeah.

CHP: So with the large family/band-style group — there are at least 10 of you at each show — there have to be a lot of different ideas and influences. Has it been difficult to incorporate everyone’s input? How do you make that work?

JC: You mean like with making music?

CHP: Yeah, with the songs you guys write and perform.

JC: Well, everybody is a really talented musician. For the record, Alex had some ideas for songs, but everyone came in and played it, and it’s like, you play how you feel about the music — like, ‘What do you feel here?’ There’s no ‘Play it this way!’ It’s very … everyone’s involved.

CHP: And how would you categorize that music? The term ‘folk’ has been thrown around — does that fit your music and your group? What does ‘folk’ mean in terms of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros?

JC: I don’t know. (Laughs.) I mean — yeah, we’re definitely folk, but I don’t know — I always say our band category is happiness.

CHP: Can you tell me a little about the band’s name?

JC: Yeah, Alex wrote this novel, and the main character was Edward Sharpe, and he came to save the world but kept falling in love with girls, so he wasn’t completing his mission — I’m not sure I’m the one to ask about this, I might get it wrong but — (loud noise, Jade yells) — Wait, I completely lost track — what are we talking about? Could you repeat the question?

CHP: We were talking about the band’s name, and you were explaining about Alex’s novel.

JC: Oh yeah, yeah, he might be the best person to ask about this, but [the novel] is definitely, like, reflected in our songs and the videos we’re doing.

CHP: What about your debut album? Tell me about writing and recording ‘Up From Below.’

JC: When we started, the guitar player Nico — we recorded at his house, he and Airin had a studio in their basement and we would record there and it was so magical. Nico’s girlfriend Becky would make the most amazing food and we’d just have dinner and jam every night and come up with great songs. It was all magical, but definitely the beginning … and definitely Becky’s cooking was a huge part.

CHP: So last question, then I’ll let you go. Your kind of hippie-throwback vibe definitely has an audience in the students of UC Santa Cruz. Are you guys excited to play here, or do you have any expectations about the show?

JC: We’re totally excited to play there. I don’t know if we’ve played there before, but I’ve definitely driven through that area, it’s beautiful. Are there redwoods there?

CHP: Yeah, tons.

JC: I love the forest! … We’re definitely excited to play there.

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Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros will play on Monday, March 1 at the Rio Theatre. Show begins at 8 p.m. Advance tickets are available at Streetlight Records or online at www.ticketweb.com. Tickets are $18 in advance or $22 at the door.