The Story of California’s State Parks Captured in Award-Winning Film California Forever

Backcountry Pictures and KQED present California Forever, a two-part PBS television special that tells the story of California’s magnificent state parks from Yosemite in 1864 to the present day. Together, the two one-hour programs remind viewers of the importance of California’s state parks as well as their priceless legacy. California Forever is scheduled to air nationally on WORLD in fall 2012 (check local listings) and throughout California and Oregon in September.

Robert Koroluck portrays Andrew P. Hill, founder of the Sempervirens Club in 1900. Hill fought to establish Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Frame from PBS documentary: California Forever

Written and directed by Academy Award-nominee David Vassar, California Forever, was produced by Sally Kaplan and David Vassar. The idea for the film was sparked after David and Sally watched the battle between conservationists and developers over the proposed Orange County Toll Road which would have paved over a portion of San Onofre State Beach. David and Sally felt compelled to tell the story of California’s State Parks as a way to remind viewers of these parks and their value.

“Although there have been recent challenges with park closures and unreported funding, the current issues will be resolved and fade over time but the scenic lands and historic sites that state parks protect must never be forgotten,” said David Vassar. “In California Forever, we hope to encourage viewers to explore state parks in their neighborhoods and across California; to remind them of the priceless legacy that parks protect and to honor the individuals and groups who fought so hard to preserve them over the last 160 years.”

California Forever: The History of California State Parks highlights the discovery and creation of California’s state parks system and celebrates the individuals and groups whose passion and commitment helped preserve and protect them for future generations. It takes viewers on a scenic, cultural and historical tour of California’s state parks highlighting the people, key events and locales that made California history.

California Forever: Parks for the Future presents the very real challenges that state parks are currently facing in California. Among these are habitat destruction by overuse; protection of native species at the expense of recreation; reclaiming industrial brown fields to create new parks in dense urban areas; establishing historic sites that commemorate people and events from diverse cultures; and park closures.

California Forever is scheduled to air in California and Oregon in September as follows:

• KQED Public Television in Northern California on Wed., Sept. 12 at 9 pm, Episode #1 and 10 pm, Episode #2
• PBS SoCal on Tue., Sept. 4 at 9 pm, Episode #1 and 10 pm, Episode #2; Sun., Sept. 9 at 7 pm, Episode #1; Sun., Sept. 16 at 7 pm, Episode #2; and Encore on PBS OC, on Sat., Sept. 8 at 8 pm, Episode #1 and 9 pm, Episode #2
• KLCS in Los Angeles on Tue., Sept. 11 at 8 pm, Episode #1 and 9 pm, Episode #2; Sun., Sept. 23 at 9 pm, Episode #1; and Sun., Sept. 30 at 9 pm, Episode #2
• KPBS in San Diego on Thurs., Sept. 20 at 9 pm, Episode #1 and 10 pm, Episode #2
• KVCR in the Inland Empire on Wed., Sept. 19 at 8 pm, Episode #1 and on Wed., Sept. 26 at 8 pm, Episode #2
• KVIE in Sacramento – check local listings
• Oregon PBS on Sun., Sept. 9, at 10 pm, Episode #1; Sun, Sept. 9, at 11 pm, Episode #2; Sat, Sept. 15 at 1 am, Episode #1; Sat., Sept. 15 at 2 am, Episode #2; and Sat., Sept. 29 at 11 am, Episode #1

MEDIA, PLEASE NOTE: To request an interview with David Vassar or Sally Kaplan, a California Forever DVD or BluRay disc, high-resolution photography and/or additional information, please contact Gretchen Krueger (Gretchen@landispr.com) or Jordana Heinke (Jordana@landispr.com). Please also visit www.cal4ever.com and www.backcountrypictures.com for more information. To view the trailer, please click here.
Visit http://www.kqed.org for more information.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BackcountryPictures
Twitter: @BackcountryPics
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/BackcountryPictures
Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/backcountrypictures

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50363530&lang=en