Q&A with Adam Chitayat
A conversation with Adam Chitayat, the Brooklyn-based filmmaker behind ‘Vanishing Louisiana’.
When you decided to make this short film, where did you start?
Vanishing started with us learning about a report put out in April 2019 by the Louisiana state government called the Regional Adaptation Strategy. It calls for certain coastal regions to be basically abandoned, that they were so far below cost-effective to protect from sea level rise (exacerbated by subsidence) that the government has no incentive to protect the citizenry. The idea of “lost” places — communities doomed to disappear but are here today — was intriguing and a way to bring intimacy and humanity to the climate story.
No one will be forced to leave, and many will stay until they no longer physically can. What's it like to live in a place that cannot be saved?
We got in touch with some locals and went down to the areas affected. We were a tiny 3 person team. A feared-to-be Katrina level hurricane hit right when landed. And then a process of discovery, empathy and expectations overturned.
What kind of hurdles do you face as a filmmaker working in short film?
The simple answer includes the logistical and financial. But the truth is in letting go of the work as it develops a mind of it’s own, and then seeing it through to the end.
What projects are you working on next, and how can people who are interested best support or share that work?
We’re working on developing Vanishing into a global series, each episode tackling a different region in the crosshairs of existential danger due to climate change. Our dream is to preserve the ways of life and emotional truths of these communities, not just to raise awareness but also for future generations to look back on these places after they’ve changed.
As we’re still in development, we’re seeking to start conversations with potential advisors, partners and collaborators. Please reach out if you’re interested. You can also check out the Vanishing website.
I’m also writing a feature, making music videos and other short-form work - which you can see at my website.
