Academy Award Nominee Josh Fox EXCLUSIVE interview For Gasland

What is Gasland?

Gasland is an American documentary written and directed by Josh Fox. The film explores the health and environmental impacts of natural gas drilling. It focuses on the controversial process of hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking.”

Fox takes viewers on a personal journey across the United States. He visits communities harmed by drilling. He documents stories of contamination, illness, and struggle. Each stop raises new questions about energy, corporate power, and government oversight.

The film exposes the dangers of fracking with clarity and urgency. At the same time, it calls viewers to act. It urges them to engage with energy policy. It pushes for environmental activism.

Still on Fossil Fuels!

The message is clear. Fossil fuel dependence has lasting consequences. It threatens public health. It endangers the planet. Gasland asks us to face those truths—and fight for a cleaner future.

According to the gasland movie website:

The largest natural gas drilling boom in U.S. history is underway. Hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” developed by Halliburton, unlocked a hidden “Saudi Arabia of natural gas” beneath our feet. But is fracking safe?

Filmmaker Josh Fox faced that question when asked to lease his land for drilling. Instead of signing, he set out on a journey. He crossed the country. He uncovered secrets, lies, and contamination.

In one Pennsylvania town, residents could light their drinking water on fire. That shocking scene was only the beginning. The discoveries grew more absurd. They grew more disturbing.

The result is Gasland. It’s part travelogue, part exposé, part mystery and also a part of bluegrass banjo breakdown. And it’s part showdown with an industry that changed the American landscape.

Letter of Burning Frack

In May 2008, Fox received a letter from a natural gas company offering to lease his family’s land in Milanville, Pennsylvania for $100,000 to drill for gas, a proposal that sparked a whirlwind of emotions and considerations for him and his family. The offer was not just a substantial sum of money; it represented the possibility of financial security for his loved ones, but it also came with the weighty implications of land use and environmental impact.

As he studied the letter, he couldn’t help but think about the generations that had lived on and cherished the land, nurturing its natural beauty and resources, and whether accepting this offer would alter the landscape of their family legacy forever. Would the extraction of gas bring progress, or would it tarnish the tranquility and integrity of their surroundings? These questions swirled in his mind as he weighed the pros and cons of this life-changing decision.

Bottom line people is that when you drill or frack you frack with the water table.

This is a picture of what happens when you frack with the water table at your sink taken directly from the movie.

Video Interview At EMA Awards

At the Environmental Media Association annual awards dinner at the Warner Brothers Studios, I was able to interview Josh about his amazing story.

Part 2

The Fracking Problems Josh has had with the Natural Gas Industry

Gasland is going a long way in spreading public awareness about gas drilling and the risks it poses on human and environmental health, shedding light on the often-hidden consequences that come with the extraction of natural gas.

The documentary presents compelling evidence and personal stories that underscore the urgency of addressing these concerns. Nationwide response to the film has been overwhelmingly positive, as audiences engage in discussions and advocate for more stringent regulations to protect communities. This surge of public interest and activism has led to increased scrutiny of gas drilling practices at local and state levels. Meanwhile, the Oil and Gas Industry’s response has been less enthusiastic, focusing instead on promoting the economic benefits of natural gas while downplaying the environmental impacts highlighted in the film, creating a stark contrast between public perception and industry claims.

PR Clash

“Energy-In-Depth” operates as a PR and lobbying arm of the American Petroleum Institute. The group represents the oil and gas industry. With heavy funding, they work to shape public opinion.

At the same time, they use strategies to weaken opposition to gas drilling. They push narratives designed to calm criticism. Moreover, they attack the credibility of documentaries like Gasland.

The film shows the real impact of hydraulic fracturing. Yet, Energy-In-Depth twists the story. They cherry-pick data. They distort facts. Therefore, they leave the public confused about fracking’s dangers.

As a result, communities face misinformation. People hear soothing claims instead of the truth. However, the risks remain. Water, health, and ecosystems all suffer.

In the end, this manipulation silences concerns. It hides the urgency of real issues. Still, those affected know better. And the fight for clean energy continues.

The work of Energy-In-Depth lacks journalistic credibility and educated opinion. It’s nothing short of an attack on truth. For public interest, we’ve prepared a response to their self-serving claims on gas drilling.

Press Reviews

“…one of the most effective and expressive environmental films of recent years.” – Variety

“On the want-to-see- scale, GASLAND tops the list” – Washington Post

“Riveting” – LA Weekly

“GASLAND just might be the best film of the year.” – The Huffington Post

“Over the past 8 days I was lucky enough to view 40 films…The most important film I saw was the documentary GASLAND…This examination of air quality and more specifically drinking water under attack from NYC to Ft. Worth was very eye opening.” – USA TODAY

GASLAND is “well done. It holds people’s attention. And it could block our industry.” – Oil and Gas Journal President of the Natural Gas Supply Association

“When something emerges like Josh Fox’s GASLAND, a work of art which also happens to educate quite effectively…this is why festivals, even the big ones, are capable of surprises, because wonderful things do seep through the cracks. Precisely because it was purely personal…and that it was as concerned with aesthetic matters as issues, GASLAND may also be some ideal of that cherished sub-genre in many festival circles, the environmental film, which tends to leave art behind for the topic it’s addressing.”– Cinemascope

Conclusion and call to Action

Don’t wait. Plug the link. Discover why Josh Fox’s Gasland matters—then act.

Go to the interview now. Ignite your green passion. Share the story. Make waves.

Our future starts with awareness. Let’s build it together.