He’s worked with Barbara Walters and Ed Bradley.
And now he’s trained his lens on one of Morris County’s biggest stars: The Whippany River.
Oscar-nominated filmmaker Glenn Silber’s documentary, River’s Journey, gets its local premiere on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014, at 6:30 pm at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morris Township.
Admission is free and all are invited.
“I filmed and interviewed residents both young and old, politicians, community activists and business leaders to get their memories and stories on how the Whippany River was so polluted 30 years ago—and the community action and vision it’s taken for the river to come back to health again,” Silber said in a statement.
Narrated by Peter Coyote, the 32-minute film traces the 16-mile river that is part of an aquifer serving a million people in northern New Jersey.
The project was funded by a $45,000 grant from the Bayer Foundation USA. Its East Hanover headquarters straddles the river. Filming ran from June through September.
Silber spent 20 years at CBS and ABC, producing news shows with Walters, Bradley, John Miller, Steve Kroft, Scott Pelley, Meredith Vieira and Connie Chung, among others.
“The documentary focuses on the Whippany River during the past 50 years. We want to thank the countless individuals who came forward and shared stories, photographs and documents on the Whippany River,” said Art Vespignani, facilitator of the Whippany River Watershed Action Committee, a nonprofit based in Morristown.
The arboretum is at 53 Hanover Ave.
Here is more from the watershed association:
WHIPPANY RIVER WATERSHED ACTION COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES MORRIS COUNTY PREMIERE OF DOCUMENTARY FILM ON WHIPPANY RIVER
Morristown, NJ—The Whippany River Watershed Action Committee proudly announces the Morris County premiere of River’s Journey, a 32-minute documentary on the Whippany River. The screening will take place at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014, at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum, 53 Hanover Ave., Morris Township. The event is free and open to the public.
Two-time Academy Award nominated filmmaker Glenn Silber produced and directed the documentary. Emmy-nominated actor Peter Coyote lent his services as the narrator.
The 16-mile long Whippany River serves the only significant unconsolidated aquifer (the Buried Valley Aquifer system) in northern New Jersey which is a source of drinking water for more than 1 million people.
The documentary was funded by a $45,000 grant from Bayer USA Foundation of East Hanover. Its corporate headquarters straddles the Whippany River. Filming took place from June through September in locations throughout Morris County.
Besides his career as an Oscar-nominated independent producer, Glenn Silber was a staff producer with CBS and ABC News for 20 years. Credits include the CBS News shows West 57th and Street Stories with Ed Bradley. He also produced 20/20 for 10 years. Barbara Walters, John Miller, Steve Kroft, Scott Pelley, Meredith Vieira and Connie Chung are among the personalities he has worked with.
“It’s an honor to be involved with this project,” says Glenn Silber. “I filmed and interviewed residents both young and old, politicians, community activists and business leaders to get their memories and stories on how the Whippany River was so polluted 30 years ago—and the community action and vision it’s taken for the river to come back to health again.”
The documentary focuses on how collaborative efforts of government, business, volunteer organizations, the community at large and stakeholders will achieve sustainability for rivers everywhere. It is suitable for viewing by students, civic groups, municipalities and anyone interested in learning about the history and current condition of the Whippany River. It features historical footage, preservation, clean-up and protection efforts to preserve and save the river for generations to come.
“THE WRWAC’s mission is to preserve, protect and maintain the land and water of the Whippany River Watershed,” states WRWAC Facilitator Art Vespignani. “The documentary focuses on the Whippany River during the past 50 years. We want to thank the countless individuals who came forward and shared stories, photographs and documents on the Whippany River.”
The Whippany River Watershed Action Committee is a non-profit, grassroots organization based in Morris County, comprised of members representing 13 municipal governments, the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and other stakeholders. For more information please contact Mary O’Keefe at via phone (973) 428-6279, or e-mail .
