Thank you for helping us save the mysteries of the driftless by sharing it with millions…
What is this Mysteries of the Driftless film?
Armed with cameras and adventure gear, two scientist filmmakers journeyed off the beaten path to reveal nature’s Mysteries of the Driftless. The quest of the film was to explore haunting questions that have shrouded this place in mystery. What strange forces over the past two million years saved this isolated refuge of land from the repeated crushing effects of glaciers that reshaped the rest of the Midwest? What ice age throwbacks survived here in these unique ecosystems and why does it harbor more Native American effigy mounds, petroglyph caves, odd geologic features, and rare species than anywhere in the Midwest?
To answer these questions, our team investigated the Driftless with top scientists in archeology, paleontology, remote sensing, geology, ecology, and biology. Trekking across the Drifltess Area in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa, they not only explored the mysteries, but revealed new forces that threaten the endangered ice-age throwbacks and rare ecosystems hidden there.
And now your donation can help us finish postproduction of this remarkable story so we can share it with millions and in turn, help protect nature’s Mysteries of the Driftless.
Our Team
Our award-winning scientist-filmmakers, Rob Nelson and Dan Bertalan partnered with ecologists from the Mississippi Valley Conservancy to make the film a reality. Some of the most renowned scientists within the Driftless Area revealed their passion and discoveries that shed new light on what happened here. They also ponder some of the still unanswered mysteries that have puzzled researchers for decades. These scientists also reveal the threats to the rare species that live here.
Nearing the Finish Line
After a year of filming across the Driftless, we have completed all the research, field exploration and interviews. We’ve also mapped out the intriguing storyline to begin post-production. And now we’re asking for your help to fund completion of the film. We need $28,500 to pay for post-production costs so we can complete the film in Spring 2013 and begin getting it in front of the people who need to see it.
How will the money be used?
This final funding for post-production will be used for editing the film, editing promotional trailers, animators, graphic artists, music scores, sound mixing, and other technical services to finish the film for broadcast and distribution.
PBS has already endorsed the project with a formal letter of support and we have planned an extensive distribution and screening campaign for 2013. Important parts of that distribution campaign are local screenings, noted film festivals and community showings to help recruit more citizens and communities to help save ecosystems within the Driftless Area.
Here’s Your Chance to Say “I helped Save The Driftless”
Please Contribute – Choose the right tax-deductible donation to match your values.
Email this link information to others so they can say, “I helped Save The Driftless”
Please use the "Share this Campaign" tool at the top of this page.
Re-post our Indiegogo link on your Facebook and Twitter pages: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/283563/x/1829972
If you'd like more information about this scientific film project, please go to, http://www.untamedscience.com/mysteries-driftless-zone
Your donation is tax-deductible
By supporting this film through the Mississippi Valley Conservancy, your donation is tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. Both Mississippi Valley Conservancy and Untamed Science are registered 501(c)3 non-profit partners.
You will receive an official letter of thanks from Mississippi Valley Conservancy that recognizes your gift received that can be used as proof of your donation to the Internal Revenue Service.
What if we exceed our funding goal?
If we fund more than our $28,500 postproduction goal, we will use additional funding in the promotional and distribution campaign to place the film in front of millions viewers. Part of that funding would be used to organize additional screenings of the film in a city near you.
Thank you so much for your support of this film to help save the threatened species and ecosystems of the Driftless.
Rob Nelson and Dan Bertalan, Co-Producers
