Out of the struggle for democracy in a free market, Rights of Nature are born.

INVISIBLE HAND is the new documentary project by Public Herald, an investigative news nonprofit using journalism and art to empower readers and hold accountable those who put the public at risk.

New film takes on corporate power & highlights rights for nature. Help these journalists! https://t.co/YOyTb8qwA1 @PublicHerald

— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) January 30, 2016

Free market forces have recently manifested as 'fracking' in Pennsylvania - a high risk method to extract natural gas - that state and federal governments support. But communities hell bent on protecting their rights are fighting back against state and corporate take over – some with success.

So what does it take to defeat a billion-dollar corporation with more rights than you? INVISIBLE HAND tells the story of people figuring out how. One method is by bringing about the Rights of Nature.

FIRST TEASER TRAILER »

Public Herald has published the first eight in a series of 15 reports dedicated to investigating the INVISIBLE HAND, a term we borrowed from economic rhetoric commonly used as a metaphor to refer to the 'invisible' force that balances a free market economy. But unfortunately, the true consequences of our economy are externalized, tipping the scales of justice far beyond anything resembling 'balance.'

              Joshua B. Pribanic & Organic farmer Carolyn Knapp. © Steven Rubin

Families and communities represented in our investigative report series on PublicHerald.org will be featured in this new documentary film INVISIBLE HAND, including these stories:

Part 1: "DEP Manipulates Law, Leaves Family Without Water"
Part 3: "Pennsylvania Ecosystem Fights Corporation for Rights in Landmark Lawsuit"
Part 4: "Public Herald 30-Month Investigation Finds DEP Fracking Complaints are 'Cooked' & Shredded"

INVISIBLE HAND will feature interviews by award-winning democracy scholar Art Pearl, leaders of the community rights and Rights of Nature movements, and people whose lives are being turned inside out in waves of struggle and triumph.

                                      Democracy scholar Art Pearl © Public Herald

The Impact

Since 2011, Public Herald has produced in-depth reports that have had huge impact, especially in rural communities, where mainstream media has become little more than a bull horn for private corporate interests.

INVISIBLE HAND is a timely story that offers insight and validation to stories of struggle. The fights featured in the film are happening now, and shedding light can influence the outcomes. Awareness brings attention, which makes officials address issues they may otherwise wish they could sweep under the proverbial rug.

But it's not enough to tell a story. That's why Public Herald works with communities and artists to +Create educational opportunities and resources that people use to arm themselves with +Truth as they face off with industry and government officials against immeasurable odds.

We produce work that can shape change for the better in the communities we visit and ones we'll never see. That's always the end goal.

INVISIBLE HAND made Indiewire's Project of the Week! "Taking Aim at Corporate Economic Influence in the Investigative Documentary 'Invisible Hand'"

PHOTO: Writer/director Melissa A.Troutman hunts Rights of Nature © Joshua B. Pribanic

We've Done This Before

Joshua B. Pribanic and Melissa A. Troutman are the writers and co-directors of INVISIBLE HAND. They’re also co-founders of the investigative news nonprofit Public Herald and produced their first documentary TRIPLE DIVIDE in 2013, which was co-narrated by Award-winning actor Mark Ruffalo and featured investigations of unconventional oil and gas development, a.k.a. fracking.

Public Herald's work attracted The Daily Show with Jon Stewart to produce a segment on fracking in 2013, and has been featured on HuffPost Live, Pittsburgh NPR and over 70 other national and international media.

What You Get

All funding will be used to finish production and post-production of INVISIBLE HAND, including licensing for music, travel and editing. Our crew never earns a salary or wage. All funds are used to create and distribute the work in the public interest. This is a not-for-profit project like all of our others.

• Our perks include original artwork, Limited Edition shirts and stickers, credits in the film, VIP accommodations & invitations to our Premiere, and much more.
  
• We're excited to offer Producer roles at the $500 donation level and above. Producers are valuable members of our team and are given the first look at INVISIBLE HAND and can offer feedback throughout post-production
  

If we don't reach our goal, all funds will still be used to finish the film. We'll go back to cooking & bar tending to supplement if we have to, but it'll take a lot longer to produce the film, and this subject will be most impactful the sooner it's in the public's hands.

Risks & Challenges

We plan to continue production and begin post-production complete by October 2016. To ensure we reach our goal, we plan to have a "soft release" by summer 2016. Our timeline is only as flexible as it needs to be due to unforseen obstacles that always present themselves during the making of a documentary film.

The team at Public Herald is adept and resourceful in the heat of the moment. We thrive under pressure, and it's often when something goes wrong that you find what's actually right for a project in the end.

Other Ways You Can Help

If you aren't able to donate for rewards, please consider sharing this project with family and friends. Sharing with just 5 other people helps out tremendously.

Word-of-mouth is still the best way we expand our network and find the support we need to keep this work going.

INVISIBLE HAND ‘Rights of Nature_’ 18×24 Screen Print (Limited Edition)