“Steel Earth” Film Screening at Nyack Center Draws Crowd

Last night, Rockland Filmmakers and Keep Rockland Beautiful co-sponsored a film screening of “Steel Earth,” an award-winning docu-series produced and directed by local film producer and director, Jason Paris, at the Nyack Center.

“Steel Earth” is a reality television show documenting the extraction of abandoned machines from parks and other woodland areas.

The feature film of last night’s event was a “Steel Earth” episode recording the removal of three abandoned vehicles from Tackamack Park in Blauvelt during a cleanup effort organized by Andy Stewart of Keep Rockland Beautiful.

“I want to make this project bigger,” said Paris.  “This problem is nationwide.”  Paris hopes “Steel Earth” will attract the attention of a cable network interested in sponsoring production of future episodes both in Rockland County and across the country.

“It was fun. We got to ride quads in the woods which is normally illegal,” said Chris Savoury of Impact Industrial Services, who provided a truck and other equipment for the Tackamack Park cleanup. He attended the event with his wife and children.  Savoury, a Pomona resident, enjoyed his participation in the cleanup effort.

Savoury explained how the Tackamack volunteers sought to extract the three vehicles while minimizing damage to the woods themselves.  Unfortunately, this did not always prevent damage to the volunteers’ vehicles.  In a comical moment, the episode reveals how the pickup truck used in the cleanup suffered a broken tailgate and broken rear cab window.

Last night, Keep Rockland Beautiful volunteers and members, including Stewart, greeted guests as they arrived at the Nyack Center and offered them food and refreshments.  A DJ provided music in the background while a lively crowd gathered in the hour preceding the 8 p.m. screening.

“We had great turn out,” said Stewart.  “A whole bunch of new faces.  I don’t think anyone has done this before.”

“Hopefully this will go a long way toward educating Rocklanders about what’s out there,” said Tom Morr, an Orangetown resident and current candidate for Orangetown Council, also an audience member at the event, expressed appreciation for the Tackamack Park cleanup.

Last night’s screening included three separate films.  The first film was a 10-minute episode of “Auto Archaeology,” the precursor to “Steel Earth.”  This film focused on the removal of a 1970 Pontiac GTO which had sat abandoned for 20 years.

The second film featured the removal of a 1950 Dodge Coronet abandoned for 45 years on an undeveloped residential property.  The third and final film was the 22-minute episode of “Steel Earth” documenting the Tackamack Park cleanup.

Watching the three episodes in succession, audience members observed how Paris’ concept for the film, which began with a narrow focus on the recycling or restoration of classic cars, broadened to include all machinery lost in nature with an emphasis on removing and recycling the machines in a manner that best preserved and protected the natural environment. 

The audience consisted of a diverse mix of Keep Rockland Beautiful volunteers, Rivertown Film enthusiasts, friends and family of Paris and others involved in the film’s creation, locals who appreciated the Tackamack Park cleanup, and other individuals and their families who were directly involved in the cleanup itself.

Keep Rockland Beautiful volunteers, Peter Ubriaco and Allison Koch, described the film as “awesome.” 

“We love Pawn Stars and similar shows but Steel Earth has a better theme,” said Ubriaco.  “It’s about volunteerism and doing something positive.”

Jason Paris’ cousin, George Noia, attended the event in support of Paris.  He described how both he and Paris started learning about classic cars at their grandfather’s shop, Bronx Auto Spring.

“Jason held me back from seeing the final product for the shock and awe value – it worked,” said Noia.

The films illustrate Paris’ appreciation of the abandoned machines by telling the history of the machines themselves even as they document their extraction and transportation to a recycling facility.  This was done by incorporating segments of old commercials and news stories about the abandoned machines. 

After the screening, audience members had the opportunity to comment on the films or ask questions of Paris, Stewart and two other panelists. 

One audience member thanked Paris, Stewart and others involved in the cleanup.  “I walk that park with my dog all the time.  I’m not sad the cars are gone.  Thank you for doing this.”

Proceeds from donations gathered at the door and for food and refreshments went to Keep Rockland Beautiful and future cleanup efforts in the county.