ONE GOOD YEAR is a feature-length documentary that tells the story of the everyday lives of four medical marijuana growers and their unique community behind the Redwood Curtain in the remote hills of Humboldt County.
While “Humboldt” has become synonymous the world over with high-grade marijuana for both the medical and black markets, the outside world knows little about the farmers themselves and their lives, history, dreams, and hopes for the future.
On remote ridges, down dusty roads, behind locked gates, in a county where pot is the only industry, three generations of growers have built a thriving alternative culture, complete with their own radio station, off-grid homesteads, organic gardens, art and music festivals, community center and alternative schools.
After enduring decades of pressure from law enforcement and being stigmatized by much of society, the community now faces a bigger challenge: the possibility of marijuana’s legalization. If left solely to bureaucrats and entrepreneurs, the emerging legal pot industry threatens to exclude organic, outdoor family farms and the rural communities they support.
ONE GOOD YEAR is the first documentary to tell the inside story of Humboldt’s legendary pot-growing culture and why many farmers now wonder if the good times may be coming to an end.
(For more on the location and history, see the About Humboldt County page.)
Be a part of this film!
If the above description sounds interesting and you liked the trailer, read on because we’d love your help about now.
The film is in the capable hands of veteran documentary editor Gretta Wing Miller. All that’s necessary to complete this film is funding for the edit. We’re counting on the film’s present supporters and future audience to fund this project. We’d absolutely love to include you in that list of fans and we’re hoping that after watching the trailer you’ll see that this is a very special project.
The main way to help move the film forward right now is by making a monetary contribution. Every bit of cash raised goes straight to the edit room as is comes in.
The post-production budget for an indie documentary can easily run to $500 or more per finished minute of the final film by the time you add in color correction, sound design and so on (e.g. $45K for 90 minutes). Want to sponsor a minute? Or, how about 12 seconds for a $100 contribution and a thank-you in the film credits? All contributors of any amount will receive a thanks on our Thank You page here on the website. All contributors of $100 or more will receive a thanks in the film end credits. Click the “Donate” link to the right. Oh, you know you want to.
Even if you can’t make a contribution now, there are other ways to help. Promote ONE GOOD YEAR to your social media networks and encourage others to lend us a hand. Have friends who you just know will like this film? Consider throwing a house party fundraiser for us, or some other form of benefit.
As a supporter, you’ll be part of this film’s mission to bring a realistic story of what it means to be a marijuana farmer to the public. Our society is on the cusp of major change in the national and international dialog about marijuana. This film will positively influence public perception and policy-making by showing an angle that you don’t see in the sensational mainstream media.
Thank you for your support,
Mikal Jakubal
director/producer/cinematographer
Gretta Wing Miller
Editor
Aarick Beher
Post sound
PS, be sure to check out the blog for news and opinions about the film, marijuana, Humboldt County and other interesting, if sometimes tangential, stories.