New Film Captures the Hudson's Beauty and the Battle to Protect It

Daily Catch Publisher Walter Mullen sits down with producer Carolyn Marks Blackwood and director Jon Bowermaster to talk about The Keeper, a documentary that follows John Lipscomb, the longtime patrol captain for Riverkeeper, and his deep, complicated bond with the Hudson River. Walter asks about the Riverkeeper's mission, what drew Blackwood to Lipscomb's story, and the challenge of convincing a very private man to open up on camera. Bowermaster talks about his need for a human anchor to make the river's story accessible, and describes four to five years of filming from New York Harbor to Albany, finding both the Hudson's beauty and the lasting damage left by decades of pollution. Clips from the film feature Lipscomb on the gap between the river's health for humans versus fish, and a call to action urging viewers to get involved locally, defend environmental protections, and support organizations like Riverkeeper. The Keeper screens at Upstate Films in Rhinebeck on Sunday, April 12 at 7:00 PM. Produced by Emily Sachar, Walter Mullin. Executive Producer Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud at the Radio Free Rhinecilff studio. Additional editing by Esther Martel.