Rattlesnake to Westwater

About This Project

Filmmaker:

Hank Leukart

Total Running Time:

0:20:00

Filming Location:

United States

Filmmaker Origin:

California

Synopsis:

This film to be screened:

8/5/21 – The Androscoggin Program

Special Note:

USA Premiere

Filmmaker Bio:

Hank Leukart is passionate about using technology to share compelling, immersive stories, and especially well-versed in launching film projects combining travel to unusual locales with socially-conscious issues like environmental conservation, human rights, and education. He’s worked as a producer on many iconic documentary television shows, including World’s Toughest Race (Amazon Prime); The Amazing Race, Big Brother, and The American Baking Competition (CBS); and Expedition Impossible (ABC). He recently directed his first feature documentary, “The Mars Academy,” about NASA scientists helping under-served kids explore Mars with a real spacecraft. He’s also won film festival awards for his short adventure movies, “Bears Ears” and “Rattlesnake to Westwater.”

Three thoughts from the filmmaker:

Hank Leukart and Jake Jenkins, who star in the film, have been friends since high school. The two starred in another packrafting film called Bears Ears, which appeared in festivals a few years ago, including MOFF. Their Westwater Canyon trip wasn’t planned; they discovered they were both in Utah at the same time coincidentally (Hank for work and Jake on vacation with his family), so Hank convinced Jake with only a few days notice to head into the wilderness with the packrafts.