Crude Impact Crude Impact, directed and produced by James Jandak Wood, is a powerful and timely story that explores the interconnection between human domination of the planet, and the discovery and use of oil. The Executive Producer of Crude Impact was Steve Michelson and the director of photography Sharon Anderson. This documentary film exposes our global, deep-rooted dependency on fossil fuel energy and examines the future implications of peak oil--the point in time when the amount of petroleum available worldwide begins a steady, inexorable decline. In 1956, M. King Hubbert, a geologist at Shell Research Labs, shocked the oil industry by predicting that United States oil production--the largest in the world at that time--would peak in the early 1970s, and then continuously and irreversibly diminish. His prediction was vilified and largely ignored--until it came true.

 Journeying from the West African Delta region to the heart of the Amazon rainforest, from Washington to Shanghai, from early Man to the unknown future, Crude Impact chronicles the collision of our insatiable appetite for oil with the rights and livelihoods of indigenous cultures, other species and the planet itself. With great depth and insight, the film highlights the underlying myths and beliefs that are propelling us toward what many experts believe will be a cataclysmic period for humanity.

A story filled with discovery, sorrow, outrage, humor, and ultimately hope, Crude Impact uncovers the complex entanglement of the fate of humankind with its fierce dependence on petroleum, while providing a vital inspiration for change.

Available now at feature length, this full version is our best value and ideal for educational venues that can commit considerable time to this topic. Both versions of the film are accompanied by a comprehensive curriculum guide, aligned to national standards in science and the social sciences. A series of informational resources and action opportunities is included, allowing for considerable further study of this critical topic.