The film will show how people have crossed the Rio Grande
in search of opportunity, fought along it for territory and tribute,
and used and abused its waters as they built cities, established industries,
promoted commerce, and produced crops. A parade of colorful characters
will brighten these chronicles; from indigenous peoples, Spanish explorers,
frontier adventurers and U.S. Presidents; to today’s would-be immigrants,
border patrol agents, environmentalists and farmers – from both
sides – looking across the river. As the film contemplates the
Rio Grande’s place in history and history’s impact on the
river, it will expose local controversies – which here become international
incidents – by presenting both the U.S. and Mexican perspectives.
Partners and production advisors on the Rio Grande project
include individuals, nonprofit organizations and government agencies.
Among the organizations are the Big Bend National Park; Palo Alto Battlefield
National Historic Site; Texas Historical Commission; the Texas Film
Commission; the Historic Commissions of Brewster, El Paso, Webb and
Cameron Counties; the Big Bend Studies Center; and the nonprofits Los
Caminos del Rio and the Texas Center for Policy Studies.
The Rio Grande Border, a one-hour film, is produced
in association with America's River Communities, and The Rio Grande
Institute. Executive Producers: Len Materman and Ty Fain.
