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May 7, 2010

Filmmaker Ordered to Hand Ecuador Footage to Chevron
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A federal judge has ordered a documentary filmmaker to hand over
hundreds of hours of footage to the oil giant Chevron. Joseph
Berlinger’s film, “Crude”, chronicles the struggle of indigenous
Ecuadorians against Chevron’s oil contamination of their land. Chevron
has sought Berlinger’s outtakes to help defend itself against an
Ecuadorian lawsuit seeking $27 billion dollars in environmental damages.
Belinger says he’ll appeal the order, arguing that his footage should be
shielded under the same protections granted to journalists. Berlinger’s
attorney, Maura Wogan, says the ruling poses “great harm to documentary
filmmakers and investigative reporters everywhere.”



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