PLANETWALKER: The Inner Magic of Dr. John Francis

KPFA - A Rude Awakening

On today’s show:

In 1971, John Francis, known the world over as ‘Planetwalker,’ witnessed an oil tanker collision in the San Francisco Bay. The sight of oiled birds on the shoreline caused him to give up motorized transport and rely solely on his own two feet. Months after that he took a vow of silence convinced that listening rather than adding fuel to any fire was the way ahead.

The documentary PLANETWALKER: The Inner Magic of Dr. John Francis focuses on the period of John’s life from the oil spill through his meandering 20-year journey across the States where he resumes speaking to work on oil spill legislation with the US Coast Guard. During this time, it seemed like the whole world, every creed and color, saw John pass by and interacted with him if only fleetingly. By tracking some of these people down, the film explores the weblike and sometimes deeply personal consequences of John’s decades of pilgrimage.

About the filmmakers:

Dominic Gill is a former biologist turned filmmaker. He began his filmmaking career by selling his house, buying a bicycle, and riding 20,000 miles from Alaska to Argentina. His film on the subject, TAKE A SEAT, was released in 2011 on ITV4 to critical acclaim. It was distributed to over 45 countries, winning the Special Jury Prize at Banff Film Festival.

Nadia Gill has been creating content in the outdoor space since 2011. Formerly an attorney, she decided to pursue a career in filmmaking after meeting her directing partner Dominic Gill. Together they formed Encompass Films and produced two seasons of a travel adventure series titled “Take A Seat: Sharing a Ride Across America”. It was distributed by NBCUniversal. Over the next few years under her direction, Encompass Films built a branded clientele including Red Bull, Timbuk2, Black Diamond Equipment, and more.

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