CSULB alumna makes water conservation sexy, wins award
Published: Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Updated: Thursday, October 25, 2012 01:10
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Clara Dauden
Water conservation stands as one of the top environmental concerns in Southern California, and filmmaker Carla Dauden has used something unexpected to raise awareness about the issue: sex appeal.
Dauden, a Cal State Long Beach alumna, made a short film that won the $5,000 first prize audience choice award at this year’s Intelligent Use of Water Film Competition. The water-conservation-themed film, called “The Wash,” was directed, edited and produced by Dauden.
The film starts with a young, attractive woman preparing to wash her car. As she turns on the water, a man resembling a male model walks outside of his house to change the oil in his car. The two start eyeing each other as they work on their cars, and the woman tries to get the young man’s attention by spraying water all over herself and her car.
However, instead of giving her attention, the man turns off her water and rolls his eyes in disgust as he walks back to his driveway.
The film ends with the line, “You become more attractive when you care.”
Dauden, who graduated with a degree in film and electronic arts, said she was thinking about concepts for the film competition while listening to music in her car. She said the story suddenly unraveled in her head.
“Once I thought about it, it all came together quickly,” she said.
Dauden said that she becomes inspired by observing her surroundings.
“It’s not news to anyone that in the rhythm things are going, water won’t last us very long,” she said. “So … I tried to grab people’s attention to the fact that wasting water is not sexy, is not cool, and is not acceptable anymore.”
Dauden said that she plans to invest the award money in her future projects, the next being a music video for local singer-songwriter Ashelyn Summers.
Through her work, Dauden said she wants to inspire people to think about change.
“I believe that if we all save as much as in our control, we can make a big difference,” she said. “Unfortunately, people tend to overlook that.”
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