Woodpecker

Story

Synopsis

Fanatical birdwatchers have descended upon a small town in the Arkansas bayou in hopes of finding the celebrated Ivory Billed Woodpecker. Declared extinct in the 1940’s, the bird has apparently been spotted by numerous experts. Enter amateur birder and poet Johnny Neander, who has convinced his taciturn sidekick that he will be the one to find the elusive woodpecker. The ensuing chaos divides the small town between believers and non-believers, rabid environmentalists and opportunistic entrepreneurs. Much like the bird itself, Woodpecker explores the intersection of fact and fiction, manipulating our notions of documentary and narrative techniques within a tragic comedy about hope, perception, and some very very strange birds.

Director

Alex Karpovsky

Writers

Alex Karpovsky, Jon Hyrns

Language

English

Country

United States of America

Release date

9 March 2008

Ensemble

Cast

• Jon Hyrns

  Johnny Neander

• Wesley Yang

  Wes

• Billy Clay

  Mayor

• Sandra Kemmer

  Brinkley Chamber of Commerce

• Kent Parham

  Sheriff, Monroe County

• Brother Jim Daniels

  Pastor, First Baptist Church

• Lisa Boyd

  Owner, Ivory-Bill Nest

• Evelyn Miley

  Brinkley Chamber of Commerce

• David Allen Sibley

  Author, Sibley Guide to Birds

• Allan J. Mueller

  Nature Conservancy, Search Team Member