In a time of growing income inequality in America, there is one asset that remains in the hands of the American people: the 640 million acres of America’s Public Lands. Given its status as the last large-scale public asset on the planet, powerful forc-es have aligned to attempt the largest land grab in modern history, rob Americans of this unique birthright, and make modern day vassals of the American people.

PUBLIC TRUST explores the topic of public lands by interweaving three layers of narrative: Ongoing, character-driven land battles, a character-driven political exposé, and historical context provided by historians and journalists. These are not distinct topics, but rather an uninterrupted story of mankind’s relationship to land and resources in North America that will be woven together seamlessly in the film. To create a coherent narrative, we will be following Hal Herring, a journalist who has dedicated his life to exploring the paradigm of public lands, as he tracks down these stories and puts together the puzzle pieces to expose the largest land heist in modern history.

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