Broke

On Sunday April 13th, 2025 at 4pm, The Green Film Series will begin at The Marjorie Luke Theatre. Celebrate Earth Month in the city where Earth Day was born with the premiere of Broke, a powerful documentary on the 2015 Gaviota Coast oil spill — one of the most devastating environmental disasters in our region’s history.

After the screening, join an essential conversation featuring Linda Krop, Chief Counsel of the Environmental Defense Center and a leading force in environmental protection on the Central Coast. Linda brings decades of frontline experience in holding polluters accountable and defending our coast. She’ll be joined by filmmaker Gail Orsherenko, whose film captures the resilience of a community that fought back, and Gunner Langenhuizen, Field Representative for Assemblymember Gregg Hart, sharing insight into policy and legislative impact.

Don’t miss this chance to reflect, learn, and recommit to protecting our coastline — right here in the heart of Santa Barbara.

Broke is the story of the 2015 oil pipeline rupture that spilled 140,000 gallons of crude oil onto the Gaviota Coast. The film highlights the reaction of citizens who came together in protest marches and healing ceremonies, rescued birds and marine mammals, cleaned the oil off our beaches, and demanded more stringent spill prevention and response. The community’s actions stand in stark contrast to the insensitivity of the oil industry and particularly Plains All-American Pipeline, Ltd.

In September 2018, a jury found Plains criminally responsible for the spill, and in May 2018, Plains settled a class action civil suit for $230 million to be paid to fishers, fish processors and property owners. And in 2019, a settlement with state and federal agencies called for payments of $60 million for damages to natural resources, penalties, and clean up costs.

Plains All American Pipeline filed an application in 2019 to replace pipelines 901 and 903 with smaller diameter, uninsulated steel pipelines.  The County of Santa Barbara has not completed environmental impact reports for this application as they are waiting for additional information they requested from Plains. Meanwhile, Plains reported selling the pipeline to Exxon and have approval of a permit from the Santa Barbara Planning Department Director to transfer ownership to Exxon.

If cost is an issue discounted tickets are available, email Kathy at KathyKelley@luketheatre.org.