The Million Dollar Duck
by Karen Pecota

Filmmaker Brian Golden Davis showcases his  documentary The Million Dollar Duck as a directorial debut. His  narrative follows six wildlife artists who seek to win the "Olympics of  wildlife art" commonly known as The Federal Duck Stamp.

The Federal Duck Stamp award is given to the  artist who paints the best visual image of the duck species/breed chosen for  the annual contest. The winner's artwork is then the year's Federal Migratory  Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp. The duck painting is reproduced as the  official stamp similar in appearance (but not in size) to a postage stamp. It  is used for hunting licenses and for entrance to any national Wildlife Refuge.

The competition has been around since 1934  with the soul purpose to raise money for wildlife conservation. The U.S. Fish  and Wildlife department runs the competition and is the only juried art  competition supported by the U.S. Government. Since the contest's conception,  the stamp has generated more than $200 billion. Revenues from the stamp have  been able to purchase and maintain over 5.3 million acres of waterfowl and  wetland habitat in the United States.

The federal government does not provide any  prize money for the artwork of the Duck Stamp award but the artists are able to  generate lucrative deals from the re-licensing of the stamp image on a variety  of items for collectors. Publishing the image alone generates millions for the  winning artist. This is how the stamp earned its name--The Million Dollar Duck.

Roughly three-hundred artists enter the  contest each year. The final judging of the contest is approximately two very  intense days. The panel of five judges use a difficult process to judge and  re-judge during the competition. Davis' filming and editing of the process  shows the complex job of each judge. Once the judges submit their final  selection and a winner is chosen, the victory for the artist lasts a full year  of notoriety and financial promise.

Davis had heard about the  contest several years ago.  It was not  until he read Martin J. Smith’s 2013 book “Wild Duck Chase:  Inside the Strange and Wonderful World of the Federal Duck Stamp Contest"  and felt this was a story that needed to be told. Davis collaborates with  author/screenwriter, Martin J. Smith, to visually document on the silver screen  a strange philanthropic cause that is making a difference in U.S wildlife  conservation.

Davis' documentary follows six artists as they  design and paint their entry for the 2013 contest sharing with the film  audience the enormous amount of time it takes to find the species of duck in  the wild, capture it via photography or film, design, paint and submit the  artwork.

Lionsgate President of Worldwide Television  & Digital Distribution Jim Packer says, "Poignant, quirky, hilarious  and tremendously engaging, 'Million Dollar Duck' is the perfect property to  kick off our alliance with documentary films."

Rich Ross, Group  President of Discovery Channel, Animal Planer and Science Channel, says,  "Showcasing this film brings to light this special program that supports  wetlands conservation and aligns with our network's goal to activate people on  animal welfare concerned."