The 2000 film Erin Brockovich told what seemed like a triumphant David-versus-Goliath tale: a single mother of three takes on PG&E for contaminating the drinking water in Hinkley, California—and wins, securing a $333 million settlement from the utility giant. But what happened to the tiny desert town afterward?

For many of the roughly 600 residents who received part of the payout, the victory was far from complete. The documentary short Based on a True Story revisits Hinkley decades later, revealing how residents like Roberta Walker still suffer from lingering health issues. Bound by confidentiality agreements, they can’t disclose how much money they received—but many say it wasn’t enough to sustain them long term. Now, 21 years after the lawsuit, the same environmental dangers appear to persist, continuing to threaten the health and livelihoods of those who remain in Hinkley.

Distributor: Reveal, from the Center for Investigative Reporting
Credits: Director, Producer, Cinematographer and Editor

Awards: Winner of the 2018 Gracie Award for Original Online Programming - Video Series “The Aftermath”