Katie Camosy Exposes Industry Deception and Community Resilience in Gaslit
- TYREE POPE III
- Apr 18
- 2 min read
At the Milwaukee Film Festival, director Katie Camosy presents a documentary that confronts one of the most pressing issues of our time.
Gaslit is an unflinching look at the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries, and the communities living with their consequences.
The Meaning Behind “Gaslit”
The title Gaslit operates on multiple levels.
On a global scale, Camosy argues that the oil and gas industry has misled the public about the necessity and safety of fossil fuels.
On a local level, communities are often promised jobs, safety, and economic growth — only to face pollution, health risks, and broken commitments.
From Texas to Louisiana, the pattern repeats.
Making the Invisible Visible
One of the film’s key challenges was translating complex environmental issues into something audiences could understand.
Rather than relying solely on technical explanations, Camosy uses visual tools to make the unseen visible.
Thermal cameras reveal emissions that the human eye cannot detect.
Animated sequences break down concepts like fracking and LNG in simple, digestible ways.
But at its core, the film is not driven by data.
It is driven by people.
Stories from the Front Lines
Gaslit centers on individuals living in affected communities.
In places like Cancer Alley, where cancer rates significantly exceed national averages, residents share firsthand accounts of life near industrial plants.
The film also travels internationally, connecting local struggles to global systems.
Despite the scale of the issue, the stories remain deeply personal.
Families, workers, and activists speak about their experiences with clarity and urgency.
The Power of Presence
The film features Jane Fonda, who serves as a guide throughout the documentary.
More than a narrator, Fonda acts as a listener.
Her presence helps connect audiences to the people on screen, creating moments of empathy and understanding across political and cultural divides.
For Camosy, working with Fonda on her first feature-length documentary was both surreal and transformative.
Resilience Over Victimhood
While the subject matter is heavy, Gaslit avoids framing its subjects as victims.
Instead, the film emphasizes resilience.
Communities organize protests, conduct independent research, and pursue legal action against corporations.
Figures like longtime activist Diane Wilson demonstrate that sustained resistance can lead to real victories.
These stories of persistence offer a sense of hope.
A Film That Sparks Action
Camosy hopes audiences leave the film with both anger and inspiration.
Anger at the systems that allow environmental harm to continue.
And inspiration from the people working to change it.
The film encourages viewers to look at their own communities and consider how similar issues might be affecting them.
Because while not every neighborhood has an LNG plant, the underlying patterns of environmental impact and corporate influence exist everywhere.
Looking Ahead
Beyond the film, Camosy is focused on impact.
Efforts include supporting global initiatives like a potential plastics pollution treaty and campaigns to hold corporations financially accountable for environmental damage.
For Camosy, Gaslit is not the end of the conversation.
It is the beginning.
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