GRIDLOCKED
An independent documentary examining the hidden impact of data centers—the environmental, social, and economic costs often overlooked in the pursuit of technological progress and corporate profit. It explores how local communities are left behind as policymakers navigate the difficult balance between growth and responsibility.
Produced by
WHY WISCONSIN
Wisconsin is becoming ground zero for a new kind of industrial boom — not factories or farms, but AI mega-centers. These are the largest data facilities on Earth, built to feed the insatiable appetite of artificial intelligence. Each one consumes more electricity than entire towns, and more water than most of us realize even exists beneath our feet. They are rising quietly across farmland and wetlands, reshaping the state’s landscape in the name of progress — and profit.
The Great Lakes region, once defined by stewardship and abundance, has become a magnet for these operations. Our cold climate lowers cooling costs, our freshwater aquifers promise endless supply, and our open farmland offers space to sprawl. But those same advantages are also what make Wisconsin vulnerable. Wells begin to run lower. Transmission lines carve through family land. Local governments, enticed by short-term tax revenue, find themselves locked into long-term commitments they can’t undo.
THE TEAM
Switchback Cinema is based in the middle of this story — Wisconsin. The AI buildout is happening in our own backyard, and we’re watching it reshape the land and the lives around us. We tell stories about real people and real places, and we know how to turn them into projects ready for audiences. We’re close enough to see what’s changing, and skilled enough to show why it matters.
We Need Your Help
Your support makes this story possible — and amplifies every local voice.
This documentary is being created independently so we can tell the truth without outside agendas or corporate filters. Every dollar raised goes directly toward filming, editing, and distributing a story that demands national attention.
What’s happening in Wisconsin is the front line of a national issue. By helping us bring this project to life, you’re doing more than funding a film — you’re helping make sure your community’s experience is seen, heard, and taken seriously far beyond county lines.
When the story goes national, it adds weight to local voices, draws accountability, and makes decision-makers pay attention.
Your support helps us get there — fast, credible, and uncompromised.
Contribute today and help Wisconsin’s story shape the national conversation.
Drip Campaign
We’re launching a drip campaign during production to make an impact before the film is even finished. Through behind-the-scenes stories, interviews, and short visual pieces, we’ll give audiences and communities an inside look at what’s unfolding across Wisconsin. These deliverables aren’t just promotion — they’re part of the story itself, helping raise awareness, attract funding, and bring local voices to the national stage while cameras are still rolling.
We're Moving Fast
Timeline
Pre-Production
November 25 - December 25
We’re excited to kick off our production by scheduling, scouting locations, capturing dynamic b-roll, and organizing sequence shoots. We'll also be laying the groundwork for our drip campaign while up our equipment and facilities for a seamless and engaging production experience.
Principal Photography
January 26 - February 26
Principal photography is expected to take around a month to complete, during which we will capture all essential elements of the project. This phase will include conducting a series of interviews, gathering b-roll footage, and various sequences that are vital to the narrative. Each component will be planned and executed to ensure a comprehensive and engaging final product We are excited to move forward with this important stage of production!
Post Production
February 26 - March 26
To ready this project for potential distribution, we will have navigated it through our feature film workflow, enabling easy adaptation for broadcast, streaming, theatrical, and web platforms This process includes editing, color grading, and post-production sound.
Delivery
March 26
We anticipate that the final product will be delivered in March 2026, provided that the project commences on schedule. Timely initiation of the project is crucial to meet this timeline, and we are committed to that all aspects are well-coordinated to achieve a successful delivery We're excited about the journey ahead and look forward to bringing this project to fruition within the planned timeframe.
We Need Your Help
Budget
Phase 1 - Production ($25,000)
To move into production, we’re raising an initial funding goal to cover essential costs — equipment rentals, location access, and the hiring of a producer to coordinate interviews and logistics.
Phase 2 - Marketing ($10,000)
During production, we’ll be producing and releasing high-quality impact pieces — behind-the-scenes visuals, short character stories, expert insights, and data-driven graphics. Each will carry the same level of polish and intention as the final film, designed to make the scale and urgency of this issue impossible to ignore.
Using top-tier cinema tools and creative precision, every frame will communicate credibility and purpose. By sharing these assets throughout production, we’ll raise awareness, engage communities, and drive the conversation forward long before the documentary’s release.
Phase 3 - Post Production ($10,000)
We produce all of our films at true theatrical quality — with full streaming and broadcast distribution readiness from day one. To maximize the reach and impact of this story, we are committed to delivering a film that networks, platforms, and festivals will actively want to distribute.
Quality isn’t optional — it’s essential.
To spark national attention and meaningful change, we need this project to look as powerful as the issue it explores. Securing eyes on the project means crafting every element — from cinematography to sound to storytelling — at a level that commands attention.
The stakes are high.
Our production value will match them.
