DAUK Film Night: Before the Flood
was held on December 8, 2017 in London
In Collaboration with the Policy Network and Resolutions Committee
After screening discussion led by Wen-Wen Lindroth, Co-chair of the Policy Network and Chair of its Inclusive Economics Group
Photo from Before the Flood Movie Press kit
The Filmmaker
Fisher Stevens
The Producer
Leonardo DiCaprio
Resources
Take Action
The Film Night
Speaking at the London Film Festival premier screening of Before the Flood in October 2016, Carbon Brief reported that Leonardo di Caprio said:
“Before The Flood is the product of an incredible three-year journey that took place with my co-creator and director Fisher Stevens. We went to every corner of the globe to document the devastating impacts of climate change and questioned humanity’s ability to reverse what maybe the most catastrophic problem mankind has ever faced. There was a lot to take on. All that we witnessed on this journey shows us that our world’s climate is incredibly interconnected and that it is at urgent breaking point…I’ve been incredibly moved by so many climate change documentaries in the past, but I never felt that I saw one that articulated the science clearly to the public. I think people grasp it, but it seems something distant, far off, intangible and almost otherworldly. An individual doesn’t feel like they can make an impact.
The journey for me was to try and make a modern-day film about climate change. I’ve been studying this issue for the past 15 years, I’ve been watching it very closely. What’s incredibly terrifying is that things are happening way ahead of the scientific projections, 15 or 20 years ago…We wanted to create a film that gave people a sense of urgency, that made them understand what particular things are going to solve this problem. We bring up the issue of a carbon tax, for example, which I haven’t seen in a lot of documentaries. Basically, sway a capitalist economy to try to invest in renewables, to bring less money and subsidies out of oil companies. These are the things that are really going to make a massive difference. It’s gone beyond, as we talk about in the film, simple, individual actions.
We need to use our vote…We cannot afford to have political leaders out there that do not believe in modern science, or the scientific method, or empirical truths…We cannot afford to waste time having people in power that choose to believe in the 2% of the scientific community that is basically bought off by lobbyists and oil companies. They are living in the stone ages. They are living in the dark ages. We need to live in the future.”
Source: Reported in Carbon Brief.
About Leonardo DiCaprio
Academy Award® winning actor and activist Leonardo DiCaprio is well known for his dedication to the environment on a global scale. As Chairman of the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation (LDF), he works to protect biodiversity, implement ocean and forest conservation and educate the world about climate change. In addition, he has produced numerous environmentally themed creative projects and documentaries to increase awareness and ignite change.
In September 2014, DiCaprio was designated as a United Nations Messenger of Peace with a specific focus on climate change. That same month, DiCaprio was honored with the Clinton Global Citizen Award, participated in history’s largest climate march in New York City and powerfully addressed the UN Summit. In January 2016, DiCaprio was awarded a Crystal Award by the World Economic Forum in Davos for his work to bring global attention to the urgent need to address climate change. Leonardo also serves on the boards of World Wildlife Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council, National Geographic’s Pristine Seas, the funders’ collaborative Oceans 5, and International Fund for Animal Welfare.
Source: https://www.beforetheflood.com/about
Photo Source: Leornado Di Caprio – Flicker. UN Messenger of Peace Leonardo Di Caprio. Photo by Simon Ruf- UN Social Media Team.jpg, background and featured image – Photo by will terra on Unsplash
About Fisher Stevens
Producer and Director Fisher Stevens has worked in the entertainment industry for over 30 years. His versatility is evidenced by his credits, which range from acting to producing to directing. Before the Flood, is his third environmental film, following the Academy Award®-winning film The Cove and Racing Extinction.
The documentary follows actor and activist Leonardo DiCaprio as he travels to five continents to gain a deeper understanding of climate change and its impact on the world. Stevens has worked with the United Nations and been involved in a range of groundbreaking productions spanning film, television and theater. He’s had recurring arcs on HBO productions “The Night Of” – the acclaimed miniseries starring John Turturro – and “Vice Principals,” a comedy series with Danny McBride and Walton Goggins. Additionally, he directed the upcoming HBO documentary Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, and produced the upcoming Netflix documentary Sky Ladder, about celebrated Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang.
PHOTO SOURCE: Leonardo DiCaprio and Fisher Stevens at the screening of “Before the Flood” at the UN Headquarters in New York City on October 20, 2016. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]
Disclaimer: The screening of this film does not constitute an endorsement or promotion of the film, nor of any views expressed therein or any association with The Film Committee, DAUK, Democrats Abroad or the Democratic Party. Screenings are solely conceived as educational activities: offering an opportunity for members to discuss issues.
Links to other organizations or publications imply neither endorsement of their policies nor any association with the Democratic Party or Democrats Abroad – UK
