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Researchers at the University of Southern California examined 37,453 scripts spanning 2016 to 2020 in search of 36 climate keywords like “climate change” and “deforestation”. Only 2.8% (or 1,046) scripts contained any mentions of the keywords, according to researchers. Researchers found that the word “dog” was mentioned thirteen times more than all 36 climate terms combined.
Katherine Oliver, a principal at Bloomberg Philanthropies who helped to fund the release the playbook, stated at a Good Energy launch that 2.8% was a “staggeringly small number.”
Oliver stated that Oliver’s goal was to “bridge the gap” between the world Oliver lives in and the modern world seen on TV.
Anna Jane Joyner, founder of Good Energy, said that the playbook was a result of the collaboration with over 100 screenwriters and producers as well as climate experts as well as psychologists. The guide also includes suggestions for how to shape characters and plotlines while incorporating climate solutions onto screen.
“If your characters are clinging to the bow of a ship à la The Perfect Storm, why not include a subplot about how these monster storms come every year now because of human-caused global warming?” one passage suggests.
Another article states that “Discussions on climate can be personal and dramatic or even funny.”
Netflix’s Oscar-nominated Netflix movie “Don’t Look Up” features humor and satire. It stars Leonardo Dicaprio as Jennifer Lawrence in a story that mocks climate change denial. Adam McKay, writer and director, was one of those who were consulted to create the playbook.
McKay released a statement saying that they have seen the film create more discussion and protests to demand governments take notice. “But, that’s just one movie. We have so many more to do.”
“Don’t Look Down” was released a year following the data from the study. This also measured audience awareness of climate-oriented movies. The study surveyed 2,000 people. It found that “The Day After Tomorrow” was mentioned most often. Nearly half the people surveyed stated they would like to see more stories about climate issues.
Joyner stated, “This movie is Hollywood’s greatest role.” “We must talk about it through our stories, so that we can discuss it in real life. We must imagine a different ending to the apocalypse.
Joyner launched Tuesday night’s Good Energy playbook at a gathering at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. This was in front of a mix of Hollywood creatives as well as supporters, including Bill Nye and Kendrick Sampson, actor from HBO’s “Insecure”, and Scott Z. Burns, screenwriter for “Contagion”.
Make it about those most affected
The playbook contributors called on content creators as well to create stories about minority and indigenous populations.
Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr., President, CEO, and Senior Advisor to Bloomberg Philanthropies, is the President and CEO of Hip Hop Caucus.
The playbook doesn’t hesitate to suggest possible villains for storylines. The fossil fuel industry is the target in a section called “The Why”.
“They’ve made themselves heroes and undermined key actors and policies and government action at all levels,” a contributor writes in an essay entitled “Greenhouse Gaslighting.”
CNN was rebuffed by the American Petroleum Institute, a trade association representing large oil companies. Bethany Williams, an API spokesperson, said that rising energy prices and volatility due to the war “we must both lower emissions and ensure affordable, reliable energy.” “That’s precisely what our industry has been focusing on for decades. Any suggestion that the contrary might be true is false.
Supporters of the playbook say that this is just the beginning and that Hollywood should create scripts that reflect the current dire situation in real life.
“If we are doing a scene on the rooftop, let there be panels on the roof. Or if we’re doing scenes where we can be modeling healthy eating, then let’s have a filtration system and not a bottle,” said Gloria Calderón Kellett, co-showrunner of “One Day at a Time” and “How I Met Your Mother.”
Joyner closed Tuesday’s event with a final push for Hollywood screenwriters: “The best thing you can to do for the climate, is write a damn fine story,” she said.
