'NOW WHAT' WITH RYAN DUFFY
'THE HUFFINGTON POST’
AOL NEW FRONT
PRODUCED BY REZA + CO
“Former VICE correspondent Ryan Duffy has been shot in Colombia, jailed in Cairo while covering the Arab Spring, and sojourned in North Korea…In his new docuseries “Now What?” Ryan brings the same adventurous spirit to stories…not just the violence, tragedy, dysfunction and corruption, but the innovation, creativity, ingenuity and compassion too often overlooked by the media.”
“The show was one of a slate of 12 new shows added by The Huffington Post in 2015 as part of their strategy of video expansion under AOL New Front; site founder Arianna Huffington cited the riots in Baltimore following the death of Freddie Gray as an example of the kinds of solution-based situations Duffy's program would address, criticizing existing coverage as creating "copycat crimes instead of copycat solutions."Duffy describes the show as having a two-act structure, first exploring a global problem, then a second act exploring the solution and a character-driven depiction of the people working on the solution.”
SINATRA: ALL OR NOTHING AT ALL
HBO
Directed by Alex Gibney of Jigsaw Productions
“Some of the best insights into Sinatra come from an interview with Walter Cronkite, asking him to address matters like his explosive temper. There’s also an interesting juxtaposition of his role with other musical icons, from Bing Crosby to Elvis Presley, who Sinatra was smart enough to host and sing a duet with despite being largely contemptuous of rock music.
Gibney deftly weaves Sinatra’s films and songs into the narrative, showing him sing “Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered,” for example, as Sinatra and others describe his tumultuous relationship with Gardner (who, in a reading of her memoir, calls him “good in the feathers”) and how insanely smitten he was with her.
“Frank was a womanizer,” Bacall says about him matter-of-factly in an old interview. “He wanted to be in the sack with everybody.”
Like Crosby, Sinatra’s celebrity derived much of its power from his success across various media, and was then amplified by his romances with other stars, his notorious ties to the Mob and his participation in politics, which took an unexpected turn after JFK’s death when he embraced Richard Nixon. Then there were the other bizarre interludes, among them the kidnapping of then-19-year-old Frank Jr. in 1963.
With “Going Clear” having just played on HBO and his Steve Jobs doc already stirring conversation, Gibney is at the top of his game, picking off high-profile subjects that bring a strong commercial streak and event-style heft to the nonfiction form. And like the subject of this latest film, he appears to be doing it his way.With “Going Clear” having just played on HBO and his Steve Jobs doc already stirring conversation, Gibney is at the top of his game, picking off high-profile subjects that bring a strong commercial streak and event-style heft to the nonfiction form. And like the subject of this latest film, he appears to be doing it his way.With “Going Clear” having just played on HBO and his Steve Jobs doc already stirring conversation, Gibney is at the top of his game, picking off high-profile subjects that bring a strong commercial streak and event-style heft to the nonfiction form. And like the subject of this latest film, he appears to be doing it his way.” -Variety
YEARS OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY
PRODUCED BY JAMES CAMERON
AND ROARING FORK PRODUCTIONS
“Showtime's powerful nine-part documentary series Years of Living Dangerously aims to be much more than a ball of sound bites, while still acknowledging the role they play. When it comes to climate change, the causative connection between politics and business is clear -- but so is the power of media, as evidenced by the documentary's star-studded cast and production team…”
“The intimate tone is carried throughout the interviews by Ford, Cheadle and others, who are casual and conversational, and usually not confrontational (Ford is an exception, and a well-placed one). The actors are passionate, but not experts. They let the scientists, the workers, the officials and others tell their stories. It's part of Years of Living Dangerously's refreshing and inclusive tone: it's not important how one gets to this point of understanding the issues, but simply that one does…”
“An urgent soundtrack and litany of distressing facts flood each of the documentary's first two hours, approaching issues of climate change from all angles. Complementing the global-but-personal nature of its visuals, segments focus on something as large as a forest fire, and then something as small as a mountain beetle, whose expanded habitat, viewers are told, has caused more forest loss in the western U.S. than all of the fires in the last 10 years. This is then juxtaposed with the loss of wildlife habitat in Indonesia, where villagers were rewarded for killing orangutans. The systemic nature of the problem is made clear…”
“Years of Living Dangerously presents evidence about how climate is affecting situations around the world, like the drought that potentially sowed the seeds for Syrian civil war. It's all compelling and, frankly, terrifying, which makes it successful in its mission. But is it preaching to the choir, or creating converts? The documentary does an excellent job of being simple and clear without being arrogant, and its convergence of science, politics, religion and industry proves its ultimate point…”
-Hollywood Reporter
President Barack Obama participates in an interview with YEARS Correspondent and NY Times Columnist Thomas Friedman in the Library of the White House. It is the president’s first-ever television interview dedicated solely to climate change.
DON CHEADLE
IAN SOMMERHOLDER
DISRUPTION
Produced by PF PICTURES
‘When it comes to climate change, why do we do so little when we know so much?’ Through a relentless investigation to find the answer, ‘DISRUPTION’ takes an unflinching look at the devastating consequences of our inaction.
The exploration lays bare the terrifying science, the shattered political process, the unrelenting industry special interests and the civic stasis that have brought us to this social, moral and ecological crossroads.The film also takes us behind-the-scenes of the efforts to organize the largest climate rally in the history of the planet during the UN world climate summit.
This is the story of our unique moment in history. We are living through an age of tipping points and rapid social and planetary change. We’re the first generation to feel the impacts of climate disruption, and the last generation that can do something about it. The film enlarges the issue beyond climate impacts and makes a compelling call for bold action that is strong enough to tip the balance to build a clean energy future.”
-PF Pictures
“Disruption opens with a serene archival footage, from Apollo 8 lunar mission, of the Earth rising over the horizon of the Moon before jumping sharply to modern images of extreme storms and the devastation faced in their aftermath. Cities lie in ruin, streets flooded and buildings aflame. "The world hasn't ended," title cards bleakly read. "But the world as we know it has."
Shot during the 100 days prior to the September 21, 2014 People’s Climate Change March, the film serves as a cautionary countdown intended to motivate viewers to take action on the issue of climate change. The audience is taken inside the People's Climate Mobilization Hub, a New York office space where organizers and activists strive to set in motion the largest climate rally in history. Their primary objective is to capture the consideration of world leaders prior to a major UN climate meeting in order to draw worldwide attention to the existing and future threats of changing weather patterns.
Citing historical movements such as women's liberation and civil rights as major influences in the decision to facilitate a march, organizers share a unified belief in the power of people coming together in the interest of a common cause, even in the digital age. Experts on climate change, from authors and academics to scientists and community organizers, give viewers a history lesson on the topic at hand and make it clear that weather patterns are an issue of global concern. Interview subjects push to disempower large corporations such as oil companies and other resource-damaging operations, warning that the preservation of our natural resources is a long-term investment more valuable than any monetary sum.
At the end, the filmmakers issue a final call to action, encouraging those with environmental concerns to join their movement at a time when "the whole world will be watching." Featuring impressive cinematography paired with stock footage and impassioned testimonials, Disruption is both an eye-opening look at a grim future, as well as a motivational piece on how to improve that future.”
-TOPDOCUMENTARYFILMS.COM
THE RESILIENCE AGE
Presented by The Rockefeller Foundation and U.S. Department of Housing
ABOUT ‘RESILIENCE AGE’
“The Resilience Age documentary examines urban centers across the globe that have not only developed innovative ways to address and overcome the challenges they face, but have positioned their cities to be better prepared for future disruptions, ensuring they better withstand and recover quicker when disaster strikes. The film highlights the impact of resilience in cities around the world that face challenges including climate change, sea level rise, economic disparity and pollution. By examining the past, present and future of cities from El Paso, Texas to Medellin, Colombia The Resilience Age highlights how these cities developed interventions that established resilience in their communities. While the location and challenges of the featured cities vary, they all have one thing in common: through innovative approaches to resilience, these cities have addressed their challenges and emerged better prepared to absorb the shocks and stresses that the future will certainly bring.”
When Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the Gulf Coast of the United States, it breached more than 50 levees and flood walls, leaving nearly 80 percent of New Orleans underwater and killing nearly 2,000 people. Before this moment, the city of New Orleans, like many other great cities around the world, was aware of the risk of hurricanes and other threats. Yet, Katrina shook us to our core—bringing to light the failing infrastructure, the broken communication systems, and the lack of adequate protocols for disaster response in New Orleans and across the United States.
In the 21st century, cities around the world are increasingly susceptible to physical, social and economic challenges at a scale and frequency never before seen. Increasing urbanization in our cities, more frequent and severe climate related events, and easier access for goods, resources, and mobility have created an uncertain future. In order to thrive, cities must confront these challenges head-on through innovative and strategic planning that considers multi-purpose solutions.
The age of resilience is indeed upon us, and with smart development and investment, our cities will be better equipped to manage the unavoidable and avoid the unmanageable. To highlight this transition, we are thrilled to announce the release of ‘The Resilience Age’ , a gripping new documentary that looks at the diverse challenges our cities face and the different ways they integrate resilience into their framework to create more unified and collaborative futures for their communities.
From El Paso to Medellin, the documentary explores urban centers across the globe that have developed innovative ways to address and overcome the challenges they face. Furthermore, it brings to life the complex concept of resilience and illustrates the benefits resilience planning and practices can yield for cities around the world.
The Rockefeller Foundation developed this film alongside a curriculum to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to be engaged in the discussion on resilience and its benefits. The Resilience Age is something we can all be a part of, and we encourage all those interested to share this documentary and website with their communities. By working together, we can continue to bring resilience to more communities not just in the U.S., but across the world.
WORLD OF CHILDREN AWARD
“World of Children unlocks the future for vulnerable children by funding, elevating and educating the most effective changemakers for children worldwide. Since 1998, the Foundation has dedicated more than $13 million in grants to high-impact programs for children, led by more than 100 Honorees working in over 50 countries. World of Children has been recognized by the media as the “Nobel Prize for Child Advocates” and is the only global recognition and funding program that exclusively focuses on a broad range of children’s issues including health, education, safety and human rights.”
