AWIAFF Screening: Fri. Apr. 27, 7:20pm
EMPOWERING THE ULTIMATE MOTHER
LIVING IN THE FUTURES PAST – FEATURE DOC
Synopsis: Jeff Bridges presents this beautifully photographed tour de force of original thinking on who we are and the environmental challenges we face, providing original insights into our subconscious motivations, the unintended consequences, what to do about our fossil slaves, and how our fundamental animal nature influences our future as Humankind. Country of origin USA; Filmed in Italy, Iceland, the United Kingdom, U.S.A, Germany, France and Canada.
Interview by Kaylene Peoples | Responses by Susan Kucera
What was it like directing this documentary?
It was difficult and enjoyable at the same time. Jeff and I and our exec producer Jim Swift wanted to make a new kind of film, one that takes a good look under the hood of humanity so to speak. Instead of just looking at the symptoms of climate change or other challenges we face such as politics, money, or environmental degradation we infused philosophical and psychological elements in the form of object oriented ontology and evolutionary biology. The experts we interviewed, combined with Jeff’s personal role in the film made it all very accessible.
Living in the Futures Past has covered a lot of ground—a staggering list of countries, Universities, scientists, anthropologists, and more. What inspired you to direct this documentary and how long did the completion process take?
We wanted to contribute to and invite people to see our world through a new lens. Jeff and I took two years to film and edit Living in the Future’s Past into its current form. It was the kind of film which has some complicated elements that we wanted to weave into an understandable story so we allowed the film-making process to ‘simmer’ until we felt there was nothing we would want to change.
What was it like working with Jeff Bridges?
Jeff is an excellent collaborator. I’m sure people already know this about him and I think both our styles were about processing what worked best for the end result. Jeff was also not afraid at all to push some of the boundaries on where our narrative took us. I thoroughly enjoyed filming him too. He even carried the tripod at the top of the mountain. I like working with people like Jeff who are ‘all in’. He’s a treasure and someone I greatly admire.
What makes a good documentary? What are the critical elements?
Documentaries are intended to address the world we live in, rather than a fictional world imagined by the filmmaker. Good documentaries strive to be factual but that doesn’t’ mean they are bereft of artistic elements. The best kind of documentary to me, exposes us to deep truths about its subject while captivating the audience visually.
When did you know you wanted to be a documentarian?
I love to film; the act of filming, being behind the camera, “documenting” capturing time so to speak. This love developed early in childhood and obviously lends itself to what I do.
What are some of your favorite documentaries?
Winged Migration, The March of the Penguins
What inspires you?
It is curiosity or the not knowing that keeps me motivated to make documentaries.
What challenges have you faced in your career?
There are always challenges because documentary filming with very conservative budgets require constant creativity and ingenuity to get the desired
result.
What are some of the highlights of your career?
Working with a multitude of interesting people, some of whom I have become close friends with and being given the opportunity to be immersed in vast landscapes like Iceland where the ‘set’ is nature or filming with NOAA underwater with whales.
Is there anything you’d like to say specifically about Living In the Futures Past?
From the response we’ve had so far I see this film as filling in a much needed awareness of energy flows, as Jeff points out in the film Energy is the currency of Life. I think it will contribute to the newly emerging sense of eco cosmopolitanism that crosses boundaries and borders while giving us the deeper understanding of ourselves and our physical realities.
Visit Artemis Women In Action Film Festival for Screening Information. The film festival runs through April 26-29, 2018! Purchase tickets for Living in the Future’s Past.
