Below is a Q&A with Terry Botwick, executive producer of the forthcoming documentary film, "COOL IT."
What is 1019 Entertainment? Why did you choose "COOL IT" as the first project from 1019 Entertainment?
1019 Holdings, LLC is a Los Angeles-based film production, acquisition, and financing company, established by Ralph Winter and me. Our mission is to produce and acquire elevated filmed entertainment that inspires, illuminates, and challenges audiences through the telling of stories that relate to the human experience.
What do you see as the moral, ethical and/or spiritual implications of "COOL IT"?
We all have a responsibility to be stewards of the planet. But, "Cool It" goes much further in challenging us to spend our resources in a manner that does the most real good in the world. Major problems in the world, like poverty, are a much greater moral imperative than reducing carbon emissions.
Is there a Christian "call to action" in the film? If so, how do you suggest Christians respond?
Certainly, as Christians, there is a call to elevate the human condition. We should be finding ways to provide food for the hungry, clean drinking water, education and relief from disease. We should also be careful to spend our resources well. I think one call to action, in a free country, is to let our voice be heard to demand real solutions. We have an amazing ability to create and improve the quality of life. When discussing an issue like global warming, we should not sacrifice people in need to reduce carbon emissions but rather support research into new energy sources that will be sustainable and clean. We can all apply ourselves to leaving the planet in a better state for each coming generation.
What else do you hope that Christian audiences will take away from the film?
I really hope all people will take away both a profound sense that we are part of the solution to problems and not the problem. Mankind continues to improve the quality of life and that’s good. I also hope people have a paradigm shift in the way they think about solving problems. What is the highest good? How our resources can be applied to achieve the most good for the amount spent.
Why is this film important for today?
It is terribly important that we think clearly and not succumb to fear based upon headlines and special interests. Established, well meaning people, have tried very hard to keep a provocative voice, like Bjorn Lomborg’s, out of the debate. It’s fair for people to reach different conclusions about various things, and it’s fair for people to have different tolerance to risk and act accordingly. It is not fair to skew, withhold or exaggerate information, misleading people in order to advance your agenda, even if you are sincere in your belief.
For more information on "Cool It," visit www. http://reeltruths.com/cool-it/.
About Terry Botwick:
Mr. Botwick is recognized as an entertainment company president with the strategic vision, business execution, and brand-building skills necessary to increase a company’s market share. He has held the position of President of Vanguard Films & Animation. Mr. Botwick also served as President and Chief Operating Officer for Big Idea Productions, where he successfully brought the VeggieTales brand onto the big screen. He was Senior Vice President of Current Programming and Specials for CBS Entertainment, helping grow CBS into the leader in network television. Mr. Botwick has served as President of Distribution and National Programming for the entertainment division of the Hearst Corporation. Mr. Botwick has been responsible for the oversight of close to 1,000 hours of television series, special events, movies, direct to video product and theatrical films.
Roadside Attractions, in conjunction with 1019 Entertainment, releases the controversial documentary “COOL IT” to select theatres nationwide Nov. 12, 2010. The film debates current global warming spending, while calling attention to pressing humanitarian crises.
Directed by two-time Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize winner Ondi Timoner, “COOL IT” is based on the book “The Skeptical Environmentalist” (1998) by economist/political scientist Bjorn Lomborg. The film addresses what Lomborg believes to be the unjustified hysteria surrounding global warming and allocation of $250 billion annually to decelerate climate change. It contrasts the concern for climate with other concerns such as HIV/AIDS, malnutrition, and adequate drinking water, ultimately proposing a re-appropriation of funds to meet the needs of developing countries.
“COOL IT” premiered at the Toronto Film Festival last month. The Los Angeles Times called the film “...enlightening, brain-nourishing stuff,” while Variety predicted it “should attract truth-seekers of all stripes.” Producer Terry Botwick of 1019 Entertainment believes the film will resonate with Christian audiences as well, based on its “care for creation” message.
“The important thing is that we spend our resources in a way that does the most good in the world,” says Botwick. “When you are staring at pressing needs like hunger, poverty and lack of basic education in much of the world, spending trillions of dollars to lower the temperature by less than 1 degree at the end of the century doesn’t seem like the best use of our money. As Christians, we certainly should be concerned with stewardship of the planet; but taking care of the poor seems to be one of the greatest mandates given by God in the Bible. ”
For more information on “COOL IT” and a list of participating theatres, visit http://www.coolit-themovie.com
ABOUT ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS
Roadside Attractions is a film distribution company committed to championing independent films with a willingness to entertain. The company works with filmmakers to devise innovative marketing strategies that encourage audiences to see films that are not typical studio fare. Roadside Attractions’ 2009 release THE COVE captured the Academy Award for best feature documentary. Among its 2010 releases is Debra Granik’s critically-hailed WINTER’S BONE, winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, the outrageous Jim Carrey/Ewan McGregor starrer I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS, Alejandro González Iñárritu’s acclaimed BIUTIFUL, for which star Javier Bardem captured the Best Actor Award in Cannes and Ondi Timoner’s COOL IT documentary, which will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Previous theatrical releases include Chris Rock’s GOOD HAIR; RJ Cutler’s THE SEPTEMER ISSUE; Ramin Bahrani’s GOODBYE SOLO, winner of the 2008 Venice Film Festival's FIPRESCI International Critics' prize; Patrick Creadon’s Sundance sensation I.O.U.S.A; Toronto Film Festival People's Choice winner, BELLA; Andrew Wagner's Spirit Award-nominated STARTING OUT IN THE EVENING; Tarsem’s groundbreaking visual marvel THE FALL; the outrageous comedy SARAH SILVERMAN: JESUS IS MAGIC; Cannes Directors Fortnight hit CARAMEL; Academy Award® nominee SUPER SIZE ME; Spirit Award winner THE ROAD TO GUANTANAMO, as well as box office hits such as AMAZING GRACE, LADIES IN LAVENDER and WHAT THE BLEEP DO WE KNOW?
ABOUT 1019 ENTERTAINMENT
1019 Entertainment is a film production and finance company formed by Terry Botwick and Ralph Winter. 1019 Entertainment has more than 25 projects in development, both internally and at the studios, including DEAN KOONTZ FRANKENSTEIN, TRIXIE also with Koontz, Paul Verhoeven’s SURROGATE starring Halle Berry and the action thriller MAN AND WIFE in conjunction with Peter Chernin.
