A Highland youngster has set a very hopeful tone at his movie release about what ordinary people can do about climate change.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
11-year-old Ryan shared a very special message during the launch of his movie 'NOW' at Bundanoon Hall on November 15.
The launch of the film, which focuses on ways individuals can make a positive difference to the environment, attracted a sold out crowd of 70 people.
The release of the movie created by Ryan - 'NOW', Climate Change Emergency, What we CAN all DO about it - coincided with the sale of the new reusable Bundanoon on Tap water bottle.
READ MORE:
Ryan said was inspired to create his film after watching the movie 2040 along with the Bundanoon on Tap initiative "showing that people could make a positive difference".
He said during the film launch at Bundanoon that "experts say it is important to teach kids that we can do things to reduce climate change", and that "even though some people think you shouldn't talk to us kids about climate change, we still hear about it, and can see the weather changing."
Ryan previewed snippets from the five sections of his 52-minute long movie, Reuse and Recycling, Energy, Homes and Transport, Our Government, and Food and Water.
He teased and garnered chuckles from the audience, by stopping at crucial moments noting "you will have to buy the movie, to see what else is said... and you can buy the movie at BDCU Alliance Bank in Bowral, Moss Vale, and at the Bundanoon Cutting Cottage, with all profits going to climate change groups."
For example the quick-thinking youngster said he couldn't show the interview with 93-year-old Derrick in his electric car, as "we can't go to Victoria due to Covid restrictions!"
Nor did he preview a segment that included a Southern Highlands Community Stuff Swap, so people could "buy the movie to find out about this useful initiative".
In the break after the screening, participants were buzzing with ideas they had learnt or been reminded of by the movie.
Carol Gill from Bundanoon said that she "never knew that gas had such a large carbon footprint."
Her friend, Anna Bell added in "and that hydro and wind are good sources of energy at night, when the sun isn't shining for solar."
Ryan was asked where to next, and he shared that "I want to try to get funding to pay to put the movie in some film festivals."
"Then I want to save up for a better video camera, and finish the introductions for the interviews I didn't have space to use in the movie," he said.
"I'm planning to put these up on my You Tube channel for all to see."
After the break, Ryan posed questions written by the audience to an assembled panel of experts.
They fielded queries by 8-year-old children through to 84-year-old grandparents.
There was a wonderful representation from Bundanoon school, with principal Mel Morris, and a collection of both teachers and students in attendance.
Panellist Tim Buckley Director of Energy Finance Studies IEEFA, who is featured in the NOW movie, spoke of the inevitability of getting all our energy from renewables.
Confidently predicting that solar "will expand by 500 per cent in the next three decades...we will do this despite our government, although it would be so much easier if we did it with our government".
Another panellist who appears in Ryan's documentary was Jill Cockram coordinator of the Moss Vale Community Garden.
She encouraged people to "be creative about how you can keep all green waste on-site" by composting, feeding animals, etc.
The third panellist Miles Lockheed Secretary of WINZero - Wingecarribee Zero Net Emissions said "don't buy something that is single use, ...but if you have to, think about what it is made from, and whether it can go back in the (re-use) cycle."
Ryan ended the event by saying that "as Craig Reucassel said in the NOW movie, every little thing makes a difference...so...we can actually make a BIG difference."
Then the audience dissipated slowly, enthused about the excellent result that young Ryan had achieved, and the poise with which he'd presented his work.
It seemed that Ryan was hitting his target of showcasing changes people can make, to lessen the climate emergency.
You can buy the movie at BDCU Alliance Bank in Bowral and Moss Vale, Bundanoon Cutting Cottage, or online at nowisthemovie.weebly.com with all profits going to climate change groups, like WINzero and the Australian Conservation Foundation.
We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.
