Can you believe mushrooms actually clear oil spills and there are underground fungal networks that help trees communicate? We will have a live Q&A with the filmmakers Louie Schwartzberg and Elease Lui Stemp, a Climate Reality Leader. Email your questions in advance to crplamarketing@gmail.com. Note: We will be providing a private viewing link to an edited version of the film prior on Oct. 26th. It is also available to stream in its original format on Netflix now. RSVP to laclimatereality@gmail.com. Save the date for Thursday, 10/28/21, at 7:30PM PST. This is hosted by the Community Engagement Committee.
ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS
Louie Schwartzberg is an award-winning cinematographer, director and producer who has spent his notable career providing breathtaking imagery using his time-lapse, high-speed and macro cinematography techniques. Schwartzberg is a visual artist who breaks barriers, connects with audiences, and tells stories that celebrate life and reveal the mysteries and wisdom of nature, people, and places. Louie’s theatrical releases include the 3D IMAX film Mysteries of the Unseen World with National Geographic, narrated by Forest Whitaker; the theatrical feature, Wings of Life for Disneynature, narrated by Meryl Streep, and America’s Heart and Soul for Walt Disney Studios. He is currently promoting his new film, Fantastic Fungi, which explores the world of mushrooms and mycelium and illustrates how this fascinating organism can provide sustainable solutions to some of the world’s greatest problems, treating cancer, Alzheimer’s and PTSD, saving the bees, cleaning the atmosphere, and shifting consciousness. For Schwartzberg, the greatest satisfaction is creating works that can have a positive effect on the future of the planet. “I hope my films inspire and open people’s hearts. Beauty is nature’s tool for survival – we protect what we love. That is the shift in consciousness we need to sustain and celebrate life.”
Elease Lui Stemp is an independent producer whose work expands across diverse storytelling platforms. Her most recent documentary projects include a two-part series, The Men Who Sold the World Cup, (Discovery); the 2021 Peabody Award-winning PBS series, Asian Americans; feature films Fantastic Fungi (Netflix), Inventing Tomorrow (POV, 2020 Peabody Award Winner), and Wings of Life (Disneynature). Her narrative and non-fiction short projects include Free to Laugh (Amazon Prime); The Big Day (Swing Left) and Me, You, a Bag & Bamboo. Elease also works part-time at the UCLA Center for Climate Science and is a trained Climate Reality Leader, as she is an outspoken advocate for climate change awareness, education and progressive social change.