The Gray Area with Sean Illing The climate apocalypse will be televised
7 snips
Apr 10, 2023 Dorothy Fortenberry, co-showrunner and executive producer of Apple TV+'s Extrapolations, discusses the storytelling challenges surrounding climate change. She explores how media can effectively communicate the urgency of this crisis while confronting societal and emotional issues tied to it, including climate anxiety and the role of faith. Fortenberry highlights the intricate relationship between environmental degradation and personal memories, urging listeners to grasp the urgent need for action. Through her work, she aims to empower individuals and provide hope amid the narrative of doom.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Climate Change Storytelling: Fruitful and Difficult
- Climate change stories are fruitful because they can span genres and explore various themes, from action to intimate family dramas.
- The challenge lies in its vastness and the shift from debating its reality to exploring its meaning.
Past Mistakes in Climate Storytelling
- Early 21st-century climate stories often focused on post-apocalyptic scenarios, reflecting displaced anxiety about the unknown future.
- This focus skipped over the crucial choices leading to the apocalypse and the open-ended nature of our current situation.
Depicting Climate Change's Gradual Impact
- In Extrapolations, the progression of climate change's impact is depicted gradually over decades, mirroring real-world changes.
- The show's creators aimed to make the near future feel relatable while gradually increasing the futuristic elements.
