Meryl Streep literally lends her voice to the climate change crisis.
The Oscar-winning icon narrates “Want to Tell a Great Story,” a new public service message launched today by the Sustainable Entertainment Alliance, in partnership with NRDC’s Rewrite the Future.
“Hey, do you want to see a story about climate change?” Streep asks in the opening seconds before a series of clips from Break Out – The LEGO Movie AND Conductor shows characters saying “no” in rapid succession. “We get it, we really do. Climate change is scary. It can make us feel, well, a little anxious. And we turn to movies and TV for escape. But what if we changed the question?”
Streep does just that and modifies the question: “Want to see a good story? Stories can involve climate even as they entertain. Whether they're dramatic or funny or a story of courage, a story about protecting what you love or a story of adventure, climate change is the story of our time and it's being told right now, in small moments and blockbuster events that are resonating with audiences around the world.”
His voiceover is delivered over a continuous stream of clips featuring dialogue or environmental imagery related to the climate. The PSA includes scenes from The Day After Tomorrow, Don't Look Up, Free Willy, Avatar, Red Notice, Mad Max: Fury Road, 30 Rock, Jurassic World Dominion, The Last of Us, The Office, Big Little Lies, Deepwater Horizon, Oceania, Interstellar, The Crown, Beatriz at Dinner, My Octopus Teacher, Extrapolations, Dune, Ted Lasso, The Three-Body Problem, Outer Banks, Wednesday, Abbott Elementary, Peter Rabbit 2, Black Panther, Avatar: The Way of the Water, The World's Largest Farm, Nomadland, Parasite, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, Aquaman, Wall-E, Okja, The Climb, Beats of the Southern Wild, The Good Place and more.
Finally, Streep asks, “Want to tell a good story?” as she directs viewers to ClimateOnScreen.org, a site “where climate and good stories connect.” The clip also features Coldplay’s “Adventure of a Lifetime” and can be viewed in full at the link above.
The Sustainable Entertainment Alliance, formerly known as the Sustainable Production Alliance, is an initiative of film, TV and streaming companies committed to a green industry through on- and off-screen actions. Members include A24, Amazon Studios, Amblin Partners, Disney, Fox Corporation, NBCUniversal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Village Roadshow, Warner Bros. Discovery. The alliance is now focused on expanding by developing resources and opportunities for industry engagement around sustainability on-screen after creating frameworks for sustainable production through its Green Production Guide.
“We’re excited to explore how we can meet audience demand for stories that address climate change and move the industry toward a more sustainable future, both on and off screen,” says Sam Read, executive director of the Sustainable Entertainment Alliance.
Adds NRDC’s Rewrite the Future director Daniel Hinerfeld: “Storytellers are leading the way in creating award-winning film and television content that reflects environmental issues and resonates with audiences. Not every story needs to be about climate change, but simply acknowledging that we live in a climate-altered world can make any story more relevant and compelling.”