What if we had a Bechdel Test for climate change? What would it tell us about climate representation in films? Good Energy, a climate story consultancy that supports TV and film creators in portraying climate on-screen, in partnership with Colby College’s Buck Lab for Climate and Environment, came up with exactly that. As covered in NPR, the LA Times, and elsewhere, The Climate Reality Check is a straight-forward way to evaluate whether climate change is represented in any narrative.
Researchers from Colby College used the Climate Reality Check to analyze the top 250 fictional films from the past decade that were set in the present or future. Guess which films were 10% more profitable? Those that passed the Climate Reality Check. They also examined each film for character attributes like climate anxiety, climate-positive behaviors, and the demographics of climate-aware characters.
Join Anna Jane Joyner (Good Energy) and Dr. Matthew Schneider-Mayerson (Colby College) as they take us through the varied and informative results of their newly published report, and how this presents a creative opportunity for all writers.
