The Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio equally known for his concern for the environment, is again putting money where his mouth is. Producing a full-length documentary titled “11th Hour” with the co-founders of Tree Media Group, the actor's newest effort is likely to cast a new focus on the state of the global environment.
After establishing in 1998 the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation to raise environmental awareness, DiCaprio has flaunted his green side in more ways than one. He once turned up for the Oscars in a hybrid car and another time went on stage to lobby for access to clean water around the world. But this time round he is using the medium that he knows best to explore the problem of global warming by making a documentary that is almost a film. Slotted for release next fall, the feature-length film even tries to proffer solutions for restoring the Earth's ecosystems.
With Leila Conners Petersen and Nadia Conners co-directing and co-writing the film's story, their expertise is likely to be visible while touching aspects sustainability, global transformation and the environment. DiCaprio, besides producing the film will contribute by co-writing and providing the narration. The threesome have previously worked together on other short films namely "Global Warning" and "Water Planet" (which also appear DiCaprio's eco-site www.leonardodicaprio.org).
Nominated to the Academy Awards for his portrayal of Howard Hughes in The Aviator this year, DiCaprio announced that his next film would be far from being a Scorsese or Cameron directed blockbuster. He said in a statement said, "Global warming is not only the No. 1 environmental challenge today, but one of the most important issues facing all of humanity". Outlining his motive to put money on the project he said, "We all have to do our part to raise awareness about the problems we as a people face”.
Also collaborating in this effort would be Tree Media's Brian Gerber and Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation's Chuck Castleberry. Providing an idea as to how the film was conceived Gerber said, "We made two short films beginning two years ago and this came out of those ideas". Since DiCaprio helped co-write and narrate those earlier projects, the group “collectively decided” to try out their hand at a full-length version. With the devastations of the hurricanes Katrina and Rita in recent memory, the collaborators believed that this is the opportune time for such a film.
Gerber says that the project is focused on “looking forward and where we're headed" and suggests that it is a misnomer to say that the film is about the environment. He says the planet may be fine after this but it is probably the people who will not and the film addresses “humanity's ability to live in a sustainable world".
The funding of the film besides involving DiCaprio, ropes in private investors from different professions who share a similar concern for the environment. With shooting already on at New York, San Francisco and LA, the “11th Hour” seems more than the usual documentary. Plans are on to make it available on DVD besides including teaching guides alongside. Enriched by his film making experiences, one hopes that the next time DiCaprio meets another US President he manages to convince a shift in US environmental policies.
