FUEL: Sundance Film Festival Award Winner

 

Oil or no oil?  That’s the question many car owners and most filmgoers asked themselves before they watched the documentary—FUEL.  Afterwards however, there was no question in anyone’s mind the next step in our eco-evolution.  In fact, at the packed FUEL screening at the Go Green Expo actors/environmentalists Peter Fonda and Mariel Hemmingway swore to the audience that they would personally take FUEL to the White House.

You might think that oil is unavoidable in our society, but a new documentary, FUEL out now, gets to the point; it is possible to exist comfortably in a oil-free world—if we want to.  The director of the film is a young and talented man named Joshua Tickell.  With an awe-inspiring Gandhy-like energy, his vision…FUEL…is a must-see for everyone.  I had the opportunity to interview Tickell and his hope for our future carries enough punch to get us on board for an oil-free world.

SD: How long did the documentary FUEL take to make? 

JT: The movie took 11 years.

SD: What’s the difference between FUEL and your other documentary, Fields of Fuel?

JT: Fields of Fuel is an unfinished rough cut of FUEL and there were many aspects of, Fields of Fuel that were unfinished; from animation to interviews.  FUEL is the definitive and completed film—as it was envisioned, but with unexpected surprises.  

SD: The subtitle of FUEL is, “The World Is Addicted To Oil.  It’s Time For An Intervention.”  Has President Obama seen the movie yet?  

JT:  Obama’s energy advisor saw an early cut and soon after, lines from the movie began appearing in President Obama’s speeches.  I think it’s likely we will have an audience with the president this year.  I hope anyway.  We’re working to get it in front of him.

SD: What is the reaction to FUEL?

JT: Excitement.  People want the movie in every school and movie theater in America.  If GREEN energy is important to you, see the movie.  Vote with your ticket stub.  Help everyone see that this issue warrants national attention by bringing attention to box office numbers.  Bring every person you know to the film and see it multiple times…you’ll learn something new each time.  FUEL is showing in LA at the Broadway on 3rd Street, and at the Sunset 5 in Hollywood,  right now.  There is nothing more meaningful than coming out to the theater and packing the house.

SD: What is bio fuel and where does it come from?

JT:  Bio-fuel is any fuel derived from biological materials.  This includes fuels like ethanol, biodiesel and methane.

SD: How has been bio-fuel been detrimental to people?

JT: We address this complicated question in great detail in the film.  True a handful of large corporations destroyed tracts of land for biofuel production, but the scare tactics and misinformation that was spread about biofuels starving the world were untrue and misguided.

SD: School buses in Las Vegas are converted to bio fuel.  What would it take for the LA School District to do the same?

JT: It would take a concerted effort, coordination and commitment.  Technology is available and every diesel school bus in the country can run on clean biodiesel made from recycled sources.  

Visit: thefuelfilm.com

By Dr. Sophie Duriez