#038 A Regeneration Movement
Q&A at the premiere of visionary film 2040, with Damon Gameau & Julie Leslie
Damon Gameau has received multiple standing ovations around the world as he has accompanied the premiere screenings of his visionary documentary film ‘2040’. You might remember our first conversation on this podcast last year, as the film was being finished. This time we’re joined by a wonderfully engaged cinema audience, and special guest Julie Leslie, the impressive editor of Circular Style – a magazine about sustainable, conscious, and circular fashion.
Julie Leslie & Damon Gameau at the Perth premiere of 2040, with respective publications in hand. Pic: Julie Leslie.
“We’re just not focusing on the right things. We put all our attention into a presidential tweet or some kind of bickering in question time. Whereas there’s people rolling up their sleeves and getting on with things out there. I just feel that we really need to start telling a new narrative or a new story. ”
What resulted was a fascinating sense of how the film is landing with people - the questions raised and inspiration felt. And some additional stories that aren’t in the film, like the instructive story behind how the board game Monopoly used to be played, Damon’s visit to the Gross National Happiness Centre in Bhutan, what regenerative fashion might look like, and what the growing movement behind 2040 is up to.
Anthony starts the conversation by asking the audience a bit about themselves. Only about half the people considered themselves very engaged with themes of sustainability or regeneration, but just about all were very concerned about the future - though interestingly, one person wasn’t concerned at all (you’ll hear him join the conversation in this episode).
Most tellingly, only a couple of people had ever thought about the sort of positive vision for the future outlined in the film. It emphasises the enormous value of this documentary. 2040, and these conversations, are envisioning new, more aspirational stories to live by, and exploring the changes we can make together that just might bring them about.
Anthony hosts Damon and Julie in conversation at the Perth premiere of 2040.
With thanks to Adriana Begovich from Anarchy PR.
Note: On Anthony’s mention of the book Empire of Things, Frank Trentmann reports one third of the items in the average British wardrobe is never worn.
Get more:
The 2040 film website, including how to see it or screen it yourself, the book release, and how to get more involved.
Circular Style Magazine (and Julie's Shopportunity Knocks tours).
Anthony & Damon in conversation last year for episode 30, on 2040 Vision: Climate change, fear & loathing.
Music:
'Velvet's Unicorn' and 'Future', by Bryony Marks off the 2040 Soundtrack.