Film Reflection--Disruption

Disruption is a documentary-style film and uses a countdown to the People’s Climate March as a way to structure the many aspects of film’s content. The film was released in 2014 and is a product of PF Pictures and 350.org (IMDb). Both of these organizations promote environmental justice through social action. As is stated on their website, PF Pictures, “use[s] film as a tool for social action –and as platforms to discuss the most important issues of the day.” For the production of Disruption, the company worked with 350.org, a non-profit organization which, “uses online campaigns, grassroots organizing, and mass public actions” to fight projects and organizations that are perpetuating climate change.

The bulk of the film was made up of images of natural disasters and industrial plants alongside interviews with a variety of environmental experts, discussion of important legislature related to climate change and the environment, and explanations of important concepts such as feedback loops and ocean acidification. The film also connected environmental issues to other social issues, as we have been discussing within our climate justice course. In its deliberate framing within the overt and dramatic People’s Climate March as well as suggestions and warnings from many of the featured experts, the film was able to highlight and emphasize the importance of civilian activism towards ending climate change.

Disruption was as it was expected to be, that is to say that it was on par with other films and clips that I have previously seen regarding similar important social, environmental, and political issues. Overall, I think that the producers did a good job with Disruption, although I think it could’ve been improved with less ominous and dramatic music throughout. Climate change is certainly something that should be taken seriously, and while it is a frightening idea, I think the music choices for the film score of Disruption could be compared to that of a parody of these types of films. Certainly, it is possible that I am alone in this opinion, but the music throughout the film really struck a negative chord with me as I was watching.

References

Anon. n.d. “About 350.Org.” 350.Org. Retrieved January 23, 2019 (https://350.org/about/).

Anon. 2014. “About PF Pictures.”PF Pictures.com. Retrieved January 23, 2019 (http://dev.pfpictures.com/about/).

Anon. 2014. “Disruption.” IMDb. Retrieved January 23, 2019 (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4008556/).

Anon. 2014. Disruption. 350.org. Retrieved January 23, 2019 (http://watchdisruption.com/).