Canary: A Climate Change Documentary that Awakens the Heart

In today’s episode, we meet with Danny O’Malley a producer on Chef’s Table, and Alex Rivest, an MIT-educated neuroscientist. Together they directed a riveting climate documentary disguised as an adventure epic that speaks to the heart versus the viewer’s mind. CANARY is the film featuring Lonnie Thompson's climate odyssey atop the Quelccaya Ice Cap.

Join us as we delve into the remarkable work and life of Dr. Lonnie Thompson, a pioneering glaciologist whose research has been instrumental in shedding light on the impacts of climate change. Dr. Thompson has spent decades studying glaciers and ice caps around the world, but his work on the Quelccaya Ice Cap is particularly significant. Located high in the Peruvian Andes, Quelccaya is one of the world's largest tropical ice caps. It serves as a critical indicator of climate change due to its sensitivity to temperature variations. Dr. Thompson's research involves drilling ice cores to extract ancient air bubbles, allowing scientists to analyze the Earth's past climate conditions with unparalleled precision.

The documentary, "CANARY" takes us on a breathtaking journey to the top of the Quelccaya Ice Cap, where Lonnie, his team, and an entire film crew conduct and film the research. At an elevation of 18,000 feet, this desolate, icy expanse provides a stark visual representation of the profound changes our planet is undergoing. Through stunning visuals and interviews with the scientists, the film documents the dramatic retreat of Quelccaya's ice, which has accelerated in recent decades.

At the peak of Dr. Thompson's career, he received some devastating health news that threatened to halt his progress. The directors draw a parallel between Lonnie's struggles to accept his health condition, and the broader challenge that many of us face in accepting the reality of climate change caused by a warming atmosphere.

 Through their dedication and storytelling, Dr. Thompson, Rivest, and O'Malley inspire us all to take action to protect our world for future generations.

Links:

Find showings here: https://canary.oscilloscope.net/

Join us at Climate Week NYC here: https://www.climateweeknyc.org/events/canary-documentary-film-screening

 

Guest Bios (provided by the guest):

 Danny O’Malley

Danny O'Malley is a Grammy-nominated and James Beard-nominated film director, best known for his work on Netflix's Chef's Table, where he serves as co-executive producer and director. Danny has an extensive background in filming, collaborating with various bands across the U.S., including Tegan and Sara, The Rentals, The Decemberists, Kraftwerk, and more. Notably, his documentary ‘States’, part of Tegan and Sara's release ‘Get Along’ was nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Long Form Music Video. Danny initially made his mark in documentary television as a story producer, and his work has been featured on major platforms such as Netflix, Fox Sports One, and NBC. On Chef's Table, Danny is a key driving force shaping the character-driven storytelling that defines the show’s signature style. Danny, and his directing partner Alex Rivest PhD, won the Alfred P. Sloan development grant in 2017, which led to the creation of his first feature ‘Canary.’

 

Alex Rivest

Alex Rivest is an MIT-trained PhD Neuroscientist. Having worked alongside Nobel Prize winner Dr. Susumu Tonegawa, Alex's research has been published in two of the most highly renowned scientific journals, Science and Nature Neuroscience. Alex grew up in an environment where curiosity and question-asking were highly valued, and he has dedicated his life to helping teach others about the wonders of the world. As an educator, he received the Angus MacDonald Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching at MIT and founded the nonprofit Blue Kitabu, which built a sustainable primary school in central Ghana. As a science filmmaker, Alex’s videos have accumulated over 70 million views online, and have been featured everywhere, from billboards in Times Square to installations in science museums, and even in an opera production of “Das Rheingold.” CANARY is his directorial debut.