Hollywood Ignores the Biggest Drama on Earth: Climate Change

With Los Angeles recently under siege by wildfires, it’s time for the movie industry to acknowledge our current reality

Greg Bratone
GEN

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Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images

WeWe are in the golden age of entertainment. The #MeToo movement and increased diversity are changing Hollywood for the better. Prestige television and film are delivering hard-hitting stories tackling racism, inequality, and reproductive rights. After dragging their feet, the entertainment industry is officially “woke-ish.”

And it’s not just quality, it’s quantity. In 2018, there were a whopping 495 scripted TV shows, 871 films released in theaters, and an endless stream of superhero movies, live-action remakes, and the always-necessary Fast & Furious spinoff.

Yet there is a glaring omission in the swarming vortex of entertainment — virtually any storyline that addresses the climate crisis.

Just last week, wildfires once again reminded us how vulnerable Los Angeles is, with the glitz and glam of the Hollywood dream factory now turning into a huge question mark of unsustainability. Just like Oscar season, wildfire season is here to stay. And in this new reality, The Rock won’t jump down from a helicopter and save us all. SPOILER ALERT: No matter how rich and powerful you…

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Greg Bratone
GEN
Writer for

Greg is an environmental activist living in New York City.