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Sundance: Robert Redford hates climate change

And other adventures in touching celebrities

Posted by Kate Sheppard at 9:08 AM on 19 Jan 2007

bobI thought my closest brush with fame this week would be nearly taking out James Redford with a boom mic last night.

But then I accidentally touched him inappropriately, and later, cornered his father.

Son Redford presented Everything's Cool at the special pre-screening last night, giving a glowing account of the film and announcing the family's plan to protect 2,000 additional acres of land in the beautiful area known as the Sundance Preserve. This is when I accidentally hit him with the mic. It didn't seem to bother him; perhaps this happens often.

Later, I awkwardly tried to squeeze behind him en route to the cheese, inadvertently touching his buns. This too probably happens a lot, since he didn't seem to notice.

It looked like the event would be light on the Redfords, 'til Papa Redford himself flew in from L.A. just in time for the post-screening gala event. Someone promptly shattered a wine glass at his feet.

Unshaken, the Sundance Kid continued to mix and mingle, talking climate change and open space and filmmaking -- and looking shockingly attractive for 70.

Folks that looked important were milling around him, but I figured as long as I didn't drop wine on him or touch his butt, I could totally swing saying hello.

But what after that?

"So, uh, Mr. Redford, are you carbon neutral? 'Cause that's hott."

"I can't remember if I've seen any of your films, but my mom says you were way sexy back in the day."

Wait, this is easy: global warming. Robert Redford hates global warming.

So I snagged a few minutes of his time:

me and bob

Why did you decide to have this special event with Everything's Cool?

Well, first of all, we have our investor's circle here, we have our labs here, and we're just starting our Sundance Preserve, which is the umbrella organization that pulls all these things together -- the environment, conservation, and commerce. And at the center of that is going to be a conference that brings people with new ideas about a sustainable future. So all of this comes together here. It's a place that's active -- people do things here -- or a place where people witness things being created. So the emphasis is environmental preservation of the land around us. We bring artists in, we give the artists a place to work, and then let the public in so they can witness the creative process.

Did you get to see the film tonight?

No, I just got in. I'm in pre-production; I'm starting a film in Los Angeles, so I had to leave the rehearsal.

What do you think is the hope for getting it out to the public?

Well, you've got Al Gore's film, and I've been involved in global warming now for about 20 years, and we've done a lot of smaller things. And now it's at a tipping point, where the facts can't be denied. We want to now follow that with a wave of mixed support. You get energy companies, you get industry, you get environmentalists, you get scientists, coming together. One thing is the awareness, but the more important thing is, what are you going to do? There are so many wonderful, exciting things to do about it -- new technologies, new jobs -- built around renewable energies rather than non-renewable energies like oil and gas. It's time to move on from that, particularly since we're so dependent upon foreign imports from unstable governments.

As a filmmaker, you're coming at it from that perspective. What is it that film can do for the climate-change movement?

Film tells the story, and the story has to be told. Film animates the words. People have to see. They have to see the evidence. Not that they're not feeling it in their own back yards, but film is a great bridge. And who better to use than our filmmakers?

-----

So there you have it. "Bob" hates global warming, I didn't drop wine on him or touch his behind (sorry mom), and he puts on a good party.

"I'm in pre-production"

I have got to remember to use that line, somehow, anyhow, in the next seven days.

Ages ago, when I was working in a Time-Warner property on Rockefeller Center, I happened to find myself riding the elevator with Robert Redford, and his small entourage.  (Going down, as it happened; but in the G-rated sense.)  No, I did not even try to touch his buns.  You would have to offer some fancy folding money for me to do so.  I.e., he is not at all my type.  It would be uncharitable to comment on the quality of the poor fellow's skin.

I am not sure I can ever forgive him for critically damaging a favorite movie of mine, "Out of Africa."

Still, if he is enlightened enough to commit himself to good movie-making, then more power to him.

Chickens deserve our true friendship! So do fish! So do other sentient beings! Let us learn to be kind.

'bob' the environmentalist

If Redford were serious he would clean up his own house first.
His catalog is sent out at least 6 times a year, more if you actually buy something from his overpriced pages.  All printed on paper made of trees.  How about getting with the program and use paper made of hemp.  That would make a statement...
I try not to think about how much gas and oil is used by 'bob',and the rest of the super elite with
all the jet setting they are doing (on private jets no doubt).  Shame on all of them for compounding our environmental problems.

Great job Kate

Will he read Grist or Gristmill now?  Hehey.  No time for that, sorry.

So when he is asked to support fuel farming, like Gates and Branson, he won't know enough to say, "No, I prefer plugin serial hybrids to reduce liquid fuel use to 10% of present levels. Fuel farming destroys the ability of the land and soil to sequester CO2."

Too bad.

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog

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