Comedy,
4:05 minutes,
English,
ON,
2008
Synopsis
A 1940s detective duo discover that their new case may be more than they bargained for when their client turns out to be the unwitting discoverer of the impact of coal emissions on the climate.
Creative team
Writer/director/producer: Terri Catlin
Personal statement
Filmmaker Terri Catlin says:
"I like the idea of telling stories about important issues in a really accessible and entertaining way. I guess that was the instigator for marrying my love of comedy with my concern about climate change. I am also a big fan of the film noir genre, and wanted to pay homage to Nick and Nora from The Thin Man movies - the original film noir detective comedies.
The more climate change research I did, the more I was struck by the irony of how much weʼve known, for how long, and how little is being done. When Miss Jansen says, “Itʼs been 50 years since the case against coal emissions was first made,” the irony is that itʼs 1947. Over 100 years after a Nobel-winning scientist first noted the impact of CO2 emissions on the climate, here we are, fiddling while Rome burns.
The Dirty Truth was made with the generous contribution of time and talent by a committed cast and crew, who believed in the project and the importance of the climate change issue. All crew costs, props, wardrobe and locations were donated, and the actors worked under an ACTRA Co-op Agreement. For everyoneʼs efforts, I am truly humbled and grateful.
My next step is to take these characters and create a longer, more in-depth comedy on climate change today, bringing back this talented cast and crew for a paid gig."