Oliver Stone talks new film "Nuclear Now"

Summary

In an interview with Anya Parampil on 'The Gray Zone', filmmaker Oliver Stone discusses his documentary 'Nuclear Now', which explores nuclear energy as a misunderstood yet viable solution to global energy needs. Stone addresses the myths surrounding nuclear power, emphasizing its safety and efficiency compared to fossil fuels. He criticizes the influence of the film and music industry on shaping negative perceptions of nuclear energy and calls for a global, positive approach to adopting nuclear power for a sustainable future.

Takeaways

• 🎬 Oliver Stone's documentary 'Nuclear Now' aims to challenge the misconceptions surrounding nuclear energy and presents it as a viable solution to the energy crisis.
• 🌟 Stone believes nuclear energy has been misunderstood for decades and his documentary seeks to provide a balanced view, focusing on the technology's potential rather than just the risks.
• 📽️ The film addresses the public's fear of nuclear energy, often influenced by media portrayals and compares it to the actual scientific facts, emphasizing the safety and controlled nature of nuclear power.
• ⚛️ Stone discusses the environmental benefits of nuclear energy, highlighting how it produces minimal waste and has a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to fossil fuels.
• 🌍 The documentary points out the global implications of energy choices, noting that countries like China and Russia are leading in nuclear energy development, while the U.S. seems hesitant.
• 💡 Stone argues that nuclear energy is not just about electricity but is crucial for heating, transportation, and industrial processes, underlining its multifaceted role in modern society.
• 🚀 The film touches on the advancements in nuclear technology, such as Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), which are more efficient and have a smaller environmental footprint.
• 🌿 Stone emphasizes the need for a global shift towards nuclear energy to combat climate change, suggesting that the current reliance on renewables alone is insufficient.
• 📉 The documentary criticizes the influence of the fossil fuel industry on environmental groups, suggesting that there are vested interests that have hindered the adoption of nuclear energy.
• 🌐 Stone calls for a change in leadership and mindset, advocating for a future-oriented approach that embraces nuclear energy as a key component of a sustainable energy mix.

Q & A

What is the main theme of Oliver Stone's documentary 'Nuclear Now'?

The documentary 'Nuclear Now' focuses on nuclear energy as a misunderstood and often maligned solution to global energy needs and environmental challenges.

Why did Oliver Stone choose to make a documentary about nuclear energy?

Oliver Stone chose to make a documentary because he felt that nuclear energy is a complex subject that is difficult to address in feature films due to the need for factual accuracy and the abstract nature of the topic.

How does Oliver Stone address the common misconceptions about nuclear energy in his documentary?

Stone addresses misconceptions by differentiating between nuclear energy and nuclear weapons, emphasizing the safety records of nuclear power plants, and discussing the manageable nature of nuclear waste.

What role does Oliver Stone believe the United States should play in the global energy conversation?

Oliver Stone believes the United States should take a leading role in promoting nuclear energy as a global solution, thinking critically about energy sources, and fostering positive international relationships.

How does Stone's documentary 'Nuclear Now' contrast with popular media portrayals of nuclear energy?

The documentary counters popular media portrayals by presenting nuclear energy in a positive light, focusing on its safety, efficiency, and potential as a clean energy source, rather than emphasizing the risks and disasters often highlighted in films and TV shows.

What was Oliver Stone's experience like while trying to get 'Nuclear Now' distributed in the United States?

Stone found it difficult to get the documentary distributed, as it was considered too controversial for platforms like Netflix, and he had to ensure the documentary was factually accurate and accessible to a wide audience.

What are some of the key points Oliver Stone makes about the environmental impact of nuclear energy compared to other energy sources?

Stone points out that nuclear energy produces significantly less carbon dioxide and has a smaller waste footprint compared to fossil fuels, and that the nuclear industry is closely monitored and well-regulated.

How does Oliver Stone view the future of energy and the role of nuclear power in it?

Stone is optimistic about the future and sees nuclear power as a crucial component in meeting the growing global energy demand while reducing carbon emissions and mitigating climate change.

What is Oliver Stone's opinion on the influence of the film industry on public perception of nuclear energy?

Stone believes that the film industry has often negatively influenced public perception of nuclear energy through movies that sensationalize disasters and risks, rather than presenting a balanced view of the technology.

What steps did Oliver Stone take to ensure the accuracy of the information presented in 'Nuclear Now'?

Stone worked closely with experts, traveled to various countries to interview leading scientists and engineers, and cross-checked all facts to ensure the documentary was intellectually honest and factually accurate.

How does Oliver Stone's approach to 'Nuclear Now' reflect his broader views on society and the media?

Stone's approach reflects his commitment to critical thinking and challenging prevailing narratives. He aims to provide a balanced perspective on nuclear energy, encouraging viewers to question mainstream media portrayals and consider the scientific facts.

Outlines

00:00

🎥 Oliver Stone's Nuclear Now Documentary

Filmmaker Oliver Stone discusses his latest documentary 'Nuclear Now' with Anya Parampil, highlighting the misunderstood potential of nuclear energy as a solution to global energy problems. Stone explains his decision to take on the subject, emphasizing the documentary format's ability to present facts directly, contrasting with the complexities of feature films. He addresses the deliberate obfuscation and myths surrounding nuclear energy, advocating for a more open and informed discussion on its role in addressing environmental challenges.

05:02

🌏 Debunking Nuclear Energy Myths

Oliver Stone challenges common misconceptions about nuclear energy, emphasizing the scientific differences between nuclear power and nuclear weapons. He discusses the exaggerated fears propagated by media and popular culture, using examples like the films 'The China Syndrome' and the HBO series 'Chernobyl'. Stone argues for a more rational and scientific approach to understanding nuclear energy, including its safety record and the actual risks compared to other energy sources.

10:06

🔋 The Future of Energy and Nuclear Power

The conversation explores the future of energy, with a focus on electricity's growing demand and the need for diverse energy sources. Stone discusses the global implications of energy policy, citing France's successful nuclear program and the potential of nuclear energy to meet increasing energy demands without exacerbating climate change. He also touches on the environmental costs associated with renewable energy sources, such as the mining for materials needed for solar panels and wind turbines.

15:08

🌿 Environmental Impact and Nuclear Waste

Stone addresses concerns about nuclear waste, arguing that it is a manageable and closely monitored issue compared to the waste and pollution produced by fossil fuels. He points out that nuclear waste is minimal and that the industry has effective methods for handling it. The discussion also includes the economic and environmental consequences of Germany's decision to abandon nuclear power in favor of coal and other less sustainable alternatives.

20:11

🌍 Global Energy Politics and the Future

The discussion expands to include global energy politics, with Stone criticizing the United States' approach to international relations, particularly regarding China and Russia. He advocates for a more cooperative and less adversarial stance, necessary for addressing global energy challenges. Stone also reflects on the importance of a positive and optimistic view of the future, emphasizing the potential for human innovation and cooperation to overcome current obstacles.

25:13

🚀 Nuclear Now's Release and Impact

Oliver Stone shares his experiences in distributing 'Nuclear Now' and the challenges faced in getting the documentary noticed, including its release on various digital platforms. He expresses his hope for the film to reach a wide audience and to stimulate critical thinking about energy solutions. Stone concludes by emphasizing the importance of the next generation's role in shaping a more positive and sustainable future.

Keywords

💡Nuclear Energy

Nuclear energy is the power generated from nuclear reactions, specifically from fission, where the nucleus of an atom splits, releasing a large amount of energy. In the video, Oliver Stone discusses the potential of nuclear energy as a viable and misunderstood source of power that has been overshadowed by fears and misconceptions. The documentary 'Nuclear Now' aims to challenge these perceptions and present nuclear energy as a solution to the world's energy needs.

💡Nuclear Now

'Nuclear Now' is the title of Oliver Stone's documentary, which is the central focus of the video transcript. The documentary explores the current state and future potential of nuclear energy. It is mentioned as a significant work that could change the narrative around nuclear power, emphasizing its importance in addressing global energy challenges.

💡Renewables

Renewables refer to energy sources that are naturally replenished on a human timescale, such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power. In the context of the video, renewables are contrasted with nuclear energy as alternative solutions for sustainable energy. Stone points out the limitations of renewables when backed up by natural gas, which is a fossil fuel, and argues for a more balanced view that includes nuclear energy.

💡Nuclear Waste

Nuclear waste refers to the byproducts of nuclear reactions, which can be radioactive and require careful handling and storage. The video discusses the misconceptions around nuclear waste, suggesting that it is not as fearsome as commonly believed and is manageable with proper technology and oversight.

💡Radiation

Radiation is the emission of energy as electromagnetic waves or as moving subatomic particles, and it is a natural part of our environment. In the video, radiation is discussed to clarify the difference between background radiation, which is naturally occurring and generally harmless, and the more dangerous ionizing radiation, which is associated with nuclear energy. The script challenges the fear of radiation by emphasizing that it is a natural and manageable part of nuclear energy production.

💡Chernobyl

Chernobyl refers to the site of a catastrophic nuclear accident in 1986 in Ukraine, which is often cited as a reason to oppose nuclear energy. In the video, Stone argues that the Chernobyl disaster has been exaggerated in its impact and that it was a result of specific failures in reactor design and operator error, not inherent flaws in nuclear energy.

💡Fukushima

Fukushima is mentioned in the context of another significant nuclear disaster, caused by a tsunami that led to a meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan in 2011. The video transcript points out that unlike popular misconceptions, the disaster did not result in deaths from radiation exposure, challenging the narrative that nuclear accidents are inherently deadly.

💡Three Mile Island

Three Mile Island is the site of a partial nuclear meltdown in 1979 in Pennsylvania, USA. The video discusses how the incident was sensationalized, particularly through films like 'The China Syndrome,' and how it contributed to the negative perception of nuclear energy. Stone argues that the actual risks and consequences were less severe than portrayed in popular culture.

💡Nuclear Reactor

A nuclear reactor is a system designed to initiate and control a sustained nuclear chain reaction. In the video, reactors are discussed as the heart of nuclear power plants, where the energy is produced. Stone highlights the advancements in reactor technology and safety measures that have been made since the early days of nuclear energy.

💡Global Energy Demand

Global energy demand refers to the total amount of energy required to meet the needs of the world's population for various purposes, including electricity, heating, and transportation. The video emphasizes the growing global energy demand as a key challenge and argues that nuclear energy is a necessary part of the solution to meet this demand sustainably.

💡Environmental Consciousness

Environmental consciousness is the awareness and concern for the environment and the impact of human activities on it. The video suggests that there is a growing environmental consciousness that recognizes the need for sustainable energy solutions, and nuclear energy should be part of this conversation as a clean energy source.

Highlights

Filmmaker Oliver Stone discusses his latest documentary 'Nuclear Now', focusing on nuclear energy as a misunderstood solution.

Stone chose documentary format for its ability to present facts directly, unlike feature films which require more exposition.

The documentary counters myths about nuclear energy, emphasizing it is not the same as nuclear weapons.

Stone criticizes media and films for promoting inaccurate perceptions of nuclear energy, including 'The China Syndrome' and 'Chernobyl' series.

The documentary points out that nuclear energy has been hyped negatively, with accidents like Chernobyl and Fukushima misrepresented.

Stone argues that nuclear waste is not as fearsome as portrayed, and is well managed by the industry.

The film suggests that nuclear energy is a necessary part of the global energy solution, especially as renewables require backup.

Stone discusses the influence of money in shaping environmentalist views, hinting at undisclosed funding that may sway opinions.

The documentary addresses the issue of nuclear waste, comparing it favorably to the waste produced by fossil fuel industries.

Stone emphasizes the importance of electricity for the future and the role nuclear energy can play in meeting growing global demand.

The film contrasts Germany's energy policy, which moved away from nuclear, with France's continued reliance on it.

Stone calls for a global perspective on energy, stressing the need for the United States to lead responsibly in this arena.

The documentary highlights the potential of nuclear energy to significantly reduce carbon emissions compared to fossil fuels.

Stone reflects on the difficulty of changing public perception and the resistance to nuclear energy due to fear and misinformation.

The film is praised for its intellectual honesty and thorough fact-checking, aiming to be accessible to a wide audience.

Stone expresses hope for a future where humanity uses its potential to solve global energy challenges.

The documentary is noted for its optimistic outlook, contrasting with the prevalent dystopian narratives in media.

Stone calls for a new generation of leaders who can think differently about energy and international relations.

The film is available on various platforms, and Stone encourages viewers to watch and re-watch for a deeper understanding.

Transcripts

foreign

[Music]

hi everyone welcome to the gray zone I'm

Anya parampil here with a very special

guest filmmaker director screen writer

Oliver Stone his latest documentary is

nuclear now it is out in the United

States this week welcome back to the

gray Zone Oliver

thank you Anna

I'm a long time fan of your films

whether I'm talking about your

screenplays that are obviously some of

the best to have come ever come out of

U.S film but also your documentaries

your South of the Border film definitely

made a huge impact on my own pursuit of

Latin America coverage and trying to

understand our our immediate

neighborhood and so I was really excited

to get the chance to review nuclear now

and what I loved about it is that a lot

of times with documentaries and of

course I fall into this myself people

are

documenting a problem or demonstrating a

problem looking at it from all sides but

what you're doing here is actually

talking about a solution to a problem

and something that has been

misunderstood for decades and that's

nuclear energy as a source of power I'm

wondering how did you decide to take on

this subject

okay that's a good question because it's

not my up my alley normally I'm into

feature films about generally subjects

that concern me but I could not make a

feature out of nuclear energy because

it's very difficult I mean probably

someone out there in your audience can

figure out a way to do it I'm not and I

I think it can be done as a feature but

inside the context of the time I was in

and that I felt like the documentary was

the best way to go because it would cut

right to the chase you can't do that in

a feature film you you otherwise you're

it's a pamphlet and you get accused of

you know Exposition and all that so you

know you could do this at one point my

my co-writer Josh Goldstein who's uh

wrote the book bright future on which is

his base uh wrote a treatment for me uh

with a female scientist like yourself

going to the end of her very close to

death and threats everywhere to to make

nuclear energy to to save nuclear energy

and like save the whales or something

and it was it was a wonderful fairy tale

ending but I didn't believe a word of it

so I don't think it's up to any one

person to solve this thing I think it's

not a movie script it's more of a it's a

nation issue and it's a worldwide

Consciousness issue and as I said at the

end of the movie I do think this moment

in time this period in time we are more

conscious than ever of the environment

than ever and I think more people

realize that we're in trouble and that

we have to do something about it so I

think people are more open to this uh

obvious solution which has always been

obvious but which has been obscured by

the forces of

column time and evil time and evil and I

think there's a lot of deliberate

obfuscation and stupidity here at work

uh you know what I'm talking about the

film was okay I'm not gonna go on

because you know me I can go on for five

minutes go ahead

oh I don't mind at all the more

information the better of course but

you're talking about the deliberate

obfuscation of the truth when it comes

to nuclear and of course part of that is

also it's developed a lot rapidly we're

capable of something greater than we

were decades ago in this first became

part of the discussion on energy and one

of the things that you point out about

how people have adopted a

an inaccurate or incomplete picture of

nuclear nuclear is how the fight against

a nuclear war or nuclear catastrophe in

that sense

kind of became part of the conversation

around nuclear energy and so you're

trying to separate that what can what

can you say about that topic well it's

just so scientifically obvious that

they're so different nuclear energy is

not a nuclear bomb a nuclear bomb is

constructed it's much more complicated

it takes time and Rich plutonium Etc

this as you the iaea it monitors that

very closely you're not going to build a

bomb in your backyard that's crazy and

even a dirty bomb it's so you get into

these silly scenarios to block progress

in other words there's all these reasons

what if what if what if I'm sick of it

I've been hearing what if for almost a

year or two years of this project uh the

what ifs you know we can't live our life

what if uh in as we say in the film at

one point there should have been more

accidents there was only one significant

life-threatening accident that was

adjournable in 1986. the Fukushima was a

was a myth because no one died no one

died of radiation poisoning in all of

Japan it was the tsunami that killed

eighteen thousand twenty thousand people

and that was not known I mean people

have this misimpression of chernobyla

and Fukushima killing millions of people

it's same thing is true about

the American experience at Three Mile

Island that was so hyped by that movie

Jane did Jane Fonda it was a wonderful

movie I enjoyed it China Syndrome and

for I was a mild believer in in the in

the anti-nuclear position I went I

didn't take a stake in it but you know

it just seemed the right thing to do we

had no nukes concerts in the 80s we had

Bruce Springsteen we had uh Jackson

Browne everyone you know who was

glamorous it was a movie music or movie

business was against nuclear and the

movie business has done no favors to

nuclear believe me uh including uh China

Syndrome including silkwood which was a

wonderful film with Meryl Streep and

then years later of course on television

we had

Chernobyl the series from HBO which has

done no which was so negative and so

untruthful and we went to Russia we

talked to the scientists uh who were

deeply stricken by their accident and it

was clear that there was guilt uh on

their part but there was no collusion to

lie to the iaea or to the public about

it and he so in other words Chernobyl

was completely hyped up and made worse

than it was as if it was another Ralph

Nader nuclear disaster which it wasn't

the journal book did happen and it's

good that it happened because it wasn't

it was a lesson and you needed a

containment structure and so as you said

there have been technological

improvements but there was nothing wrong

with the original you know it it kind of

reminds me of I hate to bring it in but

the JFK debate everybody in the world I

swear you know it doesn't doesn't even

watch the movie I made or watched the

documentaries I made but they all have

an opinion everyone has their opinion

about Kennedy oh he did this he was shot

here he was done that or and it goes on

and on and on anything that doesn't come

back to the CIA or U.S government any

other explanation is fine oh sure

gangsters this uh Mob I mean every

explanation in the world but

uh it's the same problem it's just be

rational go to science and when you go

to either case you're going to find out

that it's just impossible the way they

described it as happening and uh that's

the problem we we live in with a lie we

too many mythologies set in uh

and it takes it takes a lot of Bravery

to start picking apart those myths and

those lies that we don't even recognize

as as myths or Lies We just recognize as

fact and I think nuclear is one of those

issues was there something that

surprised you the most as you ventured

to make the film nothing surprises me

anymore as to the stupidity as Einstein

said to the stupidity of the human being

is is just unbelievable but there's a

lot of myths in the world you know first

of all we go into the radioactivity

question we go into

background radiation versus dangerous

right radiation scary versus dangerous

we talk about radiation very

forthrightly it's always been known

people may not know it but DNA plays a

role here because DNA does repair our

bodies all the time so we're subject to

radiation on a daily basis we need a

banana or subject to radiation we live

in an altitude we fly on a plane

radiation is with us it's part of the

human process it's it's it warms the

Earth it's a beautiful beautiful element

in the in the god-given natural planet

we have radiation isn't is part of the

deal as cosmic rays bouncing off us all

the time and okay so we go into that one

and then we go into the issue of nuclear

waste which seems to be the greatest

Bugaboo of all what if what if radio

radioactive waste is not to be feared

it's something that has monitored dealt

with

closely monitored the nuclear Industries

monitors is the closest because but it's

at the same time it's the smallest

amount of waste nothing compared

compared to oil gas coal nothing

compared to those industries that muck

up the universe toxic chemicals the

chemical industry the gas accident the

Bhopal in India far far more dangerous

than than nuclear has been nuclear is

well handled and it's been well studied

and and we're talking about Geniuses

here the nuclear industry has to be

developed and more and more we know more

and more about it we handle it better

but it was never a problem even in 1970s

when France built 15 reactors in a

record uh no 57 reactors in a record 15

years France didn't have a problem they

they it works and 70 of France is

electric we need electricity it's a

crucial element in the coming World

electricity is going to be a new vast

demand and not only electricity but we

have to heat transportation we have to

heat buildings and factories and there's

Industries like cement steel fertilizer

all this is going to require tremendous

energy and that's

it has to be a global picture it's not

about the United States it's about the

globe how are we going to deal with this

Mass demand for energy

yeah I've noticed actually just in the

last few years a lot of people who are

concerned with the question of energy

starting to ask these questions again

about nuclear and that the main issue or

question they always came up against was

that of nuclear waste the scare of Yucca

Mountain and all that and so I was

fascinated to see how you addressed that

point in your film

and also as you said

Shifting the way we think about Energy

deaths and catastrophe because if you

look at coal and oil the deaths spurred

by that those Industries alone far

outnumber that those cause those caused

by the nuclear industry so it is

important I think that we we start to

ask wait why why has the conversation

about nuclear why does it have these

strict blinders on why has it been

warped in this way it would seem that

there are powerful interests that don't

want it no well they're certainly we

proved we went to that a bit obviously

in the oil the gas in oil industry

wasn't there was a put it this way tried

this I can't we cannot prove it because

when money moves in certain directions

but we know a certain amount of money

was given to friends of the Earth for

example which was the first

Environmental Group and that was given

by uh Robert Anderson of Sinclair Oil I

believe it was and that wasn't you know

that was 200 000 but that in 1970 that

adds up to a lot of money and that start

a group with it so a lot of the

environmentalists may not know it but

they anonymously supported by these

interests and maybe coal but uh because

this is all privately done you know it's

hard to to uh pinpoint but the important

thing to remember and you mentioned gas

and coal but you have to say

uh people that this is very important to

remember is that

there's also methane gas and methane gas

is what they're using to back up the

Renewables right now up until and that

is a very poisonous short-term gas in

the atmosphere very dangerous methane we

don't talk of enough about it we talk

about gas and oil but we don't talk

about methane when the when the solar

and wind does not work which is most of

the time because it's night and it's

winter and because there's no wind or

there's no uh the temperature is wrong

that's when they go they use gas as the

backup mechanism and gas is a very easy

solution to say and the newspapers don't

take into account the methane so

everyone goes to gas because why the

companies advertise perfect partner for

Renewables

and

go ahead

we're not against Renewables I mean if

but

it's the backup mechanism for Renewables

it's dangerous nuclear is a perfect

backup too we need that electricity we

need that energy from nuclear in order

to create this kind of volume and there

would be no nuclear has no uh back uh no

uh what do you call it uh

uh I can't use the word I'm I'm not

technical about it but there's no waste

that's insignificant and there's no

there's no danger from it like there is

from gas there's absolutely clean

and that's what people don't but you

mean there's not something new produced

some new element that's produced I meant

to say there's no backup required for

nuclear it works it's 90 the maintenance

levels are 90 to 100 percent I mean

these things work forever they work 50

60 70 years some of these Legacy

reactors which we built by the way back

in the 1970s and they still work some of

them in other words this thing is a it's

a expensive to build in the United

States anyway and but it lasts a long

time and the maintenance is relatively

simple compared to the other Industries

if we want to continue down the path of

thinking critically about all of these

Alternatives we have people want to

characterize or a solar or wind energy

as clean but the process it takes to

produce a solar panel and then transport

a wind turbine not to mention the war on

the African continent that is required

to gain all the minerals required to

prod to to build a solar panel it should

all be factored into what we consider

clean or safe but we compare as you know

in the film We compare Germany because

they went that way they went with gas

they went with oil I'm sorry they went

with coal but they also went with wind

and they went with Renewables they got

rid of nuclear completely which was a

huge mistake and they're in the as you

know Germany's economy is now in the

because uh they just they're

stupid they were really stupid and

they're supposed to be bringing people

but they should learn from the French in

this regard which they've always had

this thing with the French

not not to mention that

Dimensions over oil pipelines

oil and gas reserves fuel War including

the one we're currently experiencing or

witnessing play out in Ukraine a lot of

it has to do with these resources that

are required for energy

how has your film been received by your

colleagues Oliver and and what was it

like trying to get it distributed in the

United States well it wasn't easy I mean

first of all it was a very difficult

film to make because it deals with

abstract issues and sometimes they're

not visible but we tried to make

everything visual in this documentary so

that a ninth grader an eighth grader

could understand it because frankly I

was not an expert I went through this

with uh Josh Goldstein and his partner

Stefan's fist a Swedish a nuclear

engineer to try to understand I traveled

to France I traveled to Russia to

rosatom I traveled to the in Idaho

National Laboratory here in the United

States to learn as much as I could from

the people who know this you need to

talk to the people who know what they're

doing and uh that's why uh I everything

in this documentary has been checked out

they'll tell you that it's all

on this and that that it's not it's an

intellectually honest film and deals

with everything that that said in the

film I had to triple check quadruple

check drove me crazy took a long time

and it's not the normal way of working

uh you know this is a documentary that

does not allow for any opinion it is a

documentary that requires fact and this

is a strictly fact oriented documentary

and I'm very proud of it I think it's

one of the most important contributions

I could make in my later years uh I

could make another feature film and I

hope to one at least one my 21st feature

but I've done what 10 documentaries but

this is the most by far the most

important one Joe Rogan who I was on the

other day who smart man he's he said

this is one of the most important films

I've ever watched

which I'm very proud to I think that's

fair the question of energy in our in

our future everything War peace depends

on how we are going to meet the demand

of a growing planet and when you have

people pretty much saying that human are

a cancer on the earth because it can't

provide for it

well

that is a pretty slippery slope and a

dangerous assertion to make so we should

instead be trying to think how can we

actually provide for everyone the Earth

may actually give us the power to do so

you know one of those key uh people that

we interview in the film is uh the head

of rosaton which is the Russian agency

that deals with nuclear energy some 250

000 people work for Rosa Tom it's they

take it very seriously now this fellow

Mr likachef who's a very bright man and

a great administrator he's done a

terrific job he said very clearly in the

film he says there are now

490 gigabytes of nuclear energy in the

world gigabytes or billions billions

that's a lot

490 which is about 400 reactors maybe a

little more

and he's saying if we replace those

those gigabytes with energy of another

kind we would have two and a half

billion tons of carbon more carbon

dioxide in the atmosphere two and a half

billion tons

can you imagine that I mean it's he

called it an extra long nuclear energy

is an extra lung for the Earth he's

concerned about the Earth and he sees

where this is going because in the 20

years we've been in love uh with fixes

and talking about Solutions and in love

with Renewables like Germany spent I

mean we spent trillions of dollars on

Renewables in Germany at least billions

and maybe a trillion and we've got

nowhere the CO2 levels have gone up

slightly that's what's frustrating we're

not realistic about this we have to cut

CO2 now in the next going on to the 2050

period which the ipcc warned us about

would be the uh the break point of

course there's always break points but

the truth is there's only we have to

think we have to think positively about

the future and we want a future we can

look forward to we don't want a future

where we're

competing for energy with some other

country or amongst ourselves and we're

fighting

as we are now unfortunately stupidly and

I think in Eastern Europe and the United

States has to think globally as a

responsible leader about and this is I

you know I've been harping on this point

for years about having a real good

relationship with China and a good

relationship with Russia which is

possible and I am convinced it's

possible you know damn well from your

own experiences in South America that

this is possible but we keep denying it

we keep saying we have enemies I want to

believe

that were on the the verge of a paradigm

shift simply because we won't have a

choice for much longer to live in this

delusion where we can cut off ourselves

from the rest of the world and keep

pretending as though we're European

Kings pretty much you you said we have

to speak positively

and globally about the future and I I

think we all it also has to be Humane

humanely about the future humans are not

the problem humans actually have all the

unlimited potential in the world too

to solve these these issues and and

Usher in a society in a world that's

even better than what we're currently

living under and a lot of the people in

charge seem to be telling us that the

future is only going to get worse so

maybe that means we need to replace them

Hollywood does oh look at all the movies

Hollywood puts out they're all dystopian

exactly

it's disgusting why can't we have a

little I mean I know Disney and all that

but we want to be positive and we want

our children Next Generation to hear

positive messages and or at least at

least if it's not positive because I'll

say not all of your films are positive

but they they

prompt critical thinking societal

introspection about how we can make

something positive everything today is

either apocalypse or superheroes that

never arrive that's all that's all they

make I was very conscious of that when I

was making this because the subject is a

dark one and I all I've seen is dark

stuff about climate change and this and

that and this so I made a conscious

effort in this to transition this from

the dystopian side to the optimistic

side and we towards the end of the film

what do they scientists that we

well is uh Stephen Hawking who died not

too long ago and he talks about the

future where we can meet it with

optimism and I think he is a beautiful

beautiful man and he was a smart man he

believed in a nuclear energy but most

scientists who really know their stuff

but I heard Elon Musk recently saying

the same something very similar

good endorsing the the saying that he he

seemed to be aware of a lot of the

information that you put forward in your

film a few years ago by the way musk was

talking about batteries as a solution

not nuclear energy now he's obviously

clearly batteries are great we want to

have bigger better and better batteries

but there are limitations on batteries

got to get lithium from somewhere right

there's beyond that there's how are you

gonna it's like this is a

continent-sized problem this is a

continent-sized problem this is not

about fixing your home your your car uh

or your your phone this is a really this

is so because India is coming on Africa

is coming on Asia's coming on Indonesia

holy cow we have so many people are

going to want more energy they they're

not going to live on there

like some poor peasant in India they're

just going to change they're going to

see they see it on television they hear

it they know what's going on people want

more energy we have to accept that we

can't people here aren't going to go

back and live under some controlled

Society where they're regulated and

monitored in every way by the government

but that is the problem you see what we

did with unknowingly we're all guilty of

it we used carbon we we emitted we use

the carbon quota of the universe so to

speak there was a carbon quota we used

up and now we're in this Hall where

other people are suddenly Say Hey I want

to get some of that carbon but they're

they're not going to be able to unless

they pollute the universe and they will

because it's the cheapest thing in the

world is gas

I mean it is cool the cheapest thing in

the world plus wood if they'll use wood

if necessary they'll burn down all the

trees so

we have to solve the problem scientists

have their obligation or responsibility

to be to to help solve this problem and

the United States could take the leak

but it hasn't China and Russia have

taken the lead and that's ideological

this is just the truth and

they're doing the work on a mass scale

that can solve these problems for

example China according to what I read

is building is building more and more

nuclear reactors so they also use a lot

of coal but they are putting up 440

billion dollars worth of reactors

another

170 by 2038 is the goal that is a huge

huge amount and can help

I chose exporting also Russia exports to

other countries and they should keep

exporting keep building because they

have they can meet their own needs but

their export uh exporting of uh both

smr's small modular reactors and bigger

reactors are crucial

I I was going to ask since in the film

you did go to Russia you go to China you

meet with the people on The Cutting Edge

of this technology and development what

do you think is holding the United

States back fear fear and change they're

not we're not good at change I think we

just we we have a president who's a

dinosaur I mean he's talking about

Cold War still you know like

China's our enemy

how can they be our enemy if that's the

end of the world there are Russia is our

enemy

well he needs enemies I I don't that's

done that's this is Dr Strangelove

thinking of a World War II period these

people are dinosaurs they got to be

replaced New Generation people that

think about the future in a completely

different way yeah who see it as

something to hope for and not something

to friends you get along with your

people you don't look for reasons to to

have uh you know to have this dissent to

the amongst each other and this has been

going on in the United States for a long

time too long we keep demonizing

demonizing Russia we keep demonizing

China now this is crazy time

there's no room for this dissension this

fighting Let's Get Serious let's grow up

be Reynolds responsible let's fix this

world

it's uh depressing to be no but I want

to be positive and say that it can be

turned around because we're smart and

there's a new generation coming

It's always darkest before the dawn it's

a cliche but that's I like to think that

since at this point our leaders are

either marching us into total apocalypse

that or or or that we're going to take

over and actually change the way things

are done that the the history of man

tells us we're going to uh defeat them

and actually build something positive

for all of us and so that is what is so

fascinating and important about the

nuclear now question that you bring up

because again it's not even just about

energy because energy is

related to war and everything else that

that from the moment we wake up to the

moment we go to bed as part of our daily

life so how can people see nuclear now

Oliver

oh it's available now today as of today

we've been screening it in uh scientific

uh isolation scientific Outlets like you

know MIT Harvard we screened it in

London we screened it in Madrid and

Paris and you know we're getting it out

there among the people who know these

Specialists but now today June 6 it's

available on Amazon wide and it's

available on Google Play it's available

on iTunes it's available so you can look

at it today if you want and I urge you

to do so or look at it in two parts but

look at it and maybe look at it twice

it's well worth it it's not this is not

for profit we couldn't get on Netflix

they wouldn't want us then too too

controversial I guess or maybe they just

didn't like it but it really is worth

it's important to see and I for that

matter I would go anywhere to any

country just to show it I want this to

get around the world I don't want it to

be limited to a few rich countries

because that's not going to solve the

problem

um

well thank you so much for making this

film and for

sticking with your commitment to

shattering paradigms reevaluating the

way we think about history and the

present

future as well ultimately and I look

forward to your next screenplay your

next feature film

bless you Anya you're really I wish

everybody in the future would like more

like you and thoughtful and educated

themselves and trying to find out the

answer behind the headlines thank you

we'll talk soon Oliver thanks so much

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