''Behold the Earth'' is a feature-length musical

documentary film A documentary film or documentary is a non-fictional film, motion-picture intended to "document reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction, education or maintaining a Recorded history, historical record". Bill Nichols (film critic), Bil ...

that inquires into America's estrangement from nature, built out of conversations with leading

biologists A biologist is a scientist who conducts research in biology. Biologists are interested in studying life on Earth, whether it is an individual cell, a multicellular organism, or a community of interacting populations. They usually specialize in a ...

and

evangelical Christians Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide interdenominational movement within Protestant Christianity that affirms the centrality of being "born again", in which an individual experi ...

, and directed by

David Conover David Conover (June 26, 1919 – December 21, 1983) was an author and documentary photographer who is credited with discovering Marilyn Monroe while taking photos for '' Yank'' magazine. While attached to the U.S. Army Air Forces' First Motio ...

. The film made its debut at the 2017 DC Environmental Film Festival.

Cast

E. O. Wilson Edward Osborne Wilson (June 10, 1929 – December 26, 2021) was an American biologist, naturalist, entomologist and writer. According to David Attenborough, Wilson was the world's leading expert in his specialty of myrmecology, the study of an ...

—renowned biologist,

Pulitzer Prize The Pulitzer Prize () is an award for achievements in newspaper, magazine, online journalism, literature, and musical composition within the United States. It was established in 1917 by provisions in the will of Joseph Pulitzer, who had made h ...

-winning author, and Pellegrino University Research Professor in

Entomology Entomology () is the science, scientific study of insects, a branch of zoology. In the past the term "insect" was less specific, and historically the definition of entomology would also include the study of animals in other arthropod groups, such ...

for the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at

Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...

. He is the author of ''The Creation: An Appeal to Save Life on Earth''. *Cal DeWitt—Professor of Environmental Studies at the Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies,

University of Wisconsin–Madison A university () is an educational institution, institution of higher education, higher (or Tertiary education, tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several Discipline (academia), academic disciplines. Universities ty ...

and President Emeritus of the

Au Sable Institute The ''Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies'' is an educational organization that provides field-based environmental science courses to students from participating Christian colleges. By educating and inspiring future leaders, Au Sable has b ...

of Environmental Studies. He is considered by many to be a formative influence behind the

Creation Care Evangelical environmentalism is an environmental movement in the United States in which some Evangelical Christians have emphasized biblical mandates concerning humanity's role as steward and subsequent responsibility for the care taking of Creatio ...

movement. *

Theo Colborn Theodora Emily Colborn (née Decker; March 28, 1927 – December 14, 2014) was Founder and President Emerita of The Endocrine Disruption Exchange (TEDX), based in Paonia, Colorado, and Professor Emerita of Zoology at the University of Florida, Gai ...

—co-authored the 1996 book,

Our Stolen Future ''Our Stolen Future: Are We Threatening Our Fertility, Intelligence, and Survival? A Scientific Detective Story'' is a 1996 book by Theo Colborn, Dianne Dumanoski, and John Peterson Myers. The book chronicles the development of the endocrine d ...

, which brought worldwide attention to the fact that common contaminants can interfere with human fetal development. *

Corina Newsome Corina Newsome is an American ornithologist, birder, science communicator, and graduate student at Georgia Southern University. In response to the racism faced by Black birder Christian Cooper in Central Park, Newsome co-organized Black Birders ...

– Ambassador Animal Keeper at the

Nashville Zoo at Grassmere The Nashville Zoo at Grassmere is a zoological garden and historic plantation farmhouse located southeast of Downtown Nashville. As of 2014, the zoo was middle Tennessee's top paid attraction and contained 6,230 individual animals, encompassing 3 ...

and recent alumna of Malone University's Zoo & Wildlife Biology program. She is a member of the group Young Evangelicals for Climate Action (Y.E.C.A.), as well as a public educator, musician, and creation care activist. *Ben Lowe – Prominent environmental advocate and activist; writer, politician, and

Evangelical Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide Interdenominationalism, interdenominational movement within Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that affirms the centrality of being "bor ...

. Ben has over ten years of experience in nonprofit work, and is a founder of Y.E.C.A, as well as a National Organizer and Spokesperson for the organization. He was appointed as an Environmental Commissioner for the Village of Glen Ellyn from 2013 to 2015, and served as a Trustee and then Board Chair for

of Environmental Studies from 2010 to 2016. Ben has authored three books; ''Green Revolution: Coming Together to Care for Creation ''(2009), ''Doing Good Without Giving Up: Sustaining Social Action in a World That's Hard to Change'' (2014), and ''The Future of Our Faith: An Intergenerational Conversation on Critical Issues Facing the Church'' (2016). *

Katharine Hayhoe Katharine Anne Scott Hayhoe (born 1972) is a Canadian atmospheric scientist. She is a Paul Whitfield Horn Distinguished Professor and an Endowed Chair in Public Policy and Public Law in the Texas Tech University Department of Political Science. I ...

– Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science and Director of the Climate Center at

Texas Tech University Texas Tech University (Texas Tech, Tech, or TTU) is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas. Established on , and called Texas Technological College until 1969, it is the main institution of the five-institution Texas Tech University Sys ...

, critically acclaimed atmospheric scientist, and the founder and CEO of ATMOS Research. Katharine's current work focuses primarily on climate change and its local impacts on human and environmental systems. She is featured in a documentary about climate change in Alaska called ''Between Earth and Sky'', and contributed to National Geographic's second season of

Years of Living Dangerously ''Years of Living Dangerously'' is an American documentary television series, spread over two seasons, focusing on climate change. The first season, consisting of nine episodes, was broadcast on Showtime (TV channel), Showtime in 2014. The seco ...

. In October 2016 Katherine spoke at SXSL alongside U.S. President

Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the U ...

and actor and philanthropist Leonardo DiCaprio about the effects and concerns of climate change.

Music Talent

Dirk Powell Dirk Powell (born 1969) is an American fiddler, banjo player, and singer. Powell was born in Oberlin, Ohio into a family with deep Kentucky roots. He has lived in Louisiana since 1992. He is considered one of the world's leading experts on traditio ...

– American singer, songwriter, producer, and composer. Dirk's interest in his Appalachian heritage led him to become an internationally recognized expert on traditional Appalachian fiddle and banjo musical styles. He has won four

Grammy Awards The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...

and collaborated with musical talents such as

Jack White John Anthony White (; born July 9, 1975), commonly known as Jack White, is an American musician, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the duo the White Stripes. White has enjoyed consistent critical and popular success and is widely c ...

Joan Baez Joan Chandos Baez (; born January 9, 1941) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and activist. Her contemporary folk music often includes songs of protest and social justice. Baez has performed publicly for over 60 years, releasing more ...

, and

Jackson Browne Clyde Jackson Browne (born October 9, 1948) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and political activist who has sold over 18 million albums in the United States. Emerging as a precocious teenage songwriter in mid-1960s Los Angeles, he h ...

. Dirk has worked with several reputable film directors as well, including

Anthony Minghella Anthony Minghella, (6 January 195418 March 2008) was a British film director, playwright and screenwriter. He was chairman of the board of Governors at the British Film Institute between 2003 and 2007. He won the Academy Award for Best Directo ...

Spike Lee Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee (born March 20, 1957) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. His production company, 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, has produced more than 35 films since 1983. He made his directorial debut ...

Victor Nuñez Victor Nunez (born 1945) is a film director, professor at the Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts, Florida State University College of Motion Picture, Television and Recording Arts, and a founding member of the Independent ...

and

Ang Lee Ang Lee (; born October 23, 1954) is a Taiwanese filmmaker. Born in Pingtung County of southern Taiwan, Lee was educated in Taiwan and later in the United States. During his filmmaking career, he has received international critical and popula ...

. Dirk is a regular contributor to the award-winning

BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board ex ...

series,

Transatlantic Sessions Transatlantic Sessions is the collective title for a series of musical productions by Glasgow-based Pelicula Films Ltd, funded by- and produced for BBC Scotland, BBC Four and RTÉ of Ireland. The productions comprise collaborative live performan ...

. *Sophie and Amelia Powell – Emerging musicians, and the daughters of musicians Dirk Powell and Christine Balfa. They currently live in Louisiana. *

Tim Eriksen Tim Eriksen is an American musician, musicologist, and professor. He is the leader of the band Cordelia's Dad, a solo artist, and was a performer and consultant for the award-winning soundtrack of the film '' Cold Mountain''. Cordelia's Dad C ...

– American musician, musicologist, professor, consultant, solo artist, and former member of the band

Cordelia's Dad Cordelia's Dad is a band from Northampton, Massachusetts that combines folk and punk rock influences and was instrumental in the creation of the genre later to be dubbed " No Depression". The band formed in 1987 and was active until 1998, when the ...

. Tim earned a PhD in ethnomusicology from

Wesleyan University Wesleyan University ( ) is a Private university, private liberal arts college, liberal arts university in Middletown, Connecticut. Founded in 1831 as a Men's colleges in the United States, men's college under the auspices of the Methodist Epis ...

, and has taught as a visiting music professor at

Dartmouth College Dartmouth College (; ) is a private research university in Hanover, New Hampshire. Established in 1769 by Eleazar Wheelock, it is one of the nine colonial colleges chartered before the American Revolution. Although founded to educate Native A ...

Amherst College Amherst College ( ) is a private liberal arts college in Amherst, Massachusetts. Founded in 1821 as an attempt to relocate Williams College by its then-president Zephaniah Swift Moore, Amherst is the third oldest institution of higher educatio ...

Hampshire College Hampshire College is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Amherst, Massachusetts. It was opened in 1970 as an experiment in alternative education, in association with four other colleges ...

, and the

University of Minnesota The University of Minnesota, formally the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, (UMN Twin Cities, the U of M, or Minnesota) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Tw ...

. Tim is the founder of the world's largest

Sacred Harp Sacred Harp singing is a tradition of sacred choral music that originated in New England and was later perpetuated and carried on in the American South. The name is derived from ''The Sacred Harp'', a ubiquitous and historically important tune ...

singing convention in Northampton, Massachusetts. Tim is passionate about music history and sharing his knowledge and passion with others through his teaching. *

Rhiannon Giddens Rhiannon Giddens (born February 21, 1977) is an American musician. She is a founding member of the country, blues and old-time music band the Carolina Chocolate Drops, where she is the lead singer, fiddle player, and banjo player. Giddens i ...

– American musician, known widely as the lead singer, violinist, and banjo player in the band

Carolina Chocolate Drops The Carolina Chocolate Drops were an old-time string band from Durham, North Carolina. Their 2010 album, ''Genuine Negro Jig,'' won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards, and was number 9 in ''fRoots'' ...

. Music by the Grammy-winning Carolina Chocolate Drops varies from country, blues, folk, Americana, Celtic, soul, gospel, and bluegrass. Rhiannon has also pursued a solo music career, releasing her debut solo album ''Tomorrow is My Turn'', and in EP, "Factory Girl", in 2015. Her most recent releases are "Freedom Highway," initially performed at

Sing Sing Sing Sing Correctional Facility, formerly Ossining Correctional Facility, is a maximum-security prison operated by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision in the village of Ossining, New York. It is about north of ...

, and "At the Purchaser's Option." Rhiannon studied opera at the Oberlin Conservatory, and was a 2017 MacArthur Fellowship recipient.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Behold The Earth 2017 films American documentary films 2017 documentary films 2010s English-language films 2010s American films

Cast

Music Talent

See also

References

External links