ProsackHenry-Human+Footprint

=Human Footprint=

The film is titled The Human Footprint by Nick Watts was released in 2007.
 * 1.** **Title, director and release year?**


 * 2.** **What is the central argument or narrative of the film?**

As an entire population, we have caused a variety of sustainability issues. However, this film focuses on another aspect. We, as individuals, each make an impact on the earth in our lifetimes. With the consumption of so many different types of materials, our footprint combines with everyone else’s in the world to create these great environmental problems. The movie shows the amount of each material we use in the products that we consume in our lifetime in images. By showing the footprint as an image, this will hopefully make people think of our negative, individual contribution.


 * 3.** **What sustainability problems does the film draw out?**

The main sustainability issue that is focused in this film is the environmental impact that we each individually have on the world. They give a slew of figures and lists of the types of materials that are being used in the products that we purchase, how much of the products we buy, and how they are not reusable or recyclable. Food miles and packaging, the ways food is processed, transportation, water usage, and the ingredients that are used in certain products are all factors that have been considered by the film. Carbon imprints and power are also considered. There weren’t any other sustainability issues discussed in the film.


 * 4.** **What parts of the film did you find most persuasive and compelling? Why?**

I can’t believe how much we use even when we are very young and can’t make rational decisions. We use so much materials and take, take, take. We never stop to realize that at some point, we can’t keep taking what the world has to offer us. We need to be more aware of what our products are doing to the environment during and after our deaths.


 * 5.** **What parts of the film were you not compelled or convinced by?**

The one thing that I disliked about the film was how they used products in order to convey their point. For instance, they made an omelet by dumping a lifetime’s worth of eggs onto the floor. Now, I completely understand how the film director weighed the costs of using the materials of the movie over the educational affects it would have over its viewers. However, the waste of food in order to convey a point is going too far, I believe. These eggs could have been used to feed the needy. They could have shown the eggs in mass, then use the eggs to feed the hungry. Smashing them on the ground would not have had any bigger reaction than just showing them.


 * 6.** **What additional information does this film compel you to seek out? Where do you want to dig deeper and what connections do you want to make with other issues, factors, problems, etc.?**

The thing that this movie has compelled me to do is to look at all the products that I use. Researching what happens to the materials before and after I use them is something that I have been more aware of. I rarely use water bottles anymore and if I do, I reuse the bottle. I used to have a reusable metal receptacle, however it rusted out and I have yet to get another one.


 * 7.** **What audiences does the film best address? What kind of imagination is fostered in viewers? Do you think the film is likely to change the way viewers think about and act on environmental problems?**

This film addresses everyone. Everyone can see how much materials they will be using in their lifetime and change that fact. The younger a person views this, the more likely the chance they will change their purchases. The chances of an older person changes are less because they will not be around long enough to see the effects that they personally have on the world. This film is directed towards everyone, but mainly focuses on the younger age groups.


 * 8.** **What kinds of action or points of intervention are suggested by the film?**

There aren’t really any solutions suggested by the movie. The only one would be to educate the masses about their materialistic and product use, and make changes in their lifestyles in order to make less of an impact environmentally. These images will help convey to the viewer about the impacts, and hopefully will force them to make some sort of action.


 * 9.** **What could have been added to this film to enhance its environmental educational value?**

The film did a great job in portraying the detrimental effects that we as individuals have on the environment. I would have not suggested a better way in achieving that.