So, what I loved, I read in the production notes,
Todd Haynes describes this movie as a gift from you.
- Wow.
- Isn't that nice to hear?
- That's so beautiful.
- So what has been the most rewarding part of being
able to tell this story on a big screen?
- The story is just so outrageous.
When I read it, my mind was so blown.
And you got one guy who's called to this journey
by a farmer with a 12th grade education,
who understands what DuPont has done
and has to convince this corporate defense attorney
of the truth that he already knows.
It's kind of a classic story in that way.
They're always the ones raising awareness.
They're always the ones that are most cynical
about the system.
And I just felt like, this is the moment
to be talking about these kinds of issues,
where a whole regulatory system,
And that's what this story is really about.
- And is that why you wanted to make it right now
as we're going into 2020 and an election year?
Do you want people to be aware again of these issues?
- Yeah, because I think movies are called into existence
by the culture, I feel like, you know?
Oddly enough, we'll have movies that pop out
just at the moment where we're actually
in the middle of a conversation.
And the movie will facilitate that conversation
by transcending the politics of an issue
and connect us by storytelling
and connect us to our common humanity.
We all can agree that one,
we shouldn't have to choose jobs that are poisoning us
just to have a job in the most wealthy,
exceptional country in the world.
And that all of us want to have clean water
that when we turn on our tap and we give our child
a bottle of water or a glass of water,
that they're gonna be safe.
We're all aware of it, even Trump's people feel
that this system has let them down somehow.
And so that's the conversation we're actually having.
Is it gonna be a nationalistic scapegoating,
white supremacist populism or are we gonna have
a left-leaning populism that is about fairness,
democracy and inclusiveness.
you know, we give up a lot of power, a lot of own money
in taxes to enter an agreement with the government
that you're gonna take care of some of our needs.
And you're gonna keep us safe.
That's the covenant between the public and a government
These companies, they have all the money.
All the time and they'll use it, trust me.
I know, I was one of them!
- [Farmer] You're still one of 'em.
- And how did Rob Bilott kind of affect you after this film?
I can tell you're passionate about it,
but how did this everyday American hero affect you?
- [Mark] He's the most humble, modest, lovely guy
who sacrificed everything.
He went on this journey that, like, his wealth was affected,
his health was affected, his career was affected,
his home life was affected,
his standing in the community was affected.
And he just kept going because he believes in people and
And if he could just get the truth out to them,
that they would end up making the right decision
and doing the right thing.
- What do you think this movie is gonna tell
to all the Rob Bilotts out there, all the underdogs.
What do you want the little guy to get from this?
Every fight I've ever been in, whether it's fracking,
white supremacy, or even this,
it's always the common people who are sounding the alarm
and they're the ones on the front lines
and they're the ones that our country
is so willing to sacrifice.
- [Interviewer] And you have been at the front lines
so what keeps you going?
What gives you super strength to stay optimistic
and stay hopeful for the future of the country?
I've been an activist since the second Iraq War
and the amount of organizing that's happening now,
the amount of people waking up,
And to see the young people getting involved
and understanding, like Greta Thunberg,
literally speaking on behalf of an entire generation
and capturing the fear and the woes and the disgust
of these systems.
But the writing's on the wall.
There's no turning back.
What we're facing is only gonna become more and more
in everything and touch more and more people's life
until we all just come together and to say that's enough.
That's in the process of happening right now.
- It is happening but there is still so much denial.
We even have a president
that won't acknowledge the climate crisis.
- But then you have, but then you look at the polls
for America, I mean, we went from 40% of America believing
in the climate crisis to, we're up to like 75-80%
in the course of, like, five years.
But the people are waking up
and they're getting more connected, I think.
And the young people understand this issues.
I have to remain hopeful, otherwise I just can't get,
I can't do it anymore.
- I know.
You have to, but how does that give you hope,
seeing the Gretas of the world, all the young kids
really standing up and telling the boomers to shut up?
- I love it.
- It's so good, isn't it?
- I love it.
I mean it's unassailable, and my whole focus now
is on the kids, you know.
What is the next seven generations?
What do we do for them?
I love "Now This."
- [Interviewer] Ahh, it's recording. (laughs)
We love you.
We certainly love you.
- And now this.
(laughter)
- That's how we're opening the video. (laughs)