In 1997, filmmaker Josh Tickell set out on the road with a “Veggie Van†and a video camera and began filming Fuel.
During his 11-year journey, he traveled to more than 25 countries, authored two books, founded a nonprofit organization, and helped jump-start America’s Green Energy Revolution. Now the film, which has been dubbed as a “powerful wake up call,†is reaching the audience it was made for as it explores the shocking connections between America’s failing economy and the country’s addiction to oil.
With support of such celebrities as Julia Roberts, Woody Harrelson, Richard Branson, Neil Young and Willie Nelson, Josh presents a clear message that can no longer be ignored: make a change or leave the next generation with a big environmental mess on its hands.
In a big push to get the FUEL message out to as many people as possible, Tickell and ConservFuel, an eco-gas station in Brentwood, joined forces to host a special outdoor screening alongside the pumps that emit 99 per cent pure bio diesel — the very earth-friendly fuel Tickell’s film promotes. Fuel is an insightful, thought-provoking portrait of America’s addiction to oil and an uplifting testament to the urgent need for new energy solutions. For more information and to see the latest Fuel screening schedules see fuelthefilm.com
WT: What inspired you to make FUEL?
JT: I made FUEL to show that there is a way for us to have all the energy we need without compromising peace and freedom.
WT: What were some of the challenges and obstacles in making this film, and how did you overcome them?
JT: Ten years ago, when I set out to make this film, the biggest challenge I had was getting people to buy into the idea that a movie could make a significant contribution to the world. But my green community saw the validity of these ideas, and with their encouragement I have overcome many obstacles along the way. Until recently, documentaries weren’t seen as vehicles for social change. That rapidly changed with Fahrenheit 9/11, Supersize Me, Born into Brothels and especially with An Inconvenient Truth.
Suddenly, the little energy documentary I’d been working on for a decade became hot. By the end of this year when the film will be presented in theaters all over the country, the ideas and concepts in FUEL will become mainstream. That’s a powerful shift.
WT: How did your vision for the film change over the course of the pre-production, production and post-production processes?
JT: I wanted to make a film about the serious challenges we face and ultimately about the power of every individual to make a difference. The biggest challenge came after we won the audience award at Sundance. It was at that time that two camps emerged – those who loved biofuels and those who thought biofuels were awful. I made the difficult choice to re-cut the movie to incorporate not just the controversy around biofuels, but also the other energy solutions that exist. Like any renovation, we started re-cutting with an eye toward repairing a few flaws and ended up knee deep in a complete re-edit. The film that emerged kept the heart of the original movie, but was different enough in content and scope that it merited a new name and a new launch. Hence FUEL was born. Everyone who has seen both films agrees that it was worth the risk, the time and the energy to make the new movie. I acknowledge the whole production team, especially Dale Rosenbloom for defending the vision of the film, Johnny O’Hara, the film’s writer, Tina Imahara and Mike Horwitz, our primary editors, for their creativity and dedication in bringing this near impossible vision to life, and Darius Fisher and Rebecca Harrell, two of the film’s producers, for carrying FUEL across the finish line.
WT: What is next for you?
JT: My team and I are taking the film on a 25-city tour across the United States this year. We will travel in a convoy of biodiesel vehicles that will go to universities, schools, town halls and political events. Our goal is to “green the vote†of America by getting everyday people, along with politicians and energy companies, to sign onto a 10-year plan that will transition America to renewable energy.
