YOUTH v GOV
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- Transcript
YOUTH v GOV is the story of America’s youth taking on the world’s most powerful government, filing a ground-breaking lawsuit against the U.S. government. They assert it has willfully acted over six decades to create the climate crisis, thus endangering their constitutional rights to life, liberty, and property.
The Juliana plaintiffs represent the diversity of America’s youth impacted by the climate crisis. Hailing from across the country, they encompass cultural, economic racial, and geographic diversity, with many from marginalized communities, and their stories are universal. Their diversity speaks not only to the impacts of climate change, but to the inclusion required if we are to build a better, more just future together. If these young people are successful, they will not only make history, they will change the future.
Francis Ford Coppola - Film Director, Producer & Screenwriter
"I am 100% behind our youth having a say in decisions affecting their future and holding the government accountable to them.”
Tom Wright - Filmmaker
“A vital story of a key judicial battle in the ongoing war against man-made climate change, this film is a splendidly-made and urgent coming-of-age tale for our time. Its first-class production values are a rarity among the far too few contemporary films dealing with the desire of youth for a cleaner environment. What makes this one particularly poignant is the diverse all-star team of precocious youth who’ve been recruited to join the ongoing messy quest for environmental justice.”
POV Magazine | Madeline Lines
“Youth v Gov is both a documentary and a kind of superhero movie.”
WITNESS | Kelly Matheson
“Just as Juliana v. U.S. is no ordinary lawsuit, YOUTH v GOV is no ordinary story. It is a must-watch for anyone who cares about future generations and our planet.”
GRIST | Clayton Aldern
“Here’s the deal. If you have a child-rearing bone in your body — or, really, anything other than a raisin where your heart should be — YOUTH v GOV will move you.... Part of that power comes from the skill of the filmmakers, who weave together 60 years of archival material, stirring footage of natural disasters, and dramatic courtroom video to bring dense legal arguments to life. But the vast majority of the documentary’s emotional muscle comes from those meddling kids.”
Climate Culture | Lucy Hochschartner
“I wish I could help you understand that this is the most important movie you may ever see, and that this question of who deserves a future is one that my generation demands an answer to. This movie must be taken in as a whole, a beautiful, loving story, capturing the most important court case that you’ve probably never heard of and the lives of 21 of the many children who just might save the world.”
The Leader | James Sloan
“As 'Youth v. Gov' delves into the twists and turns of the lawsuit, Cooper additionally delves into the deep history of the United State’s involvement in accelerating climate change, whether through subsidizing fossil-fuel industries, failing to mitigate carbon emissions, or other decisions.“I think what this film does differently is to shine a light on the government’s responsibility in those systemic issues … and those who are most disproportionately impacted by climate change,” Cooper said. “If our government isn’t there to protect us from harm, then who is?”
The East Hampton Star | Mark Segal
“The film moves seamlessly from the legal team's development of its arguments to interviews with climate scientists to scenes of the kids demonstrating, preparing to go to court, celebrating their triumphs, and persisting despite setbacks. Perhaps most compelling are segments of individual kids, many of them from marginalized communities, who recall their direct experience of wildfires, hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters that threatened their families.”
The Sag Harbor Express | Annette Hinkle
“While climate change has become a politically charged partisan issue in recent years, Cooper notes that when it comes to this topic, she finds there is blame on all sides. Even elected leaders who have spoken out about protecting the environment have, behind the scenes, instituted policies that benefit polluting industries.”
BoZone | Carol Schmidt
“It is an appropriate time for the world to learn more about the case and why it is an important case in the climate and constitutional rights world,” Cooper said. “If these young people are successful, they will not only make history, they will change the future.”
Missoulian | Rob Chaney
“A battle between youth and government over climate change could be won before one of two courts: law or public opinion.”
Citation
Main credits
Cooper, Christi (film director)
Cooper, Christi (film producer)
Cooper, Christi (screenwriter)
Ahnemann, Olivia (film producer)
Smith, Lyman (screenwriter)
Smith, Lyman (editor of moving image work)
Hale, Tony (editor of moving image work)
Other credits
Editors, Lyman Smith, Tony Hale.
Distributor subjects
Climate Change; Constitutional Rights; Judicial System; Government; Democracy; Activism; YouthKeywords
YOUTH V GOV FEATURE DOCUMENTARY (110 MINUTES) - FINAL SCRIPT |
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CHAPTER |
VISUAL |
SPEAKER |
AUDIO |
ACT I |
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COLD OPEN |
OPENING CREDITS |
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1:00:07:20 |
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GRAPHICS: Produced by Barrelmaker Productions and Vulcan Productions a film by CHRISTI COOPER to Broll of youth and signs |
Xiuhtezcatl |
[Foreign language] Hello, my name is Xiuhtezcatl Martinez. I'm six years old and I just said a prayer in my native language. I was giving thanks to all the elements: the water, the fire, the earth, the air. |
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Little Aji (archival)
Big Aji (rapping) |
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[Aji singing song] Oh, oh, oh, I said, no humans, no humans, don't cut down the trees. No disturbing the land and breeze... no humans, no humans... [Aji rapping] |
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Little Avery/Big Avery Little Jacob/Big Jacob Little Miko/Isaac (archival) |
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There's little Avery in her backpack. [Foreign language] [singing] Can you hear your people cry? |
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Adult Miko putting on makeup Little Kelsey w/brother |
Miko Catia |
Who's that? Can you say "sister?" Kelsey, do you like being a big sister? You do, yeah. |
1:02:05:11 |
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Adult Kelsey putting on make-up
Outside the courthouse ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE: energy production to President Carter speech to STOCK FOOTAGE: oil rigs |
Kelsey Kelsey Carter |
I mean, I think for a lot of young people right now, life is really scary because we've never seen a moment like this in history. and our feelings about our life and our future is all because of choices that we had no participation in. And so, we're bringing forward this case, because we all know who's to blame and what needs to be done. Our children will come of age in the 21st Century. What kind of society, what kind of world are we building for them? |
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STOCK FOOTAGE: deepwater oil platforms to ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE: President HW Bush speech |
Reagan HW Bush |
It has fallen to us to begin the hard but necessary task of building a better future for our children. we owe the generations of the future the safekeeping of America's precious environmental inheritance. |
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STOCK FOOTAGE: pipeline construction to ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE: President Clinton speech |
Clinton |
President Theodore Roosevelt defined our great central task as leaving this land even a better land for our decendents than it is for us. |
1:02:48:03 |
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Press conference, CUs of youth, Journey speaking |
Journey |
Our government could have done something about climate change over 50 years ago, but prioritized profits over the health and life of our own children and their children's children. |
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ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE: President GW Bush speech to kids marching CU of youth marching to ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE: President Obama speech to STOCK FOOTAGE: oil refineries At rally, Stock of FF |
GW Bush Obama
Alex |
Generations will know if we kept our faith and kept our word
And when our children’s children look us in the eye and ask if we did all we could to leave them a safer, more stable world, I want us to be able to say yes, we did.
The government's actions are inconsistent with our most deeply-held moral values. Just as my family's farm is threatened by climate change, so, too, are the very stablity and vitality of our country. |
1:03:26:03 |
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TEMP STOCK FOOTAGE TEMP STOCK FOOTAGE
TEMP STOCK FOOTAGE to TITLE: YOUTH v GOV |
News reporter Montage of news reporters Steve Croft |
21 young people, ages 11-22 are suing the federal government.
Out of all the cases working their way through the Federal Court System, none is more interesting or potentially more life changing than Juliana versus the United States. |
1:03:44:09 |
PLAINTIFF OPEN |
YOUTH v GOV [title] |
Music |
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Aerial of Jacob's Farm |
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Jacob with sheep Jacob on farm with animals to Vic getting ready
TEXT: Vic Barrett interviewed by NPR "On Point" Vic and Aji talking to Jayden at chicken coop |
Jacob Radio interviewer
Vic on radio |
Hey Oliver, how are you? Twenty one young Americans are arguing that they have a right to a safe climate. What's your arguement here? Why are you saying the US government should be sued? So us twenty one are suing the US federal government for taking direct action to put our future disportionately at risk by subsidizing the fossil fuel industry and perpetuating the global climate crisis. |
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Levi walking through park, checking hurricane damage |
Levi |
Yes, at least my favorite tree survived. Ever since I was a tiny little toddler, I've been climbing on this tree. And every time I've slipped or fallen, I've landed on one of her branches. I think it's because she acknowledges that I'm here. |
1:05:08:01 |
JULIA INTRO |
Avery in the classroom Xiuh playing guitar to Kelsey hiking in snow Broll of books |
Avery
Vic on radio |
We're not asking for money. We're asking for the government to make a steady plan of how we can stop climate change. Our constitutional right to life, liberty, and property has been violated and we feel that young people should be able to bring this knowledge to the court and really put it in front of them. |
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Julia in kitchen preparing food LOWER THIRD: Julia Olson Chief Legal Counsel Juliana vs. United States of America Julia preparing books, paperwork |
Julia
Nat sound |
You know, I have 10 binders full of authorities and cases and I pulled out all the key cases from last time around. So, they're in here, and then these are new cases. |
1:06:03:14 |
LEGAL TEAM - MOOT COURT |
Julia packing up bags and heading out of the house Julia riding bike, arriving at office LOWER THIRD: September 2016 Eugene, Oregon Practicing opening argument before legal team and colleagues. |
Julia Julia
Julia |
Do you ever have that feeling where you wake up in the morning, and before you even have a single thought you're anxious? Rock and roll. We are going down to the office to do the first moot court talking with everyone about the best way to present the arguments. Practice, practice court.
OK. Good morning, your honor. May it please the court. I'm Julia Olson on behalf of the plaintiffs. |
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Practicing opening argument before legal team and colleagues. - start over
Broll of various plaintiffs (Levi CU at pier, Jacob petting cattle, Vic tilt up and pan at beach) |
Julia
Julia |
Your honor, this case is about government imposed danger and harm that shocks the conscience. Just last week, defendant President Obama said to the New York Times that the reports he gets from his top science advisor on climate change are terrifying. Given those concessions the question in this case is whether defendant's conduct contributed to that monumental threat, and if it rises to the level of a constitutional violation. The plaintiffs who have brought this case forward have such a personal stake in its outcome that they are the most effective advocates to bring these critical and timely constitutional questions to the court. |