Posted by
Joe on Sunday, June 08, 2008 2:00:00 PM
Besides the content of the film, there's something about Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" that never quite squared with me. I should disclose that I've never seen it, nor do I have much of a desire to spend any hard-earned money on a film in which so many half-truths, mis-truths and outright distortions were discovered. My reluctance to even pay a minimal rental fee to see it is actually what got me thinking.
I went to Barnes and Noble yesterday to get a manual on the Ipod Touch. Despite this singular mission, I'm incapable of going to a bookstore and not looking around. One of the books on the discount table was Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth." Seeing it discounted got me thinking about something I've contemplated before. If getting out his "message" is so important to Gore, why did he assent to charging $20 for the purchase of the DVD version? Wouldn't he guarantee himself a wider viewing if he made the DVD, or book for that matter, available as a free download, or on a website? Wouldn't this also be consistent with his "techie" persona? I wondered if perhaps the sale profits go to the environmentalist cause. Even so, wouldn't the cause be better off if more people changed their lifestyles after watching the DVD or reading the book?
Out of curiosity, I went to the
"An Inconvenient Truth" website to see what was available. One of the first things I noticed was that the site doesn't appear to have been updated for quite some time. I also saw a conspicuous link inviting me to purchase the DVD. The site does have some downloads available, but they are principally screen savers, Ecards, and wallpapers. Sure enough, some, but not all of the profits from the sale of each $20 DVD goes to an organization called
"The Alliance For Climate Protection." This is a group founded by Al Gore.
This still begs the question. If prosetylizing this message is so important, why not just have some environmental groups underwrite the cost to produce the film and then make it available for download at a minimal cost, with all proceeds going toward the movement? Making it available online eliminates the DVD manufacturing and packaging costs. Furthermore, bypassing the manufacturing process is presumably better for the environment. This principle was even deemed important enough for a mention on the website:
The DVD is packaged to make the smallest possible environmental
footprint - it is made of 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper, no
excess materials, and absolutely no plastics.
It would be interesting to see how much Gore, or anyone, made from this film.