By Jovan Brooks
“At a certain point, we couldn’t stop thinking: is there anything we can do?” – Nicole Martinez
Upon learning during their sixth grade year that Miami will have the greatest economic loss due to climate change out of all coastal cities globally, Maddi, Larissa, Nicole, and Melissa all made an effort to be the change they wish to see in the world.
Directed by Lynne Cherry (Young Voices for the Planet), Dreaming in Green is a short documentary which introduces us to this group of girls, who name themselves the ‘Green Team’, as they discuss their significant acts to reduce their community’s carbon footprint, such as recycling, turning off computers, lights, air conditioning, and even weather stripping windows and doors.
Between informing the audience of the numerous ways to become more environmentally conversant, we also learn that they helped their school become a ‘Dream in Green’ school, where energy saving methods were practiced. By their ninth grade year, the girls helped their school save upwards of $50,000. More importantly, they state that if each school in their district would have engaged in similar methods, $33,000,000 would have been saved.
Driven to make an environmental impact beyond the classroom, the Green Team spoke with the school board district, who they say genuinely listened to them and were inspired. Larissa argues that their words were taken seriously because they had prepared statistics as examples. Upon transitioning to high school, Larissa and Maddi continued making an impact at their new schools, saving several thousand dollars in their freshman year.
Dreaming in Green is an informative piece shedding light on the attempt for compelling differences one can make, regardless of age, when they care enough about the issue. If I were to address any technical or narrative issues with the film, I would argue that it leaves a bit to be desired in terms of editing, with sudden transitions and an amatuer visual style when images are used.
I would score the film at 3.5/5.
Don’t Miss Dreaming in Green on Planet Classroom.
Jovan Brooks is a senior at Towson University majoring in film production with a minor in acting. Interning in Scripted Series Development, he is a member of the Emmys Television Academy Foundation class of 2021. A diversely skilled writer, actor, and editor, Jovan aspires to ultimately tell meaningful stories in television and film.
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