Hothouse productions

Mother Nature

Brilliant construct has Mother Nature herself holding an intense emergency board meeting with her direct reports: Captain Wildfire, Professor Polar Vortex, Mr. Hurricane, Colonel Carbon, Agent Flood, Miss Plastic — and the Human Ambassador (pictured at left), who has a clever solution to propose.

This PSA takes a cue from the “Thing 1, Thing 2” principle of Climate Communications:

1) Offer the facts, even when they spell disaster

2) Promptly follow with a solution — preferably one that is massively impactful and already underway.

The Talk

A small climate-concerned girl has “the talk” with her dad, not about the birds and bees but about Climate Change. It’s a dramatic and timely scenario that imagines family conversations in family rooms all over the country. Americans of all ages are becoming more aware of Climate Change — and, impressively, data-savvy school children can sometimes present the facts with more eloquence than their elders.

This PSA elegantly demonstrates the “Trusted Messenger” principle of Climate Communications. Emerging research finds children can change their parents’ minds about climate change. Shifting your attitude is hard for many people, but our own trusted children, family, and friends can often be the key to an a-ha moment.

P.S. Click for the “Dad”’s response to seeing his PSA broadcast via Instagram!

The Love Planet

A lively game show provides the engaging context for three alternative views of our culture’s response to global warming. Bachelor number 1, “Mr. Fix It,” is the environmentally friendly choice. The second option, “Mr. Let It Be,” displays the shruggingly complacent “business as usual” (BAU) response track that the world is on today, despite scientists’ mandate for swift decarbonization. Slick and sleazy, “Mr. I Don’t Care” is Bachelor number 3.

“The Love Planet” utilizes a basic principle of behavioral science: Provide Choices. A handful of choices can highlight the best strategy while highlighting the inadequacies of alternatives.

Making of PSAs

This behind-the-scenes, student-produced documentary tells the fascinating story of how the Hothouse class developed and produced the three PSAs — and how the students became confident in their own ability to be part of the climate solution simply by talking about it in their own circles. Footage includes Sarah Finnie teaching the “Six Americas” framework developed by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication.