Episode 35: Louie Schwartzberg

On Nature as healing modality and connecting force. On the magical mycelium all around us, and the greatest natural solution for climate change.

An award-winning cinematographer, director and producer whose notable career spans more than four decades providing breathtaking imagery using his time-lapse, high-speed and macro cinematography techniques. Schwartzberg is a visual artist who breaks barriers, connects with audiences, and tells stories that celebrate life and reveal the mysteries and wisdom of nature, people, and places.

Louie's theatrical releases include the 3D IMAX film Mysteries of the Unseen World with National Geographic, narrated by Forest Whitaker; the documentary, Wings of Life for Disneynature, narrated by Meryl Streep, and America's Heart and Soul for Walt Disney Studios.

His latest feature film, Fantastic Fungi, which explores the world of mushrooms and mycelium and illustrates how this fascinating organism can provide sustainable solutions to some of the world's greatest problems, from curing diseases, to saving the bees, and cleaning the atmosphere will be released in theaters fall, 2019.

Louie has also directed the Soarin' Around the World; a motion simulator ride film, one of the most popular attractions at Disney Theme Parks worldwide.

His Netflix series, Moving Art, was renewed for a third season and will be premiering in September, 2019. Designed to inspire, educate and evolve our perspective on the world, each episode immerses viewers in the natural world, taking them on a journey through time and scale.

Louie's TED talks have gone viral with over 54 million combined views. His Gratitude Revealed series of shorts were launched on Oprah.com. Supported by the Templeton Foundation, with science and analytics by the Greater Good Center at UC Berkeley, the series explores the multifaceted virtues of gratitude.

Louie is the only filmmaker to be inducted into the Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the Lemelson Foundation's Invention Ambassadors Program.

For Schwartzberg, the greatest satisfaction is creating works that can have a positive effect on the future of the planet. "I hope my films inspire and open people's hearts. Beauty is nature's tool for survival – we protect what we love. That is the shift in consciousness we need to sustain and celebrate life."

Louie is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science, Directors Guild of America and on the board of Earth Day Network.

• Time-lapse photography of decomposition [2:58]
• The role of mushrooms. Recycling [3:58]
• Mycelium network [7:38]
• Greatest natural solution for Climate Change [10:25]
• How everything is connected [14:19]
• Magic Mushrooms [16:58]
• Mushrooms as immune boosters for bees [25:55]
• Penicillin [29:19]
• The beauty of nature as a healing modality. Mahameru flower [31:01]
• What needs healing [37:34]
• Favorite view [39:40]
• Prayer [40:40]

Resources

Fantastic Fungi
https://movingart.com
Wings of Life
Paul Stamets' Ted Talk oil 6 Ways Mushrooms can save the world.
The Master Game by Robert S. De Ropp