Finn DeWitt, Filmmaker and Activist

Finn DeWitt, age 12, has been making films since he was nine. As part of The Youth Ensemble Theatre, he edited and helped to create the movie Escape!!!, which won first place in the Tales from the Catskills Amateur Film Competition in Woodstock and was accepted into the Asbury Film Festival. He recently played The Little Prince at the Rosendale Theatre in New York where he has spent a lot of time in productions with Y.E.T. and has studied and performed in 39 Shakespeare plays with New Genesis Productions. 

Finn DeWittFInn DeWitt

His most recent project has been making the film Sustainability? with Michael Ben-Eli, founder of The Sustainability Lab*. Finn hopes that through his new film, kids his age will learn the importance of sustainability so that his generation can be part of the solution in reversing the harm caused by humans. Finn is thrilled to have had the opportunity to make this film with Michael who he met through friends of his parents. Said Finn, "We were having dinner and talking about his work and I was sharing my love of filmmaking. We came up with the idea of making a film about sustainability that night. We started meeting once a week to discuss the idea and how to move forward with the project." Finn explains that the film is about helping people understand what is happening to the earth and how important it is to act.  

The Sustainability LabSustainability?

Watch the film here:

MY HERO interviewed Finn about the process of making Sustainability?

Is this your first film?

No. It's actually my 96th film. I’ve been creating short films since I was 9.  I’ve learned a lot in the process. I think I’m most proud of Sustainability?.

Why were you drawn to make this film?

I met Michael Ben-Eli through friends and we started talking about sustainability. He asked me if I wanted to make a film on this important subject. And, because I love filmmaking, I said yes! I thought it was important to let everyone know how crucial the good health of our planet is.

What in your opinion is the importance of the film, and what are its strengths?

It’s very important to let everyone know what’s happening to our planet and how we have to take action. I feel the film’s strength is how it imagines what will happen to our earth if we don't do something soon. 

What are the issues that are most important to you (in general), and why?

This planet has been suffering from the use of non-sustainable resources like oil and coal for years. Many people use these fossil fuels for many things in their lives. We have to find resources that don’t pollute the atmosphere. I also worry about warfare and how if we keep living like this we are going to end up killing ourselves.

The Sustainability LabSustainability?

Could you tell us about the process of making the film: Who was on the team? Who produced the film?

The team was Michael and me. I first wrote the script, Michael and I met and discussed it and then I started filming. I also recruited my parents to play small roles: My dad helped film shots when I was in front of the camera and my mom did a voiceover. Michael mentored me throughout the whole process. He would watch what I had done and give me feedback. We would go back and forth. Nicole helped distribute the film.

What was it like for you to make this film? What were some of the challenges, successes, and high points?

It was really fun. The whole way through. Editing it, shooting it, the whole process. It was a challenge shooting the different futures because we don't know what it will be like so I had to imagine it. The effects were so much fun to create though. I looked forward to my Friday meetings with Michael!

Do you have a personal hero?

Yes! I have three actually. They were best friends in college: Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola. They have inspired me in so many ways: their use of practical effects, their artistic directing and really, Steven Spielberg’s everything. I hope to continue making films in an artistic way that get people thinking. I also really look up to Michael and the work that he does. He’s very passionate about saving the planet and is extremely generous. I feel lucky to have worked with him.

*The Sustainability Lab

The Sustainability Lab is an organization dedicated to promoting and advancing sustainable practices across various sectors globally. Founded in 2008 by Dr. Michael Ben-Eli, the Lab aims to foster a deeper understanding and implementation of sustainability principles to address complex environmental, social, and economic challenges.

The Sustainability Lab has developed a unique, action-oriented guide for its activities, following a holistic and conceptual framework. This framework is inspired by collaboration across disciplines and the work of innovative thinkers like Russell Ackoff, Stafford Beer, Buckminster Fuller, and Eli-Ben Michael.

The framework includes a rigorous definition of sustainability and a core set of principles derived from a comprehensive theory of sustainable practices. It provides an essential roadmap and blueprint for managing significant changes and complexities.

The Lab employs a detailed, methodology-driven system design strategy that guides project development and supports thorough planning. Together, these elements offer a powerful toolkit for mapping interrelationships, identifying leverage points, and creating a vision for sustainability.

Guided by this approach, the Lab's growing portfolio of projects demonstrates cutting-edge strategies for addressing sustainability challenges at local, regional, and global levels.

The Lab's work involves four key interrelated areas of activity: Education, Technology Innovations, Development Projects, and Green Economics.

The educational programs involve the creation of training programs, including workshops, online courses, and consulting services. for business leaders, the development of government programs, special programs for students at all levels, and the dissemination of sustainability-related materials for the general public. Their educational resources and programs are designed to empower individuals and organizations to apply sustainability principles in their work. 

Find out more in this short film, which won the Environmental Hero Award at the 2022 MY HERO Film Festival: the-sustainability-laboratory