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The Beloved Science Guy Returns to the Screen as the Subject of ‘The Bill Nye Film’

The Beloved Science Guy Returns to the Screen as the Subject of 'The Bill Nye Film'

Jul 13, 2015 4:14 pm

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The Bill Nye Film

Logline: Bill Nye is on a journey to change the world! Once the host of a popular kid’s show, today he is the CEO of The Planetary Society where he’s leading a mission to launch a solar-powered satellite into the cosmos and advocating for the importance of science

Elevator Pitch: We’ll use emotionally compelling, character-driven storytelling techniques to investigate who Bill Nye is and why he is so determined to “change the world!” This film will be an 80-90 minute journey that follows Bill as he tours across America educating people on climate change, evolution, space and extraterrestrial life. Lyrically shot on beautiful 4K cinema, we’ll use a blend of direct-to-camera interviews, observational cinema-verite, rich archival, and elegant animation. Dramatic obstacles will fuel Bill’s story, but our focus will remain on his experiences as a science educator. We’ll draw audiences into the emotional space of Bill’s life and subjectivity.

Production Team: 

Director/Cinematographer: David Alvarado is an award- winning documentary filmmaker with a passion for science, philosophy, and human rights. After earning his B.A. in Film Production from the University of North Texas, he worked at PBS producing and shooting documentaries. He later earned his M.F.A. degree from Stanford University’s Documentary Film and Video Production program, after which he moved to New York where he founded Structure Films.

Director/Sound: Jason Sussberg is a documentary filmmaker focusing on the art and humanity in STEM. He co-director/ produced of “The Immortalists,” which premiered at SXSW and screened at dozens of festivals across the world. Past life: motion graphic designer; sports TV producer with the San Francisco Giants and Golden State Warriors; and community college film instructor. Present life: filmmaker at Structure Films and co- director/producer of the Bill Nye documentary.

Producer: Seth Gordon is an Academy Award-winning Director and Producer. Seth is recognized for his fiction and nonfiction films. His documentaries include the 2011 Academy Award Winning Best Documentary “Undefeated,” “Freakonomics,” “The King of Kong” and most recently, “Print the Legend.” His fiction work as director includes “Horrible Bosses,” “Identity Thief,” “Four Christmases,” “The Goldbergs” and many more. As the EP, he’ll find a broadcast partner and financing for the picture.

About the Film: David and Jason grew up in separate parts of the country watching Bill Nye the Science Guy as children in the 1990s. Bill instilled in them the awesome power behind scientific knowledge and critical thinking. They later met while receiving their MFAs at Stanford University’s Documentary Program. Due to their mutual love of all things science, they came together to form Structure Films, a documentary production team geared toward science, health and technology. David and Jason are part of the generation that Bill helped raise on science, and they have dedicated themselves to increasing scientific literacy in children and adults.

Current Status: Currently fundraising on Kickstarter.

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