MOCA Climate Conversations: Canary Film Screening and Q&A with the filmmakers

Witness the extraordinary life of Dr. Lonnie Thompson, an explorer who went where no scientist had gone before and transformed our idea of what is possible. Daring to seek Earth’s history contained in glaciers atop the tallest mountains in the world, Lonnie found himself on the frontlines of climate change—his life’s work evolving into a salvage mission to recover these priceless historical records before they disappear forever.

This special screening of Canary is a part of the ongoing series MOCA Climate Conversations.

Danny O’Malley is a Grammy nominated and James Beard nominated film director. Best known for his work on Netflix’s Chef’s Table, where he serves as co-executive producer and a director. Danny has worked filming with bands across the US including Tegan and Sara, The Rentals, The Decemberists, Kraftwerk, and more. His documentary, ‘States’, from Tegan and Sara’s release ‘Get Along’ was nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Long Form Music Video. Danny made his mark in documentary television to work as a story producer where his work has aired on Netflix, Fox Sports One, and NBC. On Chef’s Table, Danny is a key driving force behind the character-driven storytelling that is the show‘s signature. Danny and his directing partner Alex Rivest PhD, won the Alfred P Sloan development grant in 2017, which led to the creation of his first feature Canary.

Adam Paul Smith has spent over a decade participating in the assembling of films, TV, documentaries, and live events. Having worked within the departments of Motion Picture Literary, and Independent and International Film at ICM (International Creative Management) (acquired by CAA), and then as an executive and creative producer at an independent development and production company, (Act 4 Entertainment), he understands what it takes to work with investors while creating the space for creativity to thrive. The work has garnered awards, critical acclaim, and press from outlets such as The New York Times and The Guardian. His years of industry experience balance out the team with the vision of how to navigate producing projects from conception to distribution. Growing up in Apartheid South Africa and now living as an immigrant in the United States, Adam cares about using the power of story for good, intentionally building projects and teams around common cores. He is a big-picture outside-the-box thinker, who is not afraid to challenge the status quo, or roll up his sleeves and get dirt on his face.

Alex Rivest is a Massachusetts Institute of Technology-trained PhD Neuroscientist. Having worked alongside Nobel Prize winner Dr. Susumu Tonegawa, his research has been published in two of the most highly renowned scientific journals, Science and Nature Neuroscience. Alex grew up in an environment where curiosity and question-asking were highly valued, and he has dedicated his life to helping teach others about the wonders of the world. As an educator, he received the Angus MacDonald Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching at MIT, and founded the non-profit Blue Kitabu, which built a sustainable primary school in central Ghana. As a science filmmaker, Alex’s videos have accumulated over 70 million views online, and have been featured everywhere, from billboards in Times Square to installations in science museums and even in an opera production of “Das Rheingold.” Alex produced and co-directed, Canary, the documentary film about Lonnie Thompson which recently premiered on over 160 screens across the USA and has received positive reviews, including being featured in the NYTimes “What to Watch” section.

Part of MOCA’s environmental programming, MOCA Climate Conversations are organized by Kelsey Shell, Environmental and Sustainability Strategist, with Alitzah Oros, Public Programming Associate, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles.

Highlighting the museum’s work around climate, conservation, and environmental justice, MOCA’s environmental programs are guided by the work of the MOCA Environmental Council, the first sustainability council at a major arts museum in the United States. The environmental programs present artists, activists, and scholars committed to critical ecological issues in Los Angeles and globally.

The 2023 MOCA Climate Conversations are made possible by Nora McNeely Hurley and Manitou Fund.