Mark Mathis: The TT Interview
Last year Mark Mathis, a New Mexico filmmaker and retired newsman, debuted his movie SpOILed, which has been described as a "love song to Big Oil." The film, which covers aspects of the oil industry, was shown a week ago in Austin, just ahead of the South by Southwest film and music festival. Mathis sat down with The Texas Tribune last week to discuss the movie, including how he came to make it and why he gives short shrift to climate change. The following has been edited and condensed.
TT: You’ve been showing the film in Austin, and what ...
Comments (8)
Luisa Inez Newton via Texas Tribune on Facebook
what a load of crap he spouts. The world is not a "machine," and defending oil for the future is like defending the 17th century Catholic church in their attacks on Galileo!
Matthew Smelser via Texas Tribune on Facebook
What a joke.
Cindy Rugeley via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The biggest predictors of attitudes on climate change are partisan identification and ideology.
Nicholas Vilbas via Texas Tribune on Facebook
It is not uncertain. The fact that guys like this continue to say it is "uncertain" when the science is clear that it is not, really chaps my rear.
Chris Hagerty via Texas Tribune on Facebook
"The best part about science, is it is true whether you believe it or not" (stolen unknown quote)
EyesOfTX
The first and truest indicator of a person who doesn't understand science is when they say "the science is settled". Which unfortunately describes most of the responders to this article.
Wilkins Micawber
Shorter version: Newsman quits to become "media consultant"; lands gig working for a "small oil and natural gas trade group...to help them do a better job dealing with the media". Former newsman, now media consultant, begins to see the issue of energy production through the eyes of his clients. Starts an "energy education nonprofit organization". While working on an unspecified documentary film, has his "mind blown" from talking to the crew about energy, specifically oil. Determines that a need exists to make a film about his epiphany. Approaches prospective backers of film, whom he admits are frustrated, misportrayed oil and gas investors oppressed by environmental regulations, and receives their financial support for his movie. Movie makes the argument that currently there are no practical alternatives for the USA to oil and gas production, and we should encourage, rather than regulate, its exploration and development. And this is his truth. Oh, and climate change, like cigarette smoking to lung cancer, hasn't been proven to him, so it can be ignored.
I hope his film makes more sense than he does in this "interview".
However, I'm not encouraged by the trailer for the film. It plays like generic political propaganda.
allen gilmer
I sponsored the showing in Austin and I am a small oil guy. Is it a perfect movie? Of course not. However, his handling of the whole global warming issue was dead on. As long as China et al continue to add atmospheric carbon at the rates they are, it won't matter if the US and the EU are zero carbon output. Until that is settled, why argue?
Why is it suprising in this world today that when you look closely at American Industry, you realize it provides quite a bit of what we take for granted? Most of these industries emerged because they provided something that made a whole lot of sense to a whole lot of consumers. Could it be better? Sure. But, at its core, a gallon of gasoline moves several thousands of pounds of stuff over 20-30 miles and it is easy to transport. That is why it became so valuable, and why so much of modern society depends on it, like it or not.
That is his message... we aren't addicted to oil, we are addicted to a quality of life in which the middle class live in many ways better than the Medici and the working poor better than many of the rich of nearly any historical age. If it offends you, get that degree in engineering or physics and get cracking! We all await the opportunity to make you rich as well...