Filmmaker: Matthew Testa
Runtime: 80 min
Synopsis: We humans are a force of nature. At the same time human activities alter the basic elements of life – earth, air, water, and fire – those elements change human life in turn. In this riveting and visually rich drama blending art and science, we follow renowned environmental photographer James Balog as he explores wildfires, hurricanes, sea level rise, a struggling coal mining community, and our changing air supply. With rare compassion and heart, THE HUMAN ELEMENT highlights Americans on the front lines of climate change, inspiring us to re-evaluate our relationship with the natural world.
About the Filmmaker
Matthew Testa has been working in documentary film and television for nearly two decades as a producer, director, showrunner and writer. His work often focuses on the environment, social justice issues and the interplay between people and the natural world. THE HUMAN ELEMENT is his fourth feature documentary. Previous films include VLOGUMENTARY (YouTube Premium), FREEDOM! THE MOVIE (CMT Docs) and THE BUFFALO WAR (ITVS, winner of 9 festival awards). Some of his documentary television credits include MURDER MOUNTAIN (Netflix), WHALE WARS (Animal Planet), SNAKE SALVATION (National Geographic), GOLD RUSH: ALASKA (Discovery), THIRTY DAYS (FX) and STORM CHASERS (Discovery).
Testa received an MFA in Film Directing from the American Film Institute (AFI) Conservatory in 2004. He lives in Los Angeles.