Last spring, Coastal Conservation League Director Dana Beach started writing a song to the tune of “Secret Agent Man” about a superhero of “climate change.” Now it’s a full-on production — a six-minute music video written and directed by local artist David Boatwright, filmed and edited by Justin Nathanson. The results are hilarious. Local yogi and actor Bill Stewart plays Mr. Big, who cuts his lines of coal with an Exxon Mobil credit card. And the enviro-crimes don’t stop there.
Mr. Big eats Global Glut burgers.
He raps about his gas-guzzling lifestyle.
He puts “$87 in the gas pump, car suckin’ juice like a dump truck.”
Andrea McGinn, a veteran of Charleston Stage, plays the damsel in distress, rescued by Global Warming Guy, who is valiently played by Beach, after she tosses him a note that just about says it all.
“Help me! I’m addicted to oil!”
Although it’s entertaining throughout, wrapping up with a dance party that includes Dick Cheney and the College of Charleston’s dance team, the film clearly carries a serious message.
Lines in the song subtly remind us to eat locally, ride our bikes instead of driving, and make our homes energy efficient.
“Anyone living in a coastal community needs to be concerned about the potential rise in sea levels that comes with global wamring,” says the League’s Brian Barrie, who helped design the film.
The short film debuted with a sneak preview on Tues. Nov. 27 at the American Theater. For those of you who missed it, you can watch it here.
