“What You Won’t Do For Love” starring David Suzuki & Tara Cullis is an intimate film that shares their love for the planet and each other
A love letter, a conversation, and an exploration of the deep love between David Suzuki and his life partner of 50 years, Tara Cullis, and how their commitment and loving relationship reflects and empowers their decades-long environmental activism, and their love for the planet.
A FILM BY WHY NOT THEATRE
CO-PRESENTED BY TO LIVE AND SOULPEPPER
PRODUCED WITH SUPPORT FROM TO LIVE AND SOULPEPPER
PREMIERING ONLINE, DECEMBER 3 – 19, 2021
Toronto, Ontario– What You Won’t Do For Love is an intimate glimpse inside the life, love, and motivations of Canada’s most beloved environmentalist, David Suzuki, in his first feature film. Set to stream digitally from December 3-19, 2021, the film explores a lifetime of activism and 50 years of the loving partnership between award-winning and renowned environmentalists David Suzuki and Tara Cullis, who has tirelessly and continually partnered with David on his activism and has steered the David Suzuki Foundation’s collective vision of a brighter tomorrow.
Taking place over an idyllic day, actors and real-life couple Miriam Fernandes and Sturla Alvsvaag navigate a poetic and playful dialogue with Tara and David, touching upon the couple’s inspiring adventures, including insights and reflections from the couple’s children, friends, and people closest to their relationship, and their work. David speaks proudly about Tara’s drive and leadership and describes their mutual love for the planet and each other. “Our love radiates out from the physical to metaphysical, we share in our ideas and our greatest love is our children who are the product of our love and that means we love the planet that sustains us”, says David Suzuki, Performer and Co-Writer.
The film will be released online at doforlove.film and through limited distribution online for schools across Canada. This never before “behind the scenes” exploration into David and Tara’s relationship introduces viewers to their deep and unique bond, which reflects, complements and parallels their loving, life-long commitment towards a healthier, sustainable planet. “It has been so inspiring to pull back the curtain and spotlight the dynamo activist and organizer Tara Cullis, whose tireless work and unwavering vision have contributed greatly to the climate movement and the David Suzuki we know and love. We also see David in a surprisingly casual new light — rather than a broadcaster he is a friend, a lover, a grandfather, and an elder”, says Kevin Matthew Wong, Co-Director + Producer.
The original concept for this “love story” was a stage production by Why Not Theatre, conceived by Ravi Jain. The evolution of this project from theatre to film is supported by co-presenters and producing partners, Soulpepper Theatre and TO Live, and Vancouver-based film production company Pool Service Productions. What You Won’t Do For Love is the first film project for Why Not Theatre, an award-winning theatre company. “David is 85 years old, so we wanted to find a way to share the power of the original stage play with more people quickly. Each day that passes, the more urgent climate change becomes. We felt the pressure to do something NOW”, says Co-Director and Co-Writer Ravi Jain, who is also the Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Why Not Theatre.
What You Won’t Do For Love poses the question: What if we loved the planet as deeply as David and Tara love each other? Might such consideration be a lens through which further understanding and positive activism might begin, not only to understand the dire consequences of our inaction but to propel us all forward towards a loving recognition of our planet as the source of humanity and the focus of our love? “You can’t just tell people the problems, you’ve got to give them solutions. People need answers, action, hope!”, said Tara Cullis, Performer and Co-Writer in the film.
Teachers and schools will be able to book in-class film streaming to continue to inspire and educate our next generation of environmentalists. A comprehensive study guide and materials for schools will be made available online to enhance and explore the key questions and issues raised through this film.
50% of the show’s net box office proceeds will be donated to the David Suzuki Foundation. What You Won’t Do For Love is bullfrog powered with 100% green electricity. Bullfrog Power‘s generators put 100% green power into the grid to match the amount of electricity used during the film production, and while it’s being streamed, displacing energy from polluting sources.
Why Not Theatre. We push boundaries, build community, and find new ways. Rethink how stories are told. And who gets to tell them. We MAKE great work that takes chances, and tours all over the world. We SHARE everything we have because more artists mean more stories. We PROVOKE change because we believe art should be for everyone. At Why Not we make things, better.
Soulpepper Theatre is Canada’s leading artist-driven theatre company. Soulpepper believes that vital stories can connect us all and that they can motivate us toward social change. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Soulpepper has adapted to digital platforms, offering more than 50 hours of free shareable content, including play readings, workshops, interviews, and concerts.
TO Live is one of Canada’s largest multi-arts organizations, operating three iconic venues: Meridian Hall, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, and Meridian Arts Centre. In addition, TO Live presents a full range of performing arts, theatrical, and concert events at these venues in both downtown and uptown Toronto.
Pool Service Productions (aka The Pool Boys) is a Director and Cinematographer group based on the West coast. With over 25 years of combined experience in the industry, their passion for filmmaking has always been the driving force behind the work they produce. Pool Service uses this platform to collaborate and facilitate projects for artists and brands alike. They are, however, not qualified to clean your pool.
The David Suzuki Foundation is a leading Canadian environmental non-profit organization, founded in 1990. Our mission is to protect nature’s diversity and the well-being of all life, now and for the future. We envision a day where we all act on the understanding that we are one with nature.
Written by: Tara Cullis, Miriam Fernandes, Ravi Jain, and David Suzuki
Performed by: Tara Cullis, Miriam Fernandes, Sturla Alvsvaag, and David Suzuki
Directed by: Ravi Jain and Kevin Matthew Wong
Music by: Meg Roe
Film Production and Editing: Pool Service Productions
Original Production Concept Conceived by: Ravi Jain
Dramaturgy by: Kevin Matthew Wong / Broadleaf Theatre
Produced by: Kevin Matthew Wong
What You Won’t Do For Love has been made possible by support from Canada Council for the Arts’ Digital Now initiative, the Wuchien Michael Than Foundation, and Bullfrog Power. #DoForLoveFilm
For media inquiries, please contact:
Steph Brown
Publicist
[email protected]
+1-613-583-7845
