'Saving Our Tomorrow'

“You are the future generation. You are the ones who are going to have to deal with this mess that everybody else behind us has gotten us into!” says ten-year-old Grace.

            In a unique partnership, HBO and the American Museum of Natural History present SAVING MY TOMORROW PART THREE, the latest installment in a six-part series of family specials about the environment, debuting on Earth Day, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22 (7:30-8:00 p.m. ET/PT). 

            Other HBO playdates:  April 23 (6:30 a.m.), 25 (3:15 p.m.) and 27 (8:00 a.m.)

            HBO2 playdates: April 28 (9:15 a.m.) and 30 (7:30 p.m.), and May 1 (8:00 a.m.), 10 (8:15 a.m.), 14 (3:00 p.m.), and 18 (9:10 a.m.) 

            From the children who will inherit the planet comes a collection of songs, calls to activism and heartfelt tips for protecting the earth. Kids share their thoughts on a range of environmental issues, from endangered animals and pollution to climate change, and at the American Museum of Natural History, scientists explore how organisms are affected by a changing earth. A lyrical mix of science, animation and music, SAVING MY TOMORROW celebrates the wonders of the natural world and is a call from kids to kids to help take care of the planet. 

            The SAVING MY TOMORROW series includes readings, performances and appearances by Alan Cumming, Laura Dern, Tina Fey, Lennon & Maisy, Ziggy Marley, Audra McDonald, Stephin Merritt, Elizabeth Mitchell, Jason Mraz, Liam Neeson, Willie Nelson, Karen O, Susan Sarandon, Pharrell Williams, Jeffrey Wright, Pete Seeger, They Might Be Giants, Neil deGrasse Tyson and Dan Zanes. Scenes at the American Museum of Natural History feature scientists Christopher Filardi, PhD (the Museum’s Center for Biodiversity and Conservation), Christopher Raxworthy, PhD (Department of Herpetology), Michael Novacek, PhD (Provost of Science), Mande Holford, PhD (Division of Invertebrate Zoology), Melanie Stiassny, PhD (Department of Ichthyology), Mark Siddall, PhD (Division of Invertebrate Zoology) and Paul Sweet (Department of Ornithology). 

            “We are delighted to collaborate with HBO on this important program highlighting children’s passion for nature and their instinctive sense of responsibility to care for our environment,” says Ellen V. Futter, president of the American Museum of Natural History. “Our children will inherit the planet, so it is only fitting that their thoughts, concerns and inherent love of nature be part of the larger conservation discussion, particularly in light of the increasingly urgent challenges posed by climate change.” 

            The Earth Day special showcases the ways in which kids are doing their part to clean up the environment.  Focusing on issues like plastic pollution and deforestation, the special follows young advocates like ten-year-old Grace and fellow members of Plant-for-the-Planet in Seattle as they plant trees in an effort to decrease CO2 levels. Behind the scenes at the American Museum of Natural History’s Mammalogy collection, Dr. Christopher Filardi examines hippopotamus specimens and discusses the interrelated nature of ecosystems with kids, asking them to imagine how drastically different a world without hippos would be. 

            Meanwhile, children from a Maryland elementary school create a plastic bag chain around a lake, demonstrating the number of bags one individual throws away each year. Young musician Alanna urges kids to get involved with her anthem “Help the Earth,” while siblings Maren and Ben perform a cover of “This Pretty Planet,” and “ocean warrior” Maddie encourages kids “to trust that your actions, no matter how small, can make a difference.” A group of young people in Santa Fe sees just that after their persistent protests lead to an historic plastic-bag ban. 

            Interspersed are readings by Alan Cumming (on the destruction of the Amazon rainforest) and Laura Dern (on threats to the albatross), a conversation between musician Pharrell Williams and kids, and a previously unreleased performance, recorded by HBO, of the late Pete Seeger, singing with his great-niece and nephew. 

            “This show is for the children, because tomorrow belongs to them,” comments Sheila Nevins, president, HBO Documentary Films. “Their passion will make the difference in saving our planet.” 

            As 12-year-old Zoe says, “The adults clearly aren’t doing enough to stop this, so we have to take it into our own hands.” 

            SAVING MY TOMORROW is a co-presentation of HBO Documentary Films and the American Museum of Natural History; directed and produced by Amy Schatz; produced by Beth Aala; edited by Tom Patterson; supervising producer, Lisa Heller; executive producer, Sheila Nevins.