The Good Future: A film by Futurist Gerd Leonhard – Gerd Leonhard Futurist Humanist Author Keynote Speaker

THE GOOD FUTURE

A Film by Futurist Gerd Leonhard

The future is not something that just happens to us – it is something we create every single day, by action or by inaction. Whether the future is good or bad is entirely up to us. And most importantly: As we see the future, so we act, as we act so we become!

As a Futurist and Keynote Speaker I talk to many people from all over the world and from all walks of life, and in the past few years I have noticed an increased proliferation of a rather negative view of the future – and not just because of the recent pandemic.

People often cite urgent climate change and global warming, rising populism and autocratic regimes, the explosion of fake news, the threats of automation and fear of technological unemployment, out-of-control artificial intelligence and vexing inequality trends as proof that the future is going to be bad, and that we are right to be afraid of it. And of course, Netflix, Hollywood et al are usually pointing us in the same direction: dystopia and doom is certain!

I beg to differ.

The Good Future

The Good Future is entirely possible – it all depends on the choices we make

Yet despite all the doom and gloom we hear and see about the future, not only is the present already better than the past (even with the ongoing woes of the pandemic), the Future has strong potential to be even better! The ‘only' challenge is that while we will have all the tools we need (science and technology) within a decade, we must also develop the telos i.e. the will, the purpose and the wisdom.

The Good Future will come down to our ethics and values, to global collaboration and to a collective definition of what kind of future we want (rather than what future we can have), and to reaching a consensus on how we can best achieve it. And yes, I strongly believe that humans are capable of such collaboration, that we are kind rather than evil, in principle, and that we are capable of making the right choices. My film is meant as an introduction to what will become the dominant focus of my work, going forward: What would a Good Future look like, and what can we do right here and now to bring it about?

Note: the companion video to this film – The Good Future EXPLAINED – is now available as well!

In this film, first speak about why we are at such a crucial moment in human history right now, why our current economic story and logic won’t work in the future, and why we need to move from a focus on profit and growth to a focus on people, planet, purpose and prosperity. I then describe what a Good Future could actually look like, and depict 5 scenarios on food, energy, education, healthcare and work. Then, I talk about what leaders in business and politics can do to create a Good Future, suggesting 4 action items, followed by a segment on what you and I as individuals can do. The film wraps up with this key message: The good future is entirely possible and it's our choice. The only question is: Are you going to be part of it?

I am presenting this film as a mere opener on these often complex topics, fully aware that I am only grazing the surface of each issue – but rest assured that the details will follow: Continuing with the themes from my last book “Technology vs Humanity”, I am rolling out a new series of speaking topics on the “Good Future” (such as new talks on decarbonization and sustainability, capitalism, technology regulation and social media), I am working on a new ‘Handbook for the Good Future’, and I am looking at producing a Good Future feature film or TV series, in addition to launching a new web-tv show on the Good Future. Ping me if you're interested in a collaboration!

CREDITS and THANKS

Recorded May 2021 in Lanzarote / Spain, released on July 20, 2021
Gerd Leonhard, Executive Producer / Writer
Rob Holub, Producer / Director
David Giménez, Director of Photography
Sylvain Collet, Editor / Motion Designer
Araia Asensio, Line Producer
Carmen ‘Isla' Monzon, Runner
Francisco Garcia Mateos, Sound Engineer

A very special GRACIAS to:

Cabildo de Lanzarote, Turismo Lanzarote, Centros Turísticos, Mirador del Río, Jameos del Agua, Jardín de Cactus, Castillo de San José, Bodega La Geria, Yvonne Beck / Villa Najosa

MUSIC (licensed via MusicBed)

Nations by Ryan Taubert (00’00 – 00’53). Futures by Roary (00’54 – 01’31)
Beggars instrumental by Boundary Run (01’29 – 02’08) (11’29 – 12’03) (12’22 – 12’53)
Survive by Watermark High (02’08 – 04’15). Roots by Bytheway-May (04’12 – 06’46)
Overlook by Roary (06’43 – 09’16). Heights by Ryan Taubert (09’08 – 11’33)
What does it sound like by Without Words (12’03 – 12’24)