Private Project

Big Fears, Little Risks

Thirty years ago, Walter Cronkite and world-renowned scientists working with the American Council on Science and Health took on the overblown fears of their day. Today, with a pandemic that’s taken nearly 3 million lives, it’s never been more important to communicate science. Matty Cardarople (Stranger Things) hosts some of the world's leading scientists for a discussion on Vaccines, GMOs, and Nuclear Power. Those vilified technologies may be our best hope at ending a global health crisis, feeding the world, and reversing climate change.

  • Azel James
    Director
  • Azel James
    Writer
  • Azel James
    Producer
    Confessions of a Prodigal Son, Disney Get Connected, Outer Dark
  • Thom Golab
    Producer
  • Matty Cardarople
    Key Cast
    Stranger Things, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Jurassic World
  • Walter Cronkite
    Key Cast
    "(archive footage)"
  • Paul Offit
    Key Cast
  • Bruce Ames
    Key Cast
  • Benjamin Janaway
    Key Cast
  • Alex Berezow
    Key Cast
  • Nan Hayworth
    Key Cast
  • Nina Fedoroff
    Key Cast
  • Bill Gates
    Key Cast
    "(archive footage)"
  • Andrew Wakefield
    Key Cast
    "(archive footage)"
  • Gavin Newsom
    Key Cast
    "(archive footage)"
  • Helen Caldicott
    Key Cast
    "(archive footage)"
  • Jose Reyes
    Key Cast
  • Michael Eisen
    Key Cast
  • Michael Shermer
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Television, Web / New Media
  • Genres:
    Science, Comedy, Documentary, Technology, Climate Change
  • Runtime:
    36 minutes 8 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 10, 2021
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom, United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    4k
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Distribution Information
  • Highlyte
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Azel James

Azel James first produced and starred in the film Outer Dark based on the 1968 novel by pulitzer prize winning author Cormac McCarthy. Azel went on to launch the television series Disney Get Connected. He then directed awarding winning campaigns for Coca-Cola, Anheuser Busch, and many others as well as launched a digital media startup focused on bringing leading entertainment programming like the Golden Globes and the American Music Awards live to China for the first time ever. After his startup was acquired by a public company in 2016, Azel launched Highlyte. Azel graduated from Clemson University with a degree in Industrial Engineering and is represented by Chris Lee at Authentic Talent and Literary Management.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Big Fears, Little Risks is a film that has assembled some of the world's most prominent scientists in the fields of nuclear power, genetic engineering, and vaccines. For this film we desired to carry on Walter Cronkite's work of advocating for science communication. His tireless efforts with the American Council on Science and Health have left a lasting legacy for the scientific community.