Private Project

We're All Plastic People Now

It’s in the air. It’s in the water. In an era of throw-away ease, convenience has cost us our well-being. Plastics have been found inside our bodies— in our colons, our brains, and even in mothers’ developing wombs. Scientists around the country are sounding the alarm, but without public buy-in, there is little that can be done. How much evidence do we need before we decide to take action?

  • Rory Fielding
    Director
    Troubled Waters: A Turtle's Tale, 1955: Seven Days of Fall
  • Rory Fielding
    Writer
    Troubled Waters: A Turtle's Tale, 1955: Seven Days of Fall
  • Cortney Fielding
    Writer
    Troubled Waters: A Turtle's Tale, 1955: Seven Days of Fall
  • Rory Fielding
    Producer
    Troubled Waters: A Turtle's Tale, 1955: Seven Days of Fall
  • Cortney Fielding
    Producer
  • Dave Corona
    Producer
  • Scott Rogo
    Producer
    Troubled Waters: A Turtle's Tale, 1955: Seven Days of Fall
  • Ryan Pomeranz
    Producer
  • Theo Weierstall
    Producer
  • Ted Danson
    Key Cast
    "Himself"
    Troubled Waters: A Turtle's Tale
  • Scott Rogo
    Editor
    Troubled Waters: A Turtle's Tale
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature
  • Genres:
    Science, Public Health, Environmental
  • Runtime:
    57 minutes 16 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 21, 2023
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Rory Fielding

Rory Fielding, Executive Producer of Rory Fielding Films, is an award-winning broadcast professional and investigative reporter with over 30 years of experience in television production and distribution. Fielding directed '1955, Seven Days of Fall' and 'Troubled Waters: A Turtle's Tale' for ESPN and PBS. 'Troubled Waters' was nominated for five Emmys, winning two for Outstanding Photography and Best Director in 2020.

Fielding began his broadcast career as an NBC affiliate news reporter and was twice honored by the Associated Press for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism. Rory is a graduate of New York University where he served as an Associate Professor of Film & Television. He has created numerous short films including profiles on musical icons, George Harrison, Bob Dylan and Rolling Stones as well as emerging artists.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The inspiration for We’re All Plastic People Now came during production of our prior PBS documentary, “Troubled Waters: A Turtle’s Tale.” That film led us to a simple but horrifying fact that every baby turtle found dead on our beaches died from plastic ingestion. With that reality in mind, we knew that our next film must go even further investigating plastic and its troubling implications not just on animals, but on human health as well. This film breaks new ground, testing my own blood as well as that of my 93-year-old mother, my daughter (a co-producer on this film) and my elementary- aged granddaughter for chemicals derived from plastic and its many known carcinogens. The results to say the least, were alarming.

Like most filmmakers who began a project at the start of Covid, our team faced multiple challenges to bring it to fruition… most notably delaying filming months or longer while trying to safely gain access to places like hospitals, research centers and interviews with cancer patients, while maintaining momentum and adequate funding. As a director, it was particularly challenging to develop empathy, emotion, and entertainment value in a film so imbedded in scientific details. Science seeks absolute answers, while film making is an art of endless possibilities. Some days the job seemed nearly impossible and the outcome uncertain.

But now I am truly thrilled and honored to have made it to the finish line with a work we are immensely proud of; both frightening and hopeful. I believe We’re All Plastic People Now will have a profound impact on audiences and the choices we all make. That’s why I made it. Not for myself, but for the younger generations who may be most impacted by plastic pollution, but also those who will seek the answers and find the solutions.