The Luckiest Nut in the World

Fulcrum TV

Emily James

More About The Luckiest Nut in the World from Director Emily James

I had been reading a lot about global economics and simply became obsessed with the idea that one could make a film which would give people enough economics and history with which they could engage, while still being thoroughly entertaining. I must have pitched a dozen different ideas on the subject before I came up with the concept for The Luckiest Nut. The film follows an animated American peanut, who sings about the difficulties of nuts from developing countries. The film helps people to see how the pressure to embrace “free market” economics, with its promise of a wealthy, abundant market place has actually driven many countries further into poverty. My favorite parts in the film are the musical sequences which explain the roles of the International Monetary Fund(IMF), theWorld Bank, and the World Trade Organization(WTO).

The response to the film has been amazing. After screening to over 1 million people on Channel 4, the film has been in numerous festivals, including, to my great pleasure, the One World Human Rights Film Festival in Prague. However, the most singular success in my mind was when Christian Aid in the UK used the film and its characters in the “Trade Rules are Nuts, Let’s Crack’m!” campaign. The fact that the film has been picked up in this way and is still being shown to help people see the follies of free market economics is a source of endless gratification to me.

FILMMAKER BIOS

Emily James, Director

Originally from the United States, Emily James came to England to study history and philosophy of science at Cambridge. She eventually moved on to the National Film and Television School, where she completed the Documentary Direction Course in December 2000. In her films, Emily combines her interests in history, politics and film language with a wry sense of humor and just a little more than a pinch of irony. A Brief History of Cuba, in d minor was her graduation project. Her second year film, Wag the Dogma has already won a number of prizes and has been broadcast on Channel 4 and Film Four. Emily completed her first commissioned film, The Luckiest Nut in the World for Channel 4’s Alt TV strand. In 2004, she made the four part series Don’t Worry for Channel Four Television in the UK. The series is a satirical investigative current affairs series presented by a gang of credulous puppets. She is currently executive producer of a number of short films, whose subject matter ranges from Einstein’s Theory of Relativity to the plight of migrant workers. www.emily-james.com

Fulcrum TV, Producer

Fulcrum has been in business for almost twenty years. As television tastes have changed, Fulcrum continues to find ways to make programs that are engaging, entertaining and illuminating. And they have found ways of bringing new ideas and new talent to the screen and new ways of financing programs. Fulcrum makes a wide range of factual television: content heavy, format light programs; journalistic programs; major “event”-based programs and innovative programs, made by new and emerging talent. Their subject matters ranges across history, politics, archaeology and personal experience.