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We Are As Gods, the first Stripe-Press-produced film directed by David Alvarado and Jason Sussberg of Structure Films, is now available on Apple TV and Prime Video!
“We are as gods and might as well get good at it,” wrote Stewart Brand in 1968, as the opening sentence to the now-iconic Whole Earth Catalog.
For decades, Brand has had an uncanny ability to push ideas that seem at the edge of believability, accelerating progress in culture, technology, environmentalism, and more. There are only a handful of people who can lay claim to influencing the Grateful Dead, Jerry Brown, Brian Eno, and Steve Jobs.
We Are As Gods is the first feature film about Brand’s remarkable life. Marrying never-before-seen footage with contemporary interviews, the film chronicles his journey, from his early days with Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters through the birth of the personal computing revolution, to his latest quest to reorient environmentalism — by bringing back woolly mammoths.
Reviews
“A beguiling examination of the ongoing tensions between environmentalism and technology” — Flickering Myth
“The science and technology is interesting enough, the moral quandaries make the film that much more engaging” — AIPT Comics
“The film remains an inspiring look at a character who has spent his life trying to convince us that, given the right tools and a hefty dose of optimism, we might just make it out all right.” — Free Beacon
“We Are As Gods presents the tension of visionary vs. pragmatist in attempting to do just that in the curious life of Mr. Brand, and the effect he’s had on us all, whether we’ve heard of him before or not.” — Killer Movie Reviews
“In examining the concept of biological geo-engineering, it forces viewers who are environmentally minded to decide what they value more: ideology or the ecosystems one wishes to protect?” — Golden Globe Reviews
Related rabbit holes
Book: The Many Lives of Stewart Brand by John Markoff
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe
Vanishing Asia by Kevin Kelly
We hope that by producing this documentary, Stewart’s story will continue to influence generations of makers, builders, and doers to ask better questions and take action against the world’s toughest problems. Please enjoy 🍿
Everett Katigbak
Executive Producer, Stripe Press