--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Honestly, when I had the idea to make 'An…" description: "\"Honestly, when I had the idea to make 'An Inconvenient Truth,' and I was going out and raising the money, and I said, 'I want to make a movie about Al ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c8/lawrence-bender-27378_als_honestly-when-i-had-the-idea-to-make-an_3049519.png" --- # Honestly, when I had the idea to make 'An Inconvenient… ![“Honestly, when I had the idea to make 'An Inconvenient Truth,' and I was going out and raising the money, and I said, 'I want to make a movie about Al Gore's slide show, will you give me a million dollars?' People thought I was insane, looked at me cross-eyed.” quote by Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c8/lawrence-bender-27378_als_honestly-when-i-had-the-idea-to-make-an_3049519.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c8/lawrence-bender-27378_als_honestly-when-i-had-the-idea-to-make-an_3049519.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c8/lawrence-bender-27378_als_honestly-when-i-had-the-idea-to-make-an_3049519.png) > “Honestly, when I had the idea to make 'An Inconvenient Truth,' and I was going out and raising the money, and I said, 'I want to make a movie about Al Gore's slide show, will you give me a million dollars?' People thought I was insane, looked at me cross-eyed.” [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A producer sought funding for a climate documentary, facing skepticism and ridicule for its bold premise. **In simple terms:** A risky film idea was met with doubt. Key Takeaway Persist despite doubt, seek supporters who share vision. Themes environment film risk advocacy Mood determined hopeful Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - pitch meetings - grant applications - public speaking Key Concepts climate change documentary production fundraising Questions to Reflect On - How do you convince skeptics of a controversial topic? - What strategies help secure financing for bold ideas? A Different Perspective Funding may be limited; audience resistance can stall projects. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dollars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dollars/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gore/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Inconvenient truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inconvenient-truth/) [Million dollars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/million-dollars/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [Sure, 'An Inconvenient Truth' was my first documentary. What a wonderful experience. I saw Al Gore doing his slideshow presentation, and had this nutty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/sure-an-inconvenient-truth-was-my-first-documentary-what-a-wonderful/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [Al Gore is coming out with a movie about global warming called ' An Inconvenient Truth. ' It's described as a detailed scientific view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/al-gore-is-coming-out-with-a-movie-about-global-warming-called-an/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Al Gore has a hit movie called 'An Inconvenient Truth.' I have an inconvenient truth for him: you're still not the president. ... This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/al-gore-has-a-hit-movie-called-an-inconvenient-truth-i-have-an/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [I don't think anybody can prepare on a physical level. It isn't possible to prepare for what is about to happen. The Pentagon gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drunvalo-melchizedek/i-don-t-think-anybody-can-prepare-on-a-physical-level-it-isn-t/) [Drunvalo Melchizedek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drunvalo-melchizedek/) > [I have seen the Gore documentary 'An Inconvenient Truth,' just released in the States, and admired the acutely revolutionary delivery of the slideshow assisted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saffron-burrows/i-have-seen-the-gore-documentary-an-inconvenient-truth-just-released/) [Saffron Burrows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saffron-burrows/) > [Future generations may well have occasion to ask themselves, "What were our parents thinking? Why didn't they wake up when they had a chance?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/future-generations-may-well-have-occasion-to-ask-themselves-what-were/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [You see that pale, blue dot? That's us. Everything that has ever happened in all of human history, has happened on that pixel. All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/you-see-that-pale-blue-dot-that-s-us-everything-that-has-ever/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [After 'An Inconvenient Truth' came out, a lot of people came to me with their causes, and there are a lot - water, poverty,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/after-an-inconvenient-truth-came-out-a-lot-of-people-came-to-me-with/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [The scientists are virtually screaming from the rooftops now. The debate is over! There's no longer any debate in the scientific community about this.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/the-scientists-are-virtually-screaming-from-the-rooftops-now-the/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Scientists are slowly waking up to an inconvenient truth - the universe looks suspiciously like a fix. The issue concerns the very laws of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-davies/scientists-are-slowly-waking-up-to-an-inconvenient-truth-the-universe/) [Paul Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-davies/) > [They are very different in terms of the solution. Where 'An Inconvenient Truth,' you really need countries to cooperate and sacrifice and figure out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-david/they-are-very-different-in-terms-of-the-solution-where-an/) [Laurie David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-david/) > [I've actually rented Bjork's swan dress. I know that's kind of recycling, but I saw An Inconvenient Truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainn-wilson/i-ve-actually-rented-bjork-s-swan-dress-i-know-that-s-kind-of/) [Rainn Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainn-wilson/) > [President Barack Obama has stood watch over the greatest job loss in modern American history. And that, my friends, is one inconvenient truth that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/president-barack-obama-has-stood-watch-over-the-greatest-job-loss-in/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [Underneath it, in 'An Inconvenient Truth', we talked a lot about the unspoken decisions that people make in their heads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davis-guggenheim/underneath-it-in-an-inconvenient-truth-we-talked-a-lot-about-the/) [Davis Guggenheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davis-guggenheim/) > [We are living in a time in which movies such as 'Super Size Me' and 'An Inconvenient Truth' have made box-office history, and books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noreena-hertz/we-are-living-in-a-time-in-which-movies-such-as-super-size-me-and-an/) [Noreena Hertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noreena-hertz/) ## More by Lawrence Bender > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [What I would say to filmmakers, if I may be so bold or so arrogant, is to draw inspiration from other filmmakers, but go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/what-i-would-say-to-filmmakers-if-i-may-be-so-bold-or-so-arrogant-is/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [To be sure, governments will remain critical to any comprehensive effort to save our planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/to-be-sure-governments-will-remain-critical-to-any-comprehensive/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [I am not married yet, but I think ultimately in a good marriage it is the relationship which is the most important thing. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/i-am-not-married-yet-but-i-think-ultimately-in-a-good-marriage-it-is/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [Being scared is really a good thing. It's being scared of being scared that's bad. Being scared of walking through your fear, going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/being-scared-is-really-a-good-thing-it-s-being-scared-of-being-scared/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [Being with Al Gore on the red carpet in Cannes was exciting - he's like a rock star unto himself!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/being-with-al-gore-on-the-red-carpet-in-cannes-was-exciting-he-s-like/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [In 1998, I was screening 'Good Will Hunting' at Camp David. And I was saying, 'Nice to meet you, Mr. President. Nice to meet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/in-1998-i-was-screening-good-will-hunting-at-camp-david-and-i-was/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [It became my first passion, the first thing I really fell in love with. I joined the Ralph Robinson Ballet company, and then went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/it-became-my-first-passion-the-first-thing-i-really-fell-in-love-with/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [I was with - he wasn't the president then, but - Barack Obama, when he was running, in Washington, during Black Congressional Caucus Weekend,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/i-was-with-he-wasn-t-the-president-then-but-barack-obama-when-he-was/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [I had one of those light bulb 'a ha' moments while screening 'Good Will Hunting' in Camp David in 1998 - Madeleine Albright and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/i-had-one-of-those-light-bulb-a-ha-moments-while-screening-good-will/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [Making movies is my profession. I like doing it a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/making-movies-is-my-profession-i-like-doing-it-a-lot/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [You know, people have actually changed the way they think about nuclear weapons now, post-Cold War, post-9/11. The threat of nuclear weapons is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/you-know-people-have-actually-changed-the-way-they-think-about/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [After 'An Inconvenient Truth' came out, a lot of people came to me with their causes, and there are a lot - water, poverty,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/after-an-inconvenient-truth-came-out-a-lot-of-people-came-to-me-with/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [I think politics is really important to our lives. At its best and highest form, it can make the biggest difference in the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/i-think-politics-is-really-important-to-our-lives-at-its-best-and/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [Sure, 'An Inconvenient Truth' was my first documentary. What a wonderful experience. I saw Al Gore doing his slideshow presentation, and had this nutty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/sure-an-inconvenient-truth-was-my-first-documentary-what-a-wonderful/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) [Explore all 20 Lawrence Bender quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) ## More Als quotes > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [You can't ignore reality. You won't wake up one morning and find that the Arabs of Umm al-Faham have become part of Palestine and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ami-ayalon/you-can-t-ignore-reality-you-won-t-wake-up-one-morning-and-find-that/) [Ami Ayalon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ami-ayalon/) > [Without a vision there is no possibility of creating something larger than what al-ready exists. An entrepreneur has to be able to bring something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/without-a-vision-there-is-no-possibility-of-creating-something-larger/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > ['Constitutional' is just a real pip of a word. Positively rolls off the tongue. In fact, it's downright fun to say. 'Con-stit-too-shun-al.' It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/constitutional-is-just-a-real-pip-of-a-word-positively-rolls-off-the/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [Everybody who I ever cared about has told me that they like my music: Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Al Green, The Spinners, Smokey Robinson.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-hall/everybody-who-i-ever-cared-about-has-told-me-that-they-like-my-music/) [Daryl Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-hall/) > [Paraphrased: The way of al-Junayd includes among other things abstaining constantly from resisting God Most High in whatever happens to one, whether good or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-ata-allah/paraphrased-the-way-of-al-junayd-includes-among-other-things/) [Ibn Ata Allah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-ata-allah/) > [For Al Gore and Paul Ehrlich and Co., whatever the problem, the solution is always the same. Whether it's global cooling, global warming, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/for-al-gore-and-paul-ehrlich-and-co-whatever-the-problem-the-solution/) [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) > [Barack Obama became president, and he abandoned Iraq. He left, and when he left Al Qaida was done for. ISIS was created because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/barack-obama-became-president-and-he-abandoned-iraq-he-left-and-when/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [USC is the National Champion like Al Gore is the President of the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-emmert/usc-is-the-national-champion-like-al-gore-is-the-president-of-the/) [Mark Emmert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-emmert/) > [Critics have stepped up their attacks on the President for authorizing the National Security Agency to listen to international communications of known al Qaeda…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/critics-have-stepped-up-their-attacks-on-the-president-for/) [Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/) > [ The heart becomes sick, as the body becomes sick, and its remedy is al-Tawbah (repentance) and protection \[from transgression\]. It becomes rusty as a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-qayyim-al-jawziyya/the-heart-becomes-sick-as-the-body-becomes-sick-and-its-remedy-is-al/) [Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-qayyim-al-jawziyya/) > [Bin Laden was, though, a product of a monumental miscalculation by western security agencies. Throughout the 80s he was armed by the CIA and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-cook/bin-laden-was-though-a-product-of-a-monumental-miscalculation-by/) [Robin Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-cook/) > [ This war \[in Syria\] is going to support Al-Qaeda and the same people that killed Americans in the 11th of September. The second thing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/this-war-in-syria-is-going-to-support-al-qaeda-and-the-same-people/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [Courageous? Courageous would have been admitting weakness and leaving Dauntless, no matter what shame accompanied it. Pride is what killed Al, and it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/courageous-courageous-would-have-been-admitting-weakness-and-leaving/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [And I, the former mystic, was thinking: Yes, man is stronger, greater than God. When Adam and Eve deceived You, You chased them from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/and-i-the-former-mystic-was-thinking-yes-man-is-stronger-greater-than/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) Browse all 894 Als quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Honestly, when I had the idea to make 'An Inconvenient Truth,' and I was going out and raising the money, and I said, 'I want to make a movie about Al Gore's slide show, will you give me a million dollars?' 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