Greenfield is an intimate look into the mind and mission of Robin Greenfield — one of the world’s most radical environmentalists. Known for his bold eco-experiments, including wearing a month’s worth of trash through Times Square, living a full year on only homegrown and foraged food, and giving up every possession, Robin challenges what it means to live in harmony with the Earth. As he walks barefoot from Canada to Mexico with nothing to his name, his radical simplicity invites us to question what we truly need to be free, fulfilled, and human.
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1. What motivated you to make this film?
I’ve always been drawn to the overlap between human health and environmental health, and this story sits right at that crossroads. The more I uncovered the real-world consequences of our everyday choices – and the hidden systems driving them – the more I felt a responsibility to bring Robin’s story to light, as he is one of the most committed activists in modern history. His life is a demonstration of what is possible in terms of living connected with the Earth, in a way that harmonizes with a regenerative future.
2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
Like most documentaries, it wasn’t linear. The seed of the idea started about 2 years ago, as a completely different plot, with our main character focusing on another experiment from the journey covered in our film. These stories tend to grow and evolve, leading you as the filmmaker to trust and follow with intuition, and ours certainly did.
3. How would you describe your film in two words!?
Radical alignment.
4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
When you’re telling a story of something as extreme as Robin’s life, and how our everyday choices directly affects people’s health and the ecosystems we rely on, you carry a lot of weight to make sure it is not preachy, or guilt tripping the audience. Balancing the urgency of the message, with the personal storytelling is a bit of a delicate balance.
5. Favorite stage of the filmmaking process?
I’m torn between filming interviews and watching the editing magic unfold. Production is where you connect with your subjects looking them right in the eye and exploring our collective shared humanity that you can bring into the film… but post-production is where the soul of the film itself finally is revealed, and when those moments click in the edit, you know you have done something special. If I had to choose, I’d say refining the edit with my creative partner Ryan Wirick, only because that’s where all the threads and big ideas finally start weaving into something which you can see having meaning to your viewers.
6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
I didn’t grow up thinking I’d be a filmmaker. I was more of a performer and singer. But once I saw how powerful storytelling could be in shifting culture, especially around health, environment, and the things we take for granted, I knew I had a responsibility to put these inspiring people into documentaries. It felt less like a career choice and more like a calling.
7. What film have you seen the most times in your life?
Probably Home Alone, only because I watch it every year as a tradition. And because it’s perfect.
8. In a perfect world, who would you like to collaborate with on a film?
The first person that comes to mind is Ólafur Arnalds. He’s an Icelandic richly talented composer who creates atmosphere that pulls you in emotionally. I believe music to be one of the most important components of documentary filmmaking, or all filmmaking in general.
9. You submitted via FilmFreeway. How has your experience been with the platform?
FilmFreeway makes submissions pretty painless. It’s incredibly over-priced for most submissions, but it is streamlined, intuitive, and takes a lot of the logistical friction out of the process. As a filmmaker juggling a lot, I appreciate the ease, do not appreciate how many festivals are taking advantage of filmmakers who do not have a lot of extra capital for that stage of the process.
10. What is your favorite meal?
Anything my wife makes. She is the most talented chef, always focusing on local, nutrient dense, organic high-quality ingredients. We are fortunate to know our farmers and that makes me happy to support the decentralized solutions that are the core to most of my film work.
11. What is next for you? A new film?
Yes. There’s always multiple stories brewing. I’m currently working on Farmacy of Light, a project exploring how photonic (light) energy works within plants and within our bodies. I’m continuing to develop companion impact resources for our latest films. The mission stays the same – helping people reclaim their health by reconnecting with the natural world.
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