California Film Institute San Rafael, CA
Amanda Bartlett
Senior Reporter, SFGATE
Twister— Is the weather trying to kill us?
Program Description
Local reporter Amanda Bartlett has written extensively about weather phenomena in California, from earthquakes to atmospheric rivers. Join us as she leads a discussion about chasing the science of climate change.
This event is part of our 2024 National Evening of Science on Screen.
Presented At
California Film Institute San Rafael, CA
Film Synopsis
Bill and Jo Harding, advanced storm chasers on the brink of divorce, must join together to create an advanced weather alert system by putting themselves in the crosshairs of extremely violent tornadoes.
As a powerful storm approaches, university professor Dr. Jo Harding (Helen Hunt) and an underfunded team of students prepare the prototype for DOROTHY, a groundbreaking tornado data-gathering device conceived by her soon-to-be ex-husband, Bill (Bill Paxton). When Jo tells Bill that the device is ready for testing—and that their privately funded rival Dr. Jonas Miller (Cary Elwes) has stolen the idea and built his own—Bill rejoins the team for one last mission. In a race against time, the estranged couple finds themselves in the crosshairs of one of the most violent and powerful storms ever recorded.
About the Speaker
Amanda Bartlett is an award-winning senior reporter for SFGATE covering culture, science, history and breaking news. She’s written extensively about weather phenomena in California, from earthquakes to atmospheric rivers, as well as a number of movies shot around the Bay Area and beyond, including The Matrix Resurrections, The Princess Diaries, The Birds and Killer Klowns from Outer Space. She has previously presented repertory cinema at the Roxie Theater and the 4 Star Theater in San Francisco and grew up in Iowa, where she mastered the art of the tornado drill in elementary school.