The story
In this wild and extravagant satire, a mysterious thermometer suddenly appears on the horizon in Switzerland—predicting climate disasters that shortly thereafter begin to occur.
As climate researchers Emma and Michael try to sound the alarm, they find themselves drawn ever deeper into a web of political power plays, lobby groups and disinformation.
Meanwhile, the moody thermometer becomes an internet sensation: at times warning of the next catastrophe, at others insulting passersby, or simply showing cat videos.
But when Switzerland once again turns its back on climate protection, the situation escalates: in the middle of a major summer festival, the visibly irritated thermometer presents a series of dystopian future scenarios—culminating in the collapse of the Gulf Stream—a potentially unpredictable catastrophe that could plunge Europe into a new ice age.
Then it starts a timer: Switzerland has three months to prevent the worst.
Will the country win the race against time?
About the trailer: The trailer was created using AI and serves to illustrate the vision of the film. It conveys how «Degrees of Madness» could look and feel. The film itself is still in development and has not yet been produced.
My project is special because ...
«Degrees of Madness» is a sharp satire—fast-paced, visually striking, and deliberately entertaining.
While exploring whether a crisis like climate change can truly be solved through individual responsibility—or whether it requires collective action, the film also examines how political and scientific communication, lobbying, and public support interact: following the first disasters, policymakers introduce climate protection measures that gain broad support across society thanks to clear communication. But as lobbying interests grow stronger, political actors begin to backtrack and communication becomes inconsistent, public sentiment shifts—and society becomes increasingly divided.
In this way, it becomes clear that we are facing not only a climate crisis, but above all a political one.
But «Degrees of Madness»is not just another disaster film that criticizes. Rather, with this project I aim to make climate knowledge that is still not widely known accessible to a broader audience—including the central topic of tipping points.
Many people simply don’t have the time or the inclination, in their already busy lives, to engage with the dynamics and risks of climate change. And even when they do, the material is often too dry and difficult to grasp.
This is exactly where «Degrees of Madness» comes in: it makes tangible what often feels too abstract—because we perceive things differently when we experience them through a story.
In this context, the thermometer takes on the role of a radically honest voice: it communicates in the way science would if it had nothing to fear and were completely unfiltered—politically incorrect, uncomfortable, and at times absurdly funny.
And it works. Many of my test readers told me that after reading the story, they started researching to learn more about the climate dynamics it touches on.
The result is a film that not only entertains, but, through tension and humor, hits exactly where pure information often falls short.
This is what I need backing for.
The film’s treatment—a 30-page summary of the story—has already been supported by several institutions and is in place. With your support, I am now funding the completion of the screenplay—an important step in finalising the development and, in a next phase, attempting to secure production financing.
The professional completion of the screenplay includes the final development of the story, writing all scenes, refining the characters, and strengthening the overall dramaturgy.
Part of the financial resources will allow me to dedicate the necessary time to the project, while another part will go towards professional script coaching as well as consultation with an expert on all climate-related topics.
The campaign covers part of these costs; the rest will be financed through grants and personal contribution.
With your support, you help create the foundation for a film that tells a highly relevant social issue in a new way—engaging, humorous, and above all accessible.