Last year, the Los Angeles Film Festival had a "Green Day," showcasing 50 short eco-films and lining a block in Westwood with a few green booths (photo above). This year, the festival has declared its plans to incorporate environmentalism into more aspects of its festivities, happening June 19-29.
Most impressively, the festival is supporting local food: "catering will use organically-grown produce purchased from local farms within a 150-mile radius of Los Angeles," announces the press release -- though exactly how much of the food will be local isn't specified. The festival will also use biodiesel-fueled generators.
Aside from those, the steps are rather unremarkable things to be sending out a press release about, in the vein of "We'll use recycled paper -- then recycle it! Also, we'll buy carbon offsets!"
These "Into Action" evenings are intended to help you explore "global warming, the influence of urban environments on the oceans, energy and water, conservation, green living practices at home and more." While the series may be less action-specific than the Sustainable Works program, they'll get you thinking deeply about urban environmental issues and solutions -- hopefully leading to enviro-activism on your part. Plus, the events are free!
Tues., April 15: Watch "Sustainable Table: What’s On Your Plate?" A documentary film that takes a close look at the food we eat, then join the dialogue on healthy, sustainable farming and eating with the filmmakers, members of the community farm EarthWorks and Whole Foods Market Arroyo.
Tues., April 22: On Earth Day, participate in "Green Living," a community panel and discussion on how to make your homes and lives more eco-friendly. Community experts will talk about energy and water conservation, solar power, green remodeling, green design and more.
The series takes place at the Armory Center for the Arts, 145 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. Did I mention the events are free?
Earth Day celebrations in Pasadena will actually continue after Earth Day itself. Greening the Earth & Family Arts Festival (PDF) happens on April 26 -- save the date!
Watch it to find out how it differs from both buses and trains -- and to hear about some of the reasons why BRT systems are put in instead of rail, and about the future of transit in L.A.
L.A. City Council member Wendy Greuel and Rex Gephardt, Metro's Regional Transit Planning Director, both make an appearance and talk about how politics and money weigh into the decisionmaking process for public transportation. This BRT film's hopefully the first of many to come from StreetFilms about de-car-ing in L.A.
"You know, if you dyed your hair black, you'd look just like Al Gore." That, says Gore, is what one kind-looking older woman told him. Has enviro-activism's aged the Nobel prize-winner a bit? Perhaps -- but Gore's keeping busy, and is back with a sequel of sorts to "An Inconvenient Truth."
This new slideshow -- which Gore debuted at the TED conference -- shows the drastically shrunken north polar ice cap. Yet Gore remains an optimist -- and encourages you to be too:
Sometimes I hear people respond to the disturbing facts of the climate crisis by saying, "Oh this is so terrible -- What a burden we have." I would like to ask you to reframe that. How many generations in all of human history have had the opportunity to rise to a challenge that is worthy of our best efforts, that has a challenge that can pull from us more than we knew we could do?
Can you face the challenges posed by the climate crisis with "profound joy and gratitude"? That's what Gore encourages you to do -- even though he's quick to point out the many problems and obstacles facing us. The solution he proposes sounds simple: "Put a price on carbon." Politically, however, this has been difficult to do -- which is why he's encouraging Americans to get more engaged.
"In order to solve the climate crisis, we need to solve the democracy crisis," Gore says. "Be an active citizen. Change the lightbulbs, but change the laws."
I hear the economy's not doing so well, but this downer doesn't seem to have hit the green market very hard, considering all the big green businesses and initiatives making the news. Yes, there's money to be made in environmentalism -- and here's a roundup to some of the contests that can put some of that green in your pocket:
One Good Chair design competition. Make beauty meet comfort, and get $4,500 to transform that brill idea into a prototype. Downside: You gotta plunk down $50 in faith of your design by May 16. Final designs must be submitted by June 9. (via Inhabitat)
Go Organic! for Earth Day contest. Just send in photos and an explanation that illustrate why you badly need a grocery makeover. The grand prize winning family will get to go on a grocery store trip to fill up the kitchen with free organic groceries, and a day of cooking lessons with Chef Catelli in their kitchen.
"What’s The Big Idea?" contest. Got an idea to make the world a greener place? Put it on camera and you could win $10,000 from Sundance.
If you're the type of person who gets to the theater way early so as not to miss the previews, get ready to see an Al Gore-ified "pre-show." Yep, environmentalism's hitting the big screen, but unlike "An Inconvenient Truth," these “Go Green" pre-shows will fill up time for the too-punctual film buff, not serve as the main attraction.
Cinema advertising company Screenvision's already started airing "Go Green," which by its description is "an environmentally-conscious themed pre-show designed to help consumers understand how easy it can be to lead a 'greener' life." You can watch a few clips of the pre-show -- featuring actress Aisha Tyler -- on Screenvision's website.
How's this related to Gore? "Go Green" will include ads and content from Gore-backed group, Alliance for Climate Protection, which has been creating a lot of buzz lately. The Alliance recently announced that it will spend $300 million over three years on an ad campaign to recruit 10 million enviro-activists. The TV ads have already started airing; here it is, if you haven't seen it yet.
This marriage between environmentalism and pre-film "entertainment" -- or environment and advertising -- may or may not be good news for you, depending on what feelings you have about the "pre-shows" and advertising overall. Are they just annoying infomercials to you, or a necessary evil, or a welcome distraction from the empty, dark theater? Or maybe the bigger question is -- Why are you in the theater so early?
Aspiring filmmakers and photographers with an enviro-conscience: Got an idea to make the world a greener place? Put it on camera and you could win $10,000 from Sundance.
In conjunction with the second season of its series, “Big Ideas for a Small Planet,” Sundance Channel is holding a national contest, "What’s The Big Idea?" inviting you to submit a short film or photo essay demonstrating your idea for greening the world. The winner gets $10,000, plus a private green home audit. Four runners-up get a Sundance Channel Green VIP Bag -- with unspecified contents ostensibly worth $500 each.
Get your idea in before May 20. If you're one of the 25 top entries, your idea will go up on Sundance's site a week later for public viewing and voting until June 24. The winner will be announced the week of July 7. Good luck!
Need a dose of film-inspired eco-activism? Join a new eco-film club: Earth Cinema Circle. Members receive three to six films with an environmental theme -- all in one DVD wrapped in 100% post-consumer recycled packaging -- every two months, while resting happy in the knowledge that they're supporting enviro-conscious filmmakers.
Launched earlier this year, Earth Cinema Circle gives the existing eco-socially conscious Ironweed Film Club some competition. ECC's focus is more strictly narrowed around environmental issues than Ironweed's, which tackles a broader range of progressive social issues ranging from media censorship ("This Film is Not Yet Rated") to fair trade ("Black Gold").
What kind of films will you get with ECC? "Garbage Warrior" is the feature film in ECC's first DVD (for Jan-Feb). This documentary features architect Michael Reynolds who uses the detritus of our consumer culture -- old tires, empty beer cans, used soda bottles -- to create "Earthships," uber-sustainable buildings that can exist off the grid. All his eco-building, however, got Reynolds into trouble in Taos, New Mexico. He lost architect license and got mired in a tangle of lawsuits. But the story doesn't end there: When tsunamis and hurricanes hit, many people were ready to think outside the box, and Reynolds was there to help out. His work in these disaster-affected areas, as well as his effort to pass New Mexico state legislation for sustainable living test-sites, makes for a story that's both heartwarming and inspiring. Here's the trailer:
A short film called "Flip-Flotsam" is also on this DVD. This cute poetic piece about lifecycle of flipflops tracks flip flops made in Mombasa (20 million pairs of flip flops made per year just in Mombasa!) to the feet that wear them out, to the water that carries the discarded pairs out to sea, to the marine creatures that ride these like inner tubes, to the shores where they wash up, to the people who refashion them into toys, and to the kids who play with them. The piece points to the fact that the things we throw "away" never really go "away," while also highlighting the utility of the things we consider trash and the creativity of the people who reclaim them -- all without ever getting preachy or didactic.
Eco-actorvist Ed Begley, Jr.'s the official host of Earth Cinema Circle -- which I take to mean each DVD will contain a little clip of Begley introducing the films. Cost: $17.95 per eco-packaged DVD plus $4.95 for carbon-offset shipping and handling.
What happens to a cellphone tossed? That's a question "The Secret Life of Cell Phones" answers (below). This short educational film shows what happens when you throw a phone into a black bin -- as well as what happens when you take just a few minutes to make sure your phone gets refurbished or recycled.
Recycling and refurbishing phones can actually be lucrative for companies, so disposing of these responsibly is quite easy. In fact, green phone disposal can be financially lucrative for you. Read my previous post, "Make money by keeping old gadgets out of the landfill," to find out how to give your cellphones and other electronics a second life.
"The Secret Life of Cell Phone's" just the first of a series of short "Secret Life" films from INFORM, a NY-based environmental organization. Each "Secret Life" video will look at what happens to everyday products we all use after we throw them "away." After all, "away" is never really that far away.
Loved the "Secret Life" video and want more? For a macro perspective on these issues, watch "The Story of Stuff," a short 20-minute online video that looks at the "underside of our production and consumption patterns." It's a bit shrill, and perhaps a tad long -- but very informative for those who may be new to the environmental and social concern created by all our stuff.
Two-wheeling filmmakers: Enter the Eighth Annual Bicycle Film Festival! This annual event's looking for films with a bike-related theme. Any style's acceptable: animation, experimental, narrative, documentary and music videos are all a go.
The Bicycle Film Festival travels to over 15 countries around the world, including Milan, London, Tokyo, New York -- and of course, Los Angeles. Last year, more than 100,000 people attended the festival. In L.A., past festival events went beyond just films to include rock shows, block parties, joy rides and art shows.
Cities and dates for 2008 will be set later this month. Here's the entry form (PDF). Get your entry in by the February 19 deadline!
As a teenager, Siel sped past Paramount Studios on the 10 Metro bus to get to Fairfax High School. Now she cuts through the concrete jungle of Los Angeles on her pink Townie bike to shop at local farmers' markets and socialize in pre-loved Prada heels. A contributing editor to BlogHer, Siel also keeps a personal blog, green LA girl. Send your burning green questions to greenlagirl@gmail.com.
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