Cult of Green » Hollywood and Co.

The Yes Men Fix the World is a great movie

shelter — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 12:04:03 +0000

This week’s Media Mayhem column from my gig at the Mother Nature Network:

Truth is stranger than fiction, they say. And, sometimes, fiction can be truer than truth.

OK. That’s a weird idea to wrap your mind around. Then again, the exploits of Andy Bichlbaum and Mike Bonnano are a bit weird. And difficult to wrap your mind around.

Bichlbaum and Bonnano are The Yes Men, two anti-corporate pranksters whom most people probably have heard about by catching an odd headline or hearing some bizarre snip-it on a cable news show. Such as this CNN report from 2004:

Read the rest at the Mother Nature Network.

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Coal’s silver lining

shelter — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:10:08 +0000

My apologies for disappearing. Went on vacation, faced an onslaught of other projects and then the computer done broke. Starting to catch up with my June 13 “Media Mayhem” column from the Mother Nature Network.

The coal industry’s re-branding campaign reminds me of an old Mad Magazine illustration.

It was the early 1970s. Esso had just changed its name to Exxon, and Richard Nixon was president. So Mad ran a photo of the White House, with a huge Exxon-esque sign sticking out of it. Except the sign said “Nixxon.”

The punchline? “But it’s still the same old gas.”

Coal is still the same old coal. But the industry has been spending a lot of money to change its image. It’s even enlisted imagery of the White House’s current occupant: a clip of Barack Obama endorsing during last year’s presidential campaign that mythic material known as “Clean Coal.”

See the rest of the column is at Mother Nature Network.

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Ingrid Newkirk on PETA’s buzz

shelter — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:50:07 +0000

This week’s Media Mayhem column at the Mother Nature Network:

A fly. Seven days after President Obama swatted the sucker, I googled “PETA” and “fly” together. One-thousand-one-hundred-and-eighteen news articles showed up. The first wave of mentions was speculative, as in: “The Onion ought to write that PETA’s upset at Obama.” The next wave was disbelieving, as in: “This may sound to you like a headline from the Onion: PETA’s upset at Obama.”

A handful of writers got past the visceral reaction: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals again displayed its unerring talent for drawing attention to the cause of animal rights. In this case, PETA didn’t even mean to draw the attention. A staff blogger happened to mention in a short post about “flygate” that “human beings have a long way to go before they think before they act.”

Overblown headlines buzzed around the globe like angry hornets. “Obama’s fly-swatting incident bugs PETA.” “PETA miffed at President Obama’s fly execution.” “PETA condemns Obama for murdering innocent fly.”

“It took on a life of its own,” PETA President Ingrid Newkirk told me in an interview. “But we benefited, because we did lots of [talk] shows that talked about the government pest control programs for coyotes and starlings, and more people just became aware of [animal injustices] they hadn’t thought about before.”

Read the rest of the column at the Mother Nature Network.

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PETA responds to Audrina Patridge’s hamburger

shelter — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:53:12 +0000

Audrina Patridge gets a pass from PETA for modeling with a big fat juicy hamburger in her mouth a month or so after doing publicity work for the animal rights group.

“Audrina is brand new to the animal rights movement and she is not a vegetarian (and has never claimed to be),” PETA spokeswoman Amy Cook wrote in an e-mail in response to my questions. “She has, however, brought much needed media attention to the problem of animal overpopulation by appearing in our ad urging people to adopt companion animals instead of buying them.”

Patridge, a character on MTV’s The Hills who’s slated to get her own reality show next season, created a bit of unintentional entertainment earlier this month by showing up on an ad for a new Carl Jr.’s terriyaki burger after appearing April 22 in an “Angel for Animals” publicity campaign to get people to choose pet adoption.

I know. I know. This isn’t exactly an environmental media story, but I figure the celebrity PR faux pas falls within Cult of Green’s “pop culture” realm. Plus, you don’t really expect me to pass up a headline like the one on this story?

As Cook notes: “Oftentimes, a celebrity gets involved with PETA on one issue and then learns more about other issues over time. For example, Alicia Silverstone wasn’t a vegetarian when we first began working with her. Now she’s a strict vegan and talks about her vegan diet and animal rights in almost every interview she does.

“Making the transition to a vegan lifestyle is a gradual process, as you know, and we’re happy to work with celebrities on even the most introductory levels. We hope, as you do, that eventually they’ll boycott all industries that harm and kill animals.”

OK, Amy. I guess it wasn’t as hypocritical as Paris Hilton participating in the Vote or Die campaign, and then not even registering to vote.

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Whale Wars: Killers get more witnesses

shelter — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:33:18 +0000

The Animal Planet network is boasting that the season premier of Whale Wars, the reality show aboard of an anti-whaling expedition, attracted an audience of 1.2 million, or 22 percent more than last year’s debut show.

The season continues for eight more weeks “much to the chagrin of the Japanese [whalers], who would probably rather not have their hunts on display in American homes,” notes the Ecorazzi enviro-tainment blog.

I wonder: Does this show put more pressure on the Japanese government to rein the whalers (who only are allowed to kill whales because they claim to be doing “research”), or does it get the whaling interests to dig in their heals?

Either way the direct-action adventures of the Steve Irwin — which an English-speaking maneuvers into the path of Japanese whaling vessels — is made-for-TV eco-drama. And Animal Planet is milking for all it’s worth the occasionally dysfunctional antics aboard the vessel, as well as an incident in which Australian police temporarily confiscated footage that’s actually used in this season’s shows. From the network’s press release:

Earlier this year when the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society vessel the Steve Irwin docked in Hobart, Tasmania, it was met by two dozen members of the Australian Federal Police. They were there to confiscate hundreds of hours of videotape, launching an investigation into what was one of the most intense and dramatic campaigns ever conducted by the Sea Shepherds in their 30-year history. It was a life-changing experience for those on the boat and is the basis for WHALE WARS.

The new season includes collisions at sea; dangerous ice fields to avoid; harrowing nautical maneuvers; and the use of more aggressive defenses against the Sea Shepherds.

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Audrina Patridge: If you can’t buy animals, eat ‘em

shelter — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:33:10 +0000

This is right up there with Paris Hilton wearing a “Vote or Die” t-shirt but forgetting to show up at the polls.

Audrina Patridge, who appears in the MTV reality show The Hills (and is soon to get her own reality show), recently became a PETA “Angel for Animals.” She posed with a star Chihuahua named Speedy Gonzalez for a poster and a short video. PETA said this:

During the photo shoot, Audrina told us, “I wanted to get involved with PETA because I’ve always been passionate about animals, and I think this is a great way to make people and all my fans aware of all the animals that need a home. And a lot of people go to pet stores and breeders to buy their animals, but you should adopt, so go to an animal shelter and rescue a dog.”

But it’s the tag line on the poster that’s particularly awkward right now. “Always adopt. Never buy,” it says.

Why awkward? Within a month, Patridge was posing for another shoot — except this time it was to promote for a new terriyaki burger at Carl’s Jr., the West Coast fast-food joint. Mmm … scrumptious. Except not exactly PETA fare. What if the two posters end up next to each other?

People Magazine’s website was fed this comment, but missed the delicious irony:

“I had an absolute blast shooting. It was my first experience shooting a spot with food, and when I pulled up, I was literally salivating looking at all the rows and rows of perfect burgers waiting for me!” she recalls of the sandwich, available at Carl’s Jr. on June 24, the same day that the TV spot launches.

“I was cracking up because I would take a bite, and almost immediately a food handler with white gloves would have a brand new burger ready.”

OK. I’m not a vegetarian. But you don’t have to be one to realize that this was boneheaded PR. As the blog Vegetarian Star pointed out, Audrina actually appears to be OK with buying animals — so long as they’re dead.

Certainly this puts PETA in an awkward spot. Not sure what the group’s response will be. I just sent some questions to to PETA to see if this changes any of the plans on how to use Patridge. Among my questions is whether the group outlines behavioral expections for celebrity spokespeople before engaging them in a campaign.

The lesson for the nonprofit in this case: The flakier the celebrity, the shakier the ground.

The lesson for the celebrity: Do more of this silly stuff, girl! Before this incident I never even heard of you. The controversy alone moves you from C-list to B-list.

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Food Inc.: See it on an empty stomach

shelter — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:16:59 +0000

Food Inc., the movie about the food industry, opens today in select cities.

The latest in a spate of environmental documentaries to hit screen, it promises to be the blockbuster of the bunch. The movie’s directed by Robert Kenner, and features two authors who have become the nation’s best-known troubadours for the local and organic food movements, Michael Pollan (Omnivore’s Dilemma and In Defense of Food) and Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation).

So far, it’s getting rave reviews. The most memorably line appeared in Variety: “Food Inc. does for the supermarket what Jaws did for the beach.”

The most consistent bit of advice, though, is this: Don’t, under any circumstances, eat before you see this movie.

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George Will invokes “Goode Family”

shelter — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 02:12:46 +0000

I should have mentioned earlier that although George Will finds animated TV shows a bit beneath him, he still hopes ABC’s “The Goode Family” will pass along to the little people a sort of Cliff Notes version of his contempt of environmentalists.

In a syndicated column published in various newspapers over the last few days, the bow-tied conservative says:

The incessant hectoring by the media-political complex’s “consciousness-raising” campaign has provoked a comic riposte in the form of “The Goode Family,” an animated ABC entertainment program at 9 p.m. Wednesdays … . Cartoons seem, alas, to be the most effective means of seizing a mass audience’s attention. Still, the program is welcome evidence of the bursting of what has been called “the green bubble.”

Will considers a New Republic article by Terry Nordhaus and Michael Shellenberger more in line with his towering intellect. “The Green Bubble: Why Environmentalism Keeps Imploding” argues that it’s the fault of environmentalists that the environmental movement goes through cycles during which it’s unpopular, because they spend too much time changing light bulbs and warning about environmental calamity, when they should be … well, actually, Nordhaus and Shellenberger never get around to saying what environmentalists should be doing — other than “celebrating.”

Utopian environmentalism has, to some extent, always promised to heal the alienation wrought by modernity. But, during bubbles, increasing numbers of Americans become captivated by the twin thoughts that human civilization could soon come crashing down–and that we are on the cusp of a sudden leap forward in consciousness, one that will allow us to heal ourselves, our society, and our planet. Apocalyptic fears meld seamlessly into utopian hopes. The end of the world is near–unless we heal all that divides us.

All sarcasm aside, I find their argument unintelligible. While it’s certainly true that some well-meaning environmentalists bank on symbolism over substance, previous environmental movement “bubbles” that they dismiss brought real progress. Consider that the period around the first Earth Day, gave us the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the EPA. And don’t forget about the ecology sign.

More on this silly New Republic article in a later post, perhaps; it deserves discussion because TNR is an influential magazine.

But point is that, after finding a couple of early clips not that funny, I like the Goode Family’s over-the-top pokes at political correctness more than I than the poorly thought through rationalizing of Will, Nordhaus and Shellenberger. Check out this clip:

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Why are critics silent on Home?

shelter — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 22:52:02 +0000

Home, the visually stunning documentary released on YouTube and via screenings Friday, is approaching 1.4 million views in various languages on YouTube. But I can’t find a single critic’s review on the Yan Arthus-Bertrand/Luc Besson movie on Rotten Tomatoes or on IMDb.

This is partly due to the unusual approach of Home’s release. Arthus-Bertrand and Luc Besson, the two very accomplished French filmmakers response to movies, made the movie available for free Friday via YouTube, DVDs, private screenings and TV, because it’s a nonprofit endeavor.

Those who have watched the movie seem pretty impressed. Nearly 400 voters gave it an average grade of 8.4 out of 10 on IMDb (An Inconvenient Truth got a score of 8.0 but that was on more than 31,000 votes). When I took at look at YouTube Sunday afternoon, there were 5,387 comments, the overwhelming majority of them effusive.

This may be something of a preaching-to-the-converted phenomenon; whatever the case, it’s striking a chord.

A specific audience among whom Home has struck a chord is Hollywood’s eco-chic crowd. Cameron Diaz, Angelica Houston and others attended a World Environment Day screening on Friday at Stella McCartney’s high-fashion boutique. (The movie’s was largely financed by PPR, which owns a lot fashion brands, including Stella McCartney’s.) From Treehugger:

It was Friday night in Hollywood and the starlets were in full eco-friendly regalia for the paparazzi and press. Cameron Diaz donned sequins, Emily Deshanel sported an animal print, Liv Taylor carried off an organic peek-a-boo sheath, Rosario Dawson arrived in Stella’s little black dress – and the line-up of ladies all sang the praises of McCartney’s pleather shoes and bags. It was a Stella-Fest in honor of World Environment Day, June 5, and the parade of actresses attending a screening of Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s “Home” in the garden of the host’s LA boutique shared some surprising eco-tips.

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‘Whale Wars’ makes for good TV

shelter — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:27:58 +0000

Does anyone else find the promotional material and overall approach of the Animal Planet’s upcoming “Whale Wars” series a bit obscene?

Not that there’s anything wrong with that. The reality show, which premiers its second season Friday night (9 p.m. Eastern), tracks activists on a mission to prevent Japanese whalers from killing their prey.

In some ways, it’s incredibly effective propaganda for a worthy cause. And to be that effective, it has to introduce us to the flawed heroes, the impersonal villains, and their bloodied victims.

For those who missed last season, “Whale Wars” follows the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s ship (the Steve Irwin) and its crew as they harass Japanese whalers by getting between them and their prey, by videotaping their activities, and even by getting close enough to throw stink bombs that ruin the harvested whale meat. Last season, Captain Paul Watson came across as an erratic autocrat but not at the expense of the righteousness of his cause.

The whalers claim to be doing research, which allows them to exploit a loophole for “scientific” studies in the international whaling ban. They aren’t above using violence on people either; they pound the crew of the Steve Irwin with water cannons and direct audio weaponry that can damage human hearing.

Like all reality TV, the show is edited to heighten the drama. The promotional hook for Season 2: “This time they’ve gone too far … ”

The first season highlighted tension and controversy among the crew rather than teamwork. And it borders on vulgar when it shows clips of the endangered mammals being slaughtered. Says Katherine Nichols of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin:

Like all reality television, it’s inevitable that a certain amount of staging is associated with some of the drama. But it’s impossible not to get swept along with people who believe so vehemently in what they are doing, as well as the international controversy they generate.

Overall, the first season made for compelling TV and the second season promises to be even more entertaining. Plus unlike other reality TV, this series actually carries some social value. Showing the blood, and showing Captain Watson and his crew with all their foibles, just makes it more real.

I do wonder, however, whether “Whale Wars” trivializes the issue and makes standing for something important feel like a game. But if there ever was a way for an environmental issue tailored to grab people’s attention, its on display in this series.

If only climate change and the battle against big coal and big oil made for such good TV.

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