Showing posts with label The Crystal Method. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Crystal Method. Show all posts

Green at The Grammys 2010?

By Janine Johnson
[Founder of GreenWave]

People, businesses, and events that have great influence are responsible for messaging that permeates our society's standards and perpetuates them. I think it is critical for the success of our future for us to collectively do our best now and I would of course, extend this to The Grammys.
In 2008 there is a copyright on GreenGrammys.org showing written material supporting the ideas which would lead to a green event.  In 2009, there was an eco-gifting suite put on by "Green with Music".  In 2010? ...
Honestly, I'm not sure what happened or not.  Admittedly I am not your typical reporter or investigative journalist.  I write for green blogs purely from the heart.  I observe what is going on around me. This year I was lucky enough to be the date of my dear and loving boyfriend, Ken Jordan who was nominated for a Grammy for Divided By Night, the latest studio album produced by his band, The Crystal Method.
We attended a few pre-Grammy gifting suites, The Grammy's, The Grammy's after-party, and a William-Morris Endeavor after party, none of which were overly "green" credit worthy. I know what we did on our end.  We went to a local green designer, 7 Lightning Bolt to create a custom jacket, and asked the help of our eco-conscious stylist friend Phu Styles to assist with the rest of his outfit.  We brought our reusable organic cotton"FEED" bag, which I carried as a second purse and drove our hybrid to the event. I feel, however, that everyone needs to do their part, the best they possibly can.
Although there is debate on possibly hyped up global warming statistics, I see changes in climate and I read reports from scientists globally indicating what seems to be human-induced change.  It may not happen as fast as we are told, but with the exponentially exploding population and unchanging lackadasical and neglectful environmental habits, I don't see our scientific predictions of rapidly decreasing natural resources, which sustain our current way of living, being too far off.
I was hoping when going to The Grammys I would see a much bigger effort.  I am happy for what they provided but I just felt like the organization did not meet their potential.  They definitely did their part in doing "some part" but I felt like it could have been much more. 
Waste Management was a sponsor to the event and I did notice they had recycling receptacles around the venue but as I know from throwing private events, I can only hope all recyclables made it into the recycling as I am not sure if trash would be sorted as I do personally at my parties. I would have liked to see Waste Management employees or volunteers standing by each receptacle providing the public with education on waste management and assuring each type of waste went into it's proper place including perhaps potential compost since Los Angeles accepts food scraps in the green bins. 
Or, why not have public service announcements about recycling or even putting a "free ad" in on the hundred plus page program? 
The cover was done by Shepard Fairey who supports humanitarian and environmental causes but ... I'm not clear if it was printed on FSC certified paper or by a green printer (although I would guess it might be considering the NRDC is supposed to be their green adviser). Regardless, it would be nice to know so that it sends a positive message to people that they are doing their part to better the world. 
Sometimes people need to see others make strides and broadcast those efforts in order to spread the idea to others to do the same.
Speaking of messages ...the performances of The Grammys were of course, amazing.  There was a Michael Jackson tribute that showcased a short environmental film that has survived Michael but I am not sure if the message set in as well as it could have when people were stuffing their faces right beforehand with the fast food vendors outside the venue.
It seems to me that as a collective culture, we suffer large disconnects. It's easy to say "you should care" and make people feel bad that they don't, but we must be provided a solution, a way to make a difference or our efforts are ineffective. 
Fast food vendors promote not only cheap, and unhealthy food but environmentally unhealthy disposable lifestyle and life disgracing factory farm practices.  I realize there are conflicts of interest in sending certain messages ... how do you tell people to not do something if it funds the station that broadcasts the show? However, we need to bring such topics up because we desperately need to find alternatives to the systems which perpetuate the deterioration of our world.
I continue to believe that every effort helps and so I am thankful to any and all for their efforts in bringing environmental awareness to this event.  Hopefully we will go back next year to witness as much passion involved in positive environmental messaging as we see in the production of their hallmark shows.


Picture Tags:
TV Guide Picture, Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland of The Crystal Method.  Ken in a recycled plastic bottle shirt and eco-friendly jacket made by local design group 7 Lightning Bolt.

WM was a sponsor for both The Grammy's as well as The Grammy's after party

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Recycle, Reuse, Rejoice!



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Greening Hollywood: Jeremy Piven Says "All Actors Wish They Were Athletes"

By Paige Donner

At ESPN's ESPY Awards last month, Jeremy Piven, who plays the irascible and popular "Ari Gold" character on the Entourage TV show said that, "All actors wish they were athletes."

Maybe that's why he was working the carpets that were otherwise reserved for real athletes - not just the ones who play one on TV.


Photo by Paige Donner

In the just-out-now Time Magazine article, he answers questions about what it's like to play the character of the brother of the White House Chief of Staff, Ari Emanuel, who used to head up his own talent agency but has now been folded into the venerable William Morris Agency. Notably, it's the greenest talent agency in Hollywood.



ESPN has its own green agenda, one that goes deeper than Piven's not eating certain fish. ESPN kept a scorecard of their carbon footprint reductions for this year's XGames and ESPYs. That's something they've done for the past 5 years - reduce, reuse and reinvent - at their high-profile action-packed sports events that take place in L.A. in the summer.
By the way, catch the totally rad amped The Crystal Method soundtrack that's laid down on XGames3D: The Movie which opens tomorrow all across the nation. Movie opens theatrically for one week only so catch it this weekend! And go to The Crystal Method to download your free single of Drown In The Now. Listen to it on the movie trailer here:





Multiple Olympian, Dara Torres, Photo by Paige Donner



Misty May and Kerri Walsh, Dynamic Olympic Volleyball Duo, Photo by Paige Donner



The 2009 ESPYs represented a major step in ESPN’s continued commitment to environmentally friendly productions as the event, for the first time, will be carbon neutral. And, by implementing stringent recycling and composting measures, the ESPYs will again be virtually waste free.


"The ESPYs celebrate the best in sports every year, so it makes sense for us to raise the bar and make this event as green as can be," said Maura Mandt, executive producer. "Each year, we will find new ways to improve our efforts.”


ESPN's Green Score Card for ESPYs and XGames:

In 2008, 6.3 tons of CO2, equivalent to driving approximately 13,000 miles, was avoided through use of alternative fuels, non-petroleum products and other energy saving tactics in the staging of ESPN's XGames and ESPYs.

Awareness and Education Campaign

ESPN developed an environmental awareness campaign to encourage individual participation beyond the scope of the event, inspire future productions and create lasting impact.

  • Staff specially trained to explain and implement environmental efforts

  • Sustainable products featured throughout the production, with the environmental benefit of using each item explained;

  • Eco-facts played in-theatre for all ESPYs attendees during pre-show;

  • Environmentality section on www.espys.tv to share environmental best practices;

  • http://www.greeninghollywood.net to see eco-facts to explain everyday efforts that benefit the environment.

Additional Environmentally Responsible Elements


Recycling

The following recyclable materials were sorted on site at L.A. Live in custom designed recycling containers and sent to a specialized recycling facility for maximum recovery:

  • Beverage containers (including, aluminum, plastic and glass);

  • Mixed office paper (including copier paper, newspaper and magazines);

  • Organic waste (food and plant waste) and all compostable products;

  • Cardboard;

  • Construction materials (including wood, drywall, and metal);

  • Used cooking grease;

  • Electronic waste (including printer cartridges, batteries, copper wire).


For More Information please refer to: http://www.greeninghollywood.net
Paige Donner is the publisher/founder of Greening Hollywood and The Green Blog Network




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