ecorazzi.com :: the latest in green gossip

July 28th 2008

X-Files Movie Stars Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny Make PETA Smile

Filed under: animals, film-tv, movies — parrish @ 11:36 am

Before I wrote about celebrities, I waited on them. As a young person in NYC I’ve worked in some of the city’s most famous vegetarian restaurants delivering tofu to the rich and famous. Therefore I can personally vow that David Duchovny (or Mulder as I was so tempted to call him throughout the meal) loves him some veggie nosh! 

In fact I have known for a while that David and his wife Tea Leoni were vegetarians (and perhaps vegan) and I was almost positive that Gillian Anderson was as well. However a recent tip from an Ecorazzi reader revealed that Anderson likes the occasional duck salad. Still, no one is hating because both Duchovny and Anderson have worked hard to help PETA with some very important campaigns.

In 1996, David signed PETA’s “Get Gillette Off the Set” petition to convince the company to stop testing on animals. Gillian’s also has worked on a series of animal rights campaigns and even won PETA’s Humanitarian Award in 2006. 

And so because Gillian and David are so damn involved in great campaigns, Ecorazzi and PETA are both encouraging you to sneak some healthy snacks into the theater and go check out X-Files: I Want to Believe. (Cue creepy X-Files music.) 

July 28th 2008

Wall-E Gets Flack Over Wasteful Marketing

Filed under: film-tv, movies, not green, products — parrish @ 10:25 am

I saw Wall-E on the opening weekend at the very busy AMC 42nd St. theaters here in NYC. My friends and I waited in line for about 45 minutes to make sure we got a good seat and when we finally got inside I noticed something REALLY strange — there were only about 6 kids in the entire theater. I bring this up because it’s proof to me that adults are not just excited about Pixar, but excited to learn more about the dangers of global warming.

I thought Wall-E did a great job of presenting the subject in a comical yet serious manner, but unfortunately it looks like the film isn’t really practicing what it’s preaching. In fact, Wall-E is getting some pretty harsh criticism for the high environmental cost of the kids’ toys that were made as a tie-in with the movie. First off the toys were made in China and contain a boatload of non-environmentally friendly products, including a thick cellophane plastic, plastic coated wire, thick black plastic strips, nylon tie wraps, and excess cardboard.

Duncan McLaren, of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “These plastics could still be polluting the environment in 1000 years. A real-life Wall-E in a distant future will be picking up the packaging from these toys. The writer and director were trying to get across a sound message in the film so it’s a pity their marketing teams did not do likewise.”

In response, Tesco, the store that currently carries the products, said they will, “work with our suppliers to reduce packaging.” Hmmm. I get it — everybody wants to make a buck! Still, you’d think Disney would be a little more environmentally sensitive when it comes to selling crap about a movie based on the dangers of selling crap. For now, all I can say is go see the movie, but stay the hell away from the merchandise!

via: sundaymail.co.uk

July 24th 2008

PETA Goes Up Against The Dark Knight For Dog Abuse Scene

Filed under: animals, film-tv, movies — parrish @ 9:35 am

A few days ago Ecorazzi reported that PETA had released a list of their top ten most animal-friendly superheros. What I didn’t tell you (because I thought it was kinda silly) was that PETA was also pissed that a certain scene in The Dark Knight showed Batman beating a dog…that was about to attack the hell out of him. 

We got a tip from one of our loyal readers who spoke with Christine Doré the author of the PETA piece about the film. Dore said, “Basically, while I personally thought it was a fantastic movie, it was a little disappointing, that part of it. I think, you know, that it’s funny that this superhero genius that everyone loves, who has all these fantastic gadgets, who never uses guns, that he doesn’t have access to a tranquilizer or other deflecting device.” Our tipster tried to get more juice, but was quickly rerouted to PETA’s official media department. Damn the man! 

OK, so now it’s my turn to talk about this. I think it sucks that rottweilers get a bad rap. I wish they didn’t and I wish there weren’t so many euthanized each year. That said, I consider myself a solid 7 out of 10 on the animal rights scale and that scene didn’t offend me in the least. I believe the rule (correct me if I’m wrong vegans) is that violence towards animals is ONLY okay for self-defense. I love animals, but if I had a huge ass, scary Rottweiler centimeters away from destroying my face I just might have to swing too. I guess I worry about everyone (especially in the animal rights movement) being a little too sensitive about EVERYTHING. It was 2 seconds…in one scene…in an awesome movie…where like everyone gets the crap beat out of them. 

Hey, but that’s just me! What do you think readers? Should Batman join Michael Vick in jail? Chime in and tell us what you think. 

thanks: bloggasm.com

July 23rd 2008

How Green Is The Star Wars Trilogy? Is Vader A Greenwasher?

Filed under: film-tv, movies, web — michael @ 4:44 pm

Our friends over at EarthFirst have finally put to rest a nagging question held by science fiction geeks everywhere: Was the Galactic Empire sustainable? Because seriously, if I’m going to support the environment and dress up in my Luke Skywalker suit (not the Tatooine one, the one from the epic final battle in Return of the Jedi) everyday, I want to make sure we’re on the same page.

Breaking down the original Star Wars trilogy (because the newest episodes were lame and don’t count) episode-by-episode, you’ll learn everything from Yoda’s use of eco-friendly holographic conferencing (Just like Al Gore and Prince Charles!) to Uncle Owen’s Energy-Efficient Home and vegetarian lifestyle. Oh yea, and don’t forget about all those solar-powered TIE-fighters.

Get your green geek on and check out the fun here.

July 23rd 2008

“Hole in the Paper Sky” to Hit August Film Festivals

Filed under: events, festivals, film-tv, green and famous, movies — lindsey @ 10:50 am

Jessica Biel is one busy actress/activist/blogger! We told you about her new blog on MySpace where she made mention of a thirty minute short Hole in the Paper Sky — that she not only produced but has a role in. After waiting, quite impatiently on my part, the trailer was also finally added to her page.

The film, for those who missed it the first go around, is about a man’s experience after meeting a dog that changes his life. After seeing the trailer, the short seems to show a man’s first hand encounter with animal testing. It looks exactly as Miss Biel has described it; evocative. It also seems a pretty powerful film, especially for only being thirty minutes in length.

And now she’s announced to MySpace that it will be coming to a few festivals this August!

Where?

Hollyshorts Film Festival - August 7th in LA
Rhode Island International Film Festival - August 8th
Palm Springs International Film Festival - August 23rd

Follow the above links to go to the festival’s website for more information and to order tickets.

July 22nd 2008

Tug Speedman Named Panda Celebrity Of The Year

Filed under: film-tv, movies — michael @ 3:13 pm

There’s a hilarious bit of online viral marketing going on for Ben Stiller’s new movie Tropic Thunder, in which he plays superstar Tug Speedman (an obvious play on Tom Cruise). Take for instance this site for the Panda Relocation Foundation — which features Speedman posing for a mock-PSA. Then there’s this funny blurb from within, “Though reports show that the numbers of wild Pandas are on the rise, the World Conservation Association (PANDA) believes there is not enough certainty to remove Pandas from the endangered animal list.”

Nice acronym.

Show your love to Tug over on his official site. As he says on the welcome page, “I like to think of [this site] as a rad bridge, that lets my fans walk over all the mean stuff the internet says about me. Then, at the other end of the bridge, is all the cool stuff dudes say.” Well said.

July 21st 2008

The Dark Knight Sparks PETA’s Release Of Top Ten Animal Friendly Superheroes

Filed under: animals, film-tv, movies — parrish @ 9:49 am

The numbers are out and it looks like The Dark Knight made a whopping $155.34 million at the box office in it’s first weekend!!!! LORD! While that number seems mind-blowing, I saw the movie on Saturday and basically I’m like this close to leaving NYC for Gotham. Can I PLEASE be Batman???

The truth is that between Batman, Spider-Man, Iron Man, etc, the studios know that superhero movies equal cash in the bank. But the studios aren’t the only ones examining the power of the those with powers. PETA just released a top ten list of the most animal-friendly superheroes.

Counting down…

10. Aquaman—The King of Atlantis, Aquaman can commune with sea creatures, whom he considers citizens of his ocean realm, and routinely protects them from being abused or exploited by the surface-dwellers.

9. Black Panther—As the leader of the African nation of Wakanda, the Black Panther has banned the evil White Gorilla Cult from his country. Members of the cult seek to gain power by killing one of Wakanda’s rare white gorillas, bathing in their blood, and eating their flesh (um, gross). The villain known as Man-Ape gained his superpowers by doing exactly that—incurring the wrath of the Black Panther and becoming one of his greatest foes.

8. Superman—In a one-shot “PSA comic” entitled “Superman: For the Animals,” Supes rescues a kitten from being thrown off a bridge by a group of kids named (seriously) Ballser, Charlie, Donuts, and Eightball and, in the process, teaches everyone a valuable lesson about not picking on anyone weaker than you—including animals.

7. Captain Planet—He just wants to save the planet from the evil Captain Pollution! And that, of course, includes all our wildlife friends who live there. Point of fact, though: “Heart”? NOT an element.

To see the rest of the list get your cape and fly on over to blog.peta.org.

July 20th 2008

Woody Harrelson Prepares For The End of the World

Filed under: film-tv, movies — erinnuallain @ 11:29 am

The ancient Mayans believed that the world would come to complete ruin in the year 2012. Present day Hollywood predicts this could be a box office success in Summer 2009.

It has already been announced that John Cusack will star in the Roland Emmerich film and now Woody Harrelson has revealed to MTV that he has joined the cast of the upcoming apocalyptic thriller 2012 as well.

“I play a guy who’s been talking for a long time, the whole world thinks he’s crazy,” Harrelson said of his character. “But he’s been talking that there’s gonna be hell to pay for what’s been going on ecologically and everything.”

Harrelson doesn’t know why they thought of him for the role, but for those of us who know of his outspoken activist ways, it seems a very natural fit.

Other actors due to star in 2012 include Thandie Newton, Danny Glover, Amanda Peet (fortunately the subject of vaccines isn’t in the storyline), Oliver Platt, and Chin Han.

July 19th 2008

Sigourney Weaver Was Once An Elf

Filed under: film-tv, interviews, movies — erinnuallain @ 12:06 pm

According to an interview with the TimesOnline, Sigourney Weaver was once a hippy who lived in a treehouse, played the flute and wore an elf costume.

Although she has long considered her flower-child days to be a thing of the past, she does confess that one of the things that played part in her decision to work on Pixar’s WALL-E was the environmental message contained in the script.

In the animated tale, Earth is taken over by the garbage that fills it. Considering that the highest point on the eastern seaboard of North America is a landfill so huge that it can be seen from space, that premise doesn’t seem too far-fetched.

The 58 year-old star adds “I feel a little bit like an ambassador for a movie I just admire so much. It’s a film I want all earthlings to see; it brings us together.”

What better way to bring a family together than over the love of a mother? Especially when that mother is Earth.

July 18th 2008

Sarandon Fights Hospital Expansion. Next up: Orphanages

Filed under: buildings and construction, cars-houses, green and famous, movies — joe @ 9:11 am

We’re almost always on the same page as Susan Sarandon, especially when she’s taking on the likes of Bill O’Reilly, but this one might leave even the biggest Bull Durham fans scratching their heads.

The outspoken New York greenie, along with longtime companion Tim Robbins, has recently expressed concern with the expansion plans of Greenwich Village’s St. Vincent’s Hospital. The couple have a home in the area and are concerned with the impact that development will have on the neighborhood. That’s right, she’s now fighting sick people.

The couple lives just three blocks away from the proposed structure. While she admits that changes need to be made at the facility, she is asking the planners to consider some proposed alternatives. Let’s hope that the family’s health insurance covers emergency room visits at other hospitals.

While we New Yorkers are always concerned with the perils of expansion (not to mention collapsing cranes), we might want to look at something like NYU’s attempted urban domination before going after hospitals.

http://www.dosomething.org/celebsgonegood/Susan_Sarandon_Tim_Robbins