While the Cannes Film Festival may be have the honor of premiering such eco-conscience films as and , don t expect those green themes to be rubbing off anytime soon. The waste produced during the festival is just about as large as one would expect with the glam and glitter overtaking any form of environmental stewardship.
Leila Conners Petersen, co-director of 11th Hour had this to say , Cannes is an icon of waste and consumption, but it is also an icon of cinema, where the world s attention is focused. While it s upsetting to see all the waste here, Cannes also provides a unique opportunity to get the green message out.
Truly, Cannes does provide one of those inspiration with the entertainment type venues; but resistance is met by organizers at almost every level to pursue eco-friendly alternatives.
However, , there are promising developments shaping up.
For the first time, the American Pavilion has a carbon-neutral footprint, having bought carbon offset credits through the U.S.
group Native Energy to match the energy it wastes. The AmPav also has a 40-strong Green Team of students trawling the international pavilion and Cannes hotels, collecting recyclables from festival attendees.
The Marche du Film, the market of film buyers and sellers that takes place during the festival, introduced its own recycling bins this year, another first.
Unfortunately, that s about it. Not one of the dozens of other pavilions scattered about the festival bothered to approach the American Pavilion for advice on how to reduce their impact. As another perfect example, that giant red carpet almost 5,000 sq ft.
of it is pure plastic that s ripped up and thrown away as soon as everyone leaves. Kenny Ausubel, founder of the environmental group (who also makes an appearance in The 11th Hour) ,
Right now, I think that humanity is acting a lot like a movie star trashing a hotel room at Cannes, when it comes to the environment, Ausubel said. Maybe that s a message we should also get out there.
It s interesting that with the Oscars and Golden Globes embracing green, that a major film festival like Cannes has yet to ride the wave. Considering the press green receives today, you would think it would be in vogue. Is it European high society indifference on the subject that makes is less than chic to promote?
Or has the message simply not been made serious enough to trump the other green attracting all the attention?
He also happens to be notoriously press-shy. Razzi was there on the red carpet to try and catch him but like the fish that got away, he slipped by with a sparkle and a swish. Let me just say, the air around this man is electric!
Then he smiled like a Cheshire Cat for my camera.
Even though the of the Festival is over, I m happy to hear encouragement when I tell folks, I write for an environmental blog. After all, we re not in it for the opening night gala glory.
We re in it for the long haul. And it s good to let guys like Adrian and Leo know that we care more about what they do for this world than who they re dating. (Unless you re me.
Because I do care about that, too, a little.)
The opened last night with a short-film program dedicated to global warming. SOS (Save Our Selves), the campaign behind the concerts, sponsored seven eco-themed films. The Festival was founded by Robert DeNiro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff to revitalize Lower Manhattan after 9-11, and I think it s great to see that the Festival is forward-thinking with the global warming movement.
Ecorazzi got a spot on the red carpet for the much-anticipated Opening Gala. Bobby DeNiro, in his trademark fashion, breezed right by the press, looking amazing! (I love him).
Also snubbing interviews were Adrian Grenier, Chris Cooper, Jimmy Fallon (cute!), Petra Nemcova, Christie Brinkley, Josh Lucas, Freddy Rodriguez, Diego Luna, Damon Dash, a dashing Tom Brokaw and the magnificent Martin Scorsese. (Obviously I have a crush on most of these people.
)
Green beauty chatted up the press, explaining that even though thinking about the global warming crisis can be overwhelming, she tries to help by making little changes in her life. Edie Falco, most stumping for , also made her presence known as a supporter of the SOS program.
I think that if [global warming awareness] could actually take over the way the way that trucker hats did two years ago, then that would be great!
Trendy is only as valuable as the thing that becomes trendy. If something as beneficial as this could become trendy somehow, then we d be in good shape. Well put, Jesse.
P.S. You re cute.
Jon Bon Jovi arrived in amidst a flurry of excitement, and while he declined to talk to the press on the red carpet, he performed three songs at the end of the film program. He shared his thoughts on stage: I m up here as a father, a husband, and as a citizen of this country and the world. 
Al Gore introduced him by saying that Bon Jovi was the first musician to sign up for the Live Earth U.
S. concert! Bon Jovi sang a really (surprisingly) pretty acoustic version of Livin on a Prayer, and it made me choke up a little.
As the host of the evening, Vice President Gore pointed to the arts as a way to challenge our moral imaginations, beyond the scientific facts: We have the capacity to feel what is true. We need to call upon the creativity of the artists of SOS and Live Earth.
And the film program?
I think that there s no way around being a bit heavy-handed with a theme like global warming. The films were beautifully shot, but nearly all of them relied on images set to music, interspersed with text giving us all the grim statistics. Sunny Day showed peaceful, serene shots of clothes drying on a line, juxtaposed with loud, crazed industrial shots of clothes dryers whirring.
Another film showed peaceful, serene shots of people riding bikes, juxtaposed with loud, crazed industrial shots of cars driving. Et cetera!
The gem of the evening was a film showing Spinal Tap s efforts to for the London Live Earth concert.
The film followed Rob Reiner s character, Marty Debergi, contacting each member of the group. As singer David St. Hubbins (played by Michael McKean) says, I ve always been against devastation so Count him in!
Turns out Rob Reiner has been involved with the for over 20 years! It was refreshing to see some humor mixed in with earnest efforts to affect positive change
All the while I thought of Martin Scorsese and Robert DeNiro sitting in the auditorium, and what they must think of the SOS films. I hope eco-films will become more diverse and interesting as the environment becomes as ubiquitous a movie theme as love and war.
If anyone can achieve this, I bet !
The Tribeca Film Festival is a sprawling event, with more information than this blogger can possibly convey. To learn about all the events and read up on the films, be sure to visit their .
This post was contributed by Mollie Magill. .
The gloomy clouds that have been looming over New York City broke just in time for the Riverkeeper benefit gala last night at Chelsea Piers, honoring the Hearst Corporation for the eco-friendly design and construction of its new mid-town tower.
Groups of guests moved outdoors to enjoy the sun setting over the Hudson river as they sipped cocktails and awaited the red carpet arrivals – Christy Turlington Burns and Edward Burns, Edie Falco, Gayle King and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. were amongst the stars who showed up to toast the sustainable addition to Manhattan’s skyline.
The site for the gala couldn t have been more perfectly planned – (the Hearst family is a long-time supporter) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to protect the Hudson River and safeguard the city’s drinking water supply.
The evening’s highlight was a performance by Lenny Kravitz, who rocked out like the star he is to the crowd of actors, models, magazine moguls, philanthropists and eco-enthusiasts.
Sundance Channel s The Green is getting ready for its premiere tomorrow.
We were are the , and soon after they were partying down in NYC, too.
Queer Eye s Carson Kressley was there, as were models Summer Rayne Oakes and Shalom Harlow. Simran Sethi Majora Carter, the hosts for The Green, also showed up in style.
We ve checked out the first episode, and it looks promising. .
Ecorazzi headed over to the Peterson Auto Museum in Los Angeles yesterday to watch the unveiling of new Sport Utility Truck.
We ate hors d’ ouevres, checked out a cool car, and definitely chatted it up with a few celebs on the green carpet.
Of course we spoke with one of our faves, Ed Begley Jr., who was co-hosting the event.
“Ecorazzi! We love you!” Says Begley.
He was super excited to be introducing the latest and greatest electric vehicle to the world, “I’ve been driving electric cars since the 1970’s but they were slow back then, they weren’t that safe back then, didn’t go that far back then, they’ve come along way. They were nothing like what we have today with this pickup truck, it goes 90 mph, it’s fast, big cargo truck, seats five. It’s a terrific car, and the batteries will be lasting a long time, maybe even longer than the car!
”
Begley s wife, Rachelle Carson, talked a little eco-fashion: “I’m carrying a vegan purse, and I didn’t have to sacrifice style. I was going to wear a bamboo dress, but I just couldn’t get the rest of the outfit together.” Rachel sported her vegan purse with a sleek black suit, and an “activist chic” camouflage tank with a rhinestone peace sign.
The very green and glam Daryl Hannah was cruising the event and doing some work for her earth friendly vlog She tells Ecorazzi, “I’m doing a video blog on electric cars, I’m excited to drive it and shoot it, too.”
It was the perfect event for us to meet Chris Paine, Director of Who killed Electric Car. He attended with activist J.
Karen Thomas, both of whom were thrilled to see a new electric vehicle on the market. “The last time we came here, we saw the EV1 in the basement. It was dead and we included it in our movie.
We’re excited to be here to see a real electric car that people can buy.”
When the sheet was finally yanked off the truck, the VIP and celebrity-studded crowd flocked to get their hands on the wheel. As Phoenix promised, it is a “real car for real people,” that can carry a full load of passengers and payload, and still cruise down highway 5.
Plus, 45k doesn’t sound too steep for a brand new pimped out electric pickup! Seems that Phoenix Motorcars gets a little help from their gas guzzling competitors in the auto industry – because P.M.
makes zero emission vehicles they can trade their emission credits to conventional automotive manufacturers, which helps bring down the price of the truck.
Only a limited number of vehicles will be available to select consumers in 2006 (the rest are going to be fleet cars). To be considered for the truck, send your info to waitinglist@phoenixmotorcars.
com. Or save up your soy milk money until 2008 when the consumer versions will hit the market. You can also here.
A special thanks to world traveling for being our super star green carpet ‘razzi photographer.
We were unaware that Ed Begley Jr. and Rachelle Carson showed up at the Oscars; and according to their publicist, they planned it that way to give Al Gore time in the spotlight to shine. How considerate! We have, however, learned of their arrival details and as expected they were green and consistent with Ed s values.
First off, Ed and Rachelle were planning on pulling up to the red carpet in their new ; but that was put on hold after the car was chosen to represent on the south lawn of the White House last Friday.
President Bush held a press conference on plug-in and electric vehicles and the Begley s vehicle was one of two (the other being a plug-in converted Prius) on hand to demonstrate.
So, with those plans scrapped, the Begleys opted to take their Toyota Rav4 EV Electric and simply self-parked in the parking structure rather than making a big deal about having a driver and a limo pass. How s that for a green arrival?
Though he was not nominated, nor presented, Ed sits on the board of and attends the event with Rachelle every year.
That electric RAV4 may have seen its last red carpet. Their new Phoenix will be permanently parked in their garage after the March 1 and March 8 unveiling events in LA and Dallas.
(One of which Ecorazzi will be attending!). The RAV will then most likely be .
Way to go, Ed and Rachelle! The King and Queen of Green continue to prove to us why those crowns are so deserving. Remember to check out their show, Living With Ed, on HGTV and for more green info!
dc:title="How Did Ed Begley Jr. and Rachelle Carson Arrive At The Oscars?"
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), Andrea Bowen, and whole who s who of other stars. Maroon 5 provided the entertainment.
Gossip-wise, Orlando Bloom and Penelope Cruz (the two are rumored to be dating) kept their distance and chatted briefly; while James Blunt and his supermodel girlfriend gushed about their love for each other and the environment.
,
There s no separating them when it comes to their cause, either. Asked which of them was greener than the other, Blunt demurred, I think we have an equal interest. Nemcova just giggled and countered, Competition is good.
The supermodel said she isn t above getting her hands dirty. On a TLC reality series she s working on, she took the wannabe models to a park to plant saplings. We were digging, and I had the best time, she says.
Anybody can do it.
The pair said they scuba dive and are passionate about the outdoors, and Blunt agreed that a beautiful woman and the beauty of nature only enhance each other.
I give them three months.
We re going to hook you up with the site, , who seems to have the hook-ups for the latest Paparazzi shots. For Joshua Jackson and Diane Kruger, . For Orlando s wild hair, .
For Penelope and her look-alike sister, . And finally, some some Jame Blunt/Petra Nemcova action, .
[UPDATE] Apparently, what we thought was a reliable source, USA Today, never bothered to stick around past the Red Carpet.
In an earlier report, we mentioned that Leo did not show up, when in fact he did, but bypassed the media frenzy out front. We apologize for the confusion and many thanks to all those that commented about his appearance!
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