ARLINGTON, VA – Miriam Gennari hosts the weekly podcast “Sustainable Scoop” and it is available on YouTube.com. (Photo Courtesy of Metromakeover).

ARLINGTON, VA – Miriam Gennari hosts the weekly podcast “Sustainable Scoop” and it is available on YouTube.com.  (Photo Courtesy of Metromakeover).

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

 

Q1. WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO HOST THE SUSTAINABLE SCOOP?

A1.  I WANTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN MY COMMUNITY.

 

Q2.  HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PRODUCING THE PODCAST?

A2.   IT HAS BEEN 8 YEARS NOW AND I HAVE INTERVIEWED MORE THAN 500 GUESTS.

 

Q3. WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO MAKE THE FILM STYROFOAMMOM?

A3.  AMAZON COMING INTO MY BACKYARD IN ARLINGTON AND THE REALIZATION THEY WERE GOING TO BE USING TONS OF STYROFOAM. 

 

Q4.  WHY STYROFOAM?

A4.  THE PROBLEM ISN’T STYROFOAM, BUT THE DISPOSAL OF IT AND THE FACT IT ISN’T RECYCLED AND DOESN’T BREAK DOWN IN LANDFILLS AND IN THE WATER.

 

Q5.  SO YOU ARE NOT OPPOSED TO STYROFOAM USE?

A5.  NO, ESPECIALLY IF I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ATLANTIC AND NEEDED A LIFE PRESERVER.  BUT WE TYPICALLY DON’T FUNCTION WITH THAT TYPE OF NECESSITY ON DRY LAND.

 

Q6. SO WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE PEOPLE DO WITH THE STYROFOAM TO RECYCLE IT?

A6.  INTERESTING QUESTION. I SCREENED THE FILM AT A HEALTH FAIR AND THAT LED TO A YOGA STUDIO RECYCLING EFFORT TO CREATE PROPS OUT OF USED STYROFOAM AND AN ART EXHIBIT WITH NESPRESSO K-CUPS MADE FROM ALUMINUM. .

 

Q7.  RECENTLY YOUR FILM WAS TAKEN TO THE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL TO SEEK DISTRIBUTION?

A7.  YES, WE HAD A PARTNERSHIP WITH a YOGA STUDIO -YOGA NATIONAL TO TAKE THE FILM TO CANNES, FRANCE. DELTA AIRLINES & AIR FRANCE GAVE US SUPPORT TO GET THERE. 

THE IDEA WAS TO SECURE ACQUISITION LISTS TO DISTRIBUTE OUR FILM FOR LICENSING AND SCREENING.   WE ALSO ARE WORKING ON PARTNERSHIPS WITH INDUSTRY.

 

Q8.  WHAT TYPES OF PARTNERSHIPS ARE YOU LOOKING TO DEVELOP?

A8.  FOR EXAMPLE, ONE GREAT PARTNER FOR US WOULD BE NESPRESSO BECAUSE THEY ARE LEADERS IN SUSTAINABILITY USING ALUMINUM K-CUPS INSTEAD OF PLASTIC WHICH THEY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO RECYCLE WITHIN THEIR STORES.

 

Q9.  WHERE ARE YOU PLANNING TO SCREEN YOUR FILM?

A9.  WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AS A RESULT OF THE CANNES TRIP TO SCREEN THE FILM WITH PORPOISE ROBOTICS, A STEM EDUCATION NONPROFIT.  IT WAS FOUNDED BY DAVID GROBER OF MOTION PICTURE MARINE PRODUCTIONS.  GROBER WAS AWARDED AN ACADEMY AWARD FOR TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT FOR A CAMERA THAT IS USED TO SELF LEVEL WHILE FILMING ON WATER.  IT HAS BEEN USED IN HARRY POTTER AND SURFING FILMS.  

 

Q10.  WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SINGLE-USE PLASTICS AND THE OCEAN?

A10.  THE OCEAN AND FISH ARE NOW AT RISK BECAUSE THE PLASTIC IS BEING CONSUMED BY THE FISH AND IN TURN BY HUMANS.  THE OCEANS ARE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE USE OF STYROFOAM IN THE WASTE STREAM AND SINGLE-USE PLASTICS THAT WIND UP THERE.