MIRIAM GENNARI
Independent Filmmaker

Miriam Gennari is an independent filmmaker and StyrofoamMom is her first film. She is host of the radio program “Sustainable Scoop” which examines sustainable environmental practices in her community of Arlington, Virginia.

She has produced the podcast for 8 years and served as a leader and activist in her community. The decision of Amazon to locate their headquarters in her community led to her decision to release StyrofoamMom with the aim of stimulating dialogue about the elimination of single-use plastic and styrofoam form the waste stream.

Miriam is married to Paul Gennari and they have three daughters and a cat named Blondie and a dog Elvis.

StyrofoamMom is an environmental film that examines the challenges involved in eliminating single-use plastics and specifically ESP or Expanded Polystyrene.

The film includes interviews with Cheryl Kaagen, a Maryland State Senator, concerned with the impact on the Chesapeake Bay and the fish, wildlife and public health of her state.  Greg Kasten, President and CEO of Ocean Pro Industries & Profish, Ltd., in Washington, DC, gives his perspective on the use of styrofoam in the fishing industry.  Alexandria Dysard, Director of Sustainability, Mom’s Organic Market, addresses the challenge to keep styrofoam out of the retail grocery chain and recycling the product.  Michael Levy, American Chemistry Council, discusses the efforts of his organization to recycle Styrofoam.   Gennari also focuses on the removal of styrofoam from Fairfax county schools through her interviews with youth.  Baltimore Beyond Plastic is an organization whose spokeswomen led the charge for Maryland styrofoam legislation.

Gennari gives air time to these collective voices in her film which is dedicated to improve the health and well being of her community, the oceans and the marine life affected by single-use plastics and styrofoam.  The increasing popularity of ordering products via the Internet has led to the proliferation of styrofoam and threatens our environment.  Gennari takes a look at solutions to the current challenges communities face as they seek to eliminate styrofoam use.

Her #holdthefoam campaign has received global attention through Arlington Public Media on her program Sustainable Scoop in Arlington, Virginia, and throughout the country.  The film StyrofoamMom was released in March 2019 and is set to be screened in film festivals and with environmentally responsible organizations like the Sierra Club, the Center for Concern in Washington, DC, universities and trade associations.

Gennari welcomes your contributions to support screenings near you and in your community.

STYROFOAM MOM SCREENED AT NATIONAL LANDING ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA

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

STYROFOAMOM SCREENS AT NORTHERN VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE ~ APRIL 16, 2019

STYROFOAMMON REVIEWS

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“I thought the film was a balanced approach to the issue of styrofoam and waste stream,” Christina Taylor, Global Co-Lab.

Featured Articles

Coote, Darryl.  “Mayor Bill De Blasio Bans New York City From Using Single Use Plastics.”  United Press International (UPI). April 11, 2019.

Williams, Diedre.  “Buffalo’s Talk of Styrofoam Ban Pits Environment vs. Cost” April 14, 2019.

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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.

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