Green Screen Series Spring 2019

Santa Monica College Continues Green Screen Series at Center for Media and Design

Spring 2019 Environmental Film Series Opens March 7

SANTA MONICA, CA — Santa Monica College (SMC) continues the Green Screen Series this spring at the SMC Center for Media and Design. The informative series of free film screenings and discussions are hosted by SMC adjunct professor Sheila Laffey as an extension to her course, Green Screen: Films on the Environment and Transformation.

All presentations in the series will be held at 11:30 a.m. in Auditorium 180 at the SMC Center for Media and Design (CMD), located at 1660 Stewart Street, Santa Monica. Unless otherwise noted, all presentations are sponsored by SMC Global Citizenship. Seating is strictly on a first-arrival basis.

Street parking is available by the Center for Media and Design, but extremely limited. Attendees are encouraged to arrive via the Expo line, the bus, or a ride-sharing service.

The spring 2019 lineup is:

• March 7, 11:30 a.m. – Documentary Film Screening and Q&A: “Producer/Co-director Sheila Laffey and Eco-Action Club: The Last Stand: Heroes at Ballona Wetlands.” A spirited, award-winning documentary hosted by Ed Asner, The Last Stand (20 min.) examines the controversial, high-profile issue of preservation and development at the Ballona Wetlands. The short film includes scientists, activists, development advocates, Hollywood actors, Native Americans, labor unionists, and politicians. It aired originally on “Natural Heroes,” an Emmy Award-winning and Telly Award-winning Public Television series. Includes talk with producer/co-director Sheila Laffey and a member of SMC’s Eco-Action Club.

• April 4, 11:30 a.m. – Documentary Film Screening and Q&A: “Plastic Free SMC Club: Straws.” Directed by Linda Booker, with a colorful animation of the history of beverage straws narrated by Oscar winner Tim Robbins, Straws (30 min.) is a short film that makes clear the problems caused by plastic pollution — including the 500 million plastic straws used and tossed per day in the U.S. alone — and empowers individuals to be part of the solution. Includes discussion with SMC adjunct professor Sheila Laffey and members of Plastic Free SMC Club.

• April 25, 11:30 a.m. – Documentary Film Screening and Q&A: “SMC Club Grow: Evolution of Organic.” Documentary on organic agriculture directed by Mark Kitchell, Evolution of Organic (77 min.) tells the stories of the motley crew of back-to-the-landers, spiritual seekers, and farmers’ sons and daughters who rejected chemical farming and set out to explore organic alternatives, leading to a cultural transformation in the way we grow and consume food. Includes discussion with SMC adjunct professor Sheila Laffey and members of SMC Club Grow.

• May 16, 11:30 a.m. – Documentary Film Screening and Q&A: “SMC Club Grow: Nourish: Food + Community.” With beautiful visuals and inspiring stories, Nourish (30 mins.) traces humanity’s relationship to food — from a global perspective to personal action steps — and illustrates how food connects to such issues as biodiversity, climate change, public health, and social justice. Directed by Kirk Bergstrom and hosted by Cameron Diaz, the film features interviews with author Michael Pollan, sustainable food advocate Anna Lappe, organic farmer Nigel Walker, and others. Includes discussion with SMC adjunct professor Sheila Laffey and members of SMC Club Grow.

All programs are subject to change without notice, and new events may be added to the series. Up-to-date details are posted on the Events at SMC website and available by calling 310-434-4100.

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