Hollywood Shines for the EMA 20th Anniversary Awards

The Environmental Media Association (EMA) hosted their 20th Anniversary EMA Awards show this past Sunday night with an evening that lived, breathed and led by example with its goal — to honor film and television productions and individuals that increase public awareness of environmental issues and inspire personal action on these issues. EMA set the stage Sunday night with a selection of vendors who provided local, organic food in a farmer’s market-style setting that used minimal electricity and on-site composting. The dinner, aptly titled “An Evening Under the Stars,” was held on the Paramount Studio lot and proved to be a low to no-waste, environmentally friendly event. Leading the evening was EMA founder [television legend] Norman Lear (and wife Lyn) and foundation president Debbie Levin.

“It’s such a great example to have an elegant Hollywood Party that’s sustainable,” said Debbie. “It’s extremely easy if you just think about what you are doing.”

EMA President Debbie Levin being interviewed by Elie Foster of Yes To Carrots.

EMA's latest major activity has been to partner with Yes To Inc. in an effort to build organic gardens in urban schools across LA. EMA recently enlisted a group of young celebrity ambassadors to create the EMA Young Hollywood Board. This board—which includes dedicated celebs such as Amy Smart, Rosario Dawson, Nicole Richie, Lance Bass and Carter Oosterhouse—actively encourages green behavior among their fans while launching an organic garden program in LA Unified School District public schools.

EMA Young Hollywood Board Chair Amy Smart being interviewed by Elie Foster of Yes To Carrots.

Each member of the board will adopt a garden, committing their personal time to planting and nurturing both the garden and the students who maintain that garden. Yes To will support the campaign through its non-profit Yes To Carrots Seed Fund, which helps underserved communities develop self sustaining, organic food sources. The chair of the Young Hollywood Board is actress Amy Smart, someone our team at Yes To has had the privilege to get to know in the past months. Amy actively works to green our society in both large and small ways…she drives a hybrid car, recycles, is working to give up her dependency on paper towels and eats organic.

Actress Olivia Wilde of Fox’s “House,” an outspoken board member, finds being green an easy process that anyone of any means can adapt to their lifestyle. For example, Olivia stated she prefers filtered water instead of bottled and brings her own bag to the grocery store. Olivia, who also drives a hybrid, said Hollywood sets tend to be "very wasteful places." However, she seemed optimistic that things are [rapidly] changing.

"We can try to waste less paper and have scripts distributed more responsibly. We can use corn-based products for craft services and we can go as far as solar-powered trailers," she said. "It's not overwhelming if you take it step by step."

Actress Olivia Wilde working the Green Carpet