In honor of Earth Day, the MS51 Parent Association Green Committee in Park Slope sponsored a Cafeteria Environmental Experiment & Contest.  Students and their families were asked to sign a Sustainability Pledge (printed paper from FBR – free office supplies, everybody!) & track their trash, recycling and composting waste.  The experiment tracked the school’s cafeteria waste for the month of April.  Students watched their waste system transform from this:

(everything going to the landfill, no separation between what can be recycled & composted)

…to this:

Awesome!

Check out Vokashi composting!  We use Vokashi here at FBR to compost our kitchen scraps.

Throughout the month, students weighed and measured the different types of waste to track what was going where.

The pilot project was such a success that MS51 has decided to institute a recycling/composting policy in their school cafeteria full-time.

Recently, a representative from the MS51 Green Committee popped into Film Biz Recycling looking for some supplies to create a moveable recycling/compost/trash station.  She found the perfect solution!  One of our wardrobe racks (generously donated from ABC) & wheeled it over to the school.  FBR has got it again!

You can check out MS51′s progress on their website: Green, Healthy & Connected.

 This is a picture of Beans, Beans the Hot Dog is one of FBR’s favorite customers!  He visits (with his mom/owner of course!) so often, we even made some Beans-sized FBR swag!

So bring your pups & pooches, we always love a visit from furry friends!

You might recognize Film Biz Recycling’s wall of t.v.’s in SNL’s milestone 100th Digital Short, celebrating all of their classics.  The short features an all-star cast: Justin Bieber, Will Farrell, Usher, Natalie Portman, Jon Hamm & Michael Bolton. FBR was so happy to have our props featured in the project!

MS 88 from Park Slope had a great time on their recent school field trip to Film Biz Recycling & sent us this incredible thank you note.

We had a great time and we’re glad you did too!  Come and visit soon!

Taken a stroll down Fourth Ave lately?  You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the small, but noticeable addition of tree guards and flowers all along the Avenue.  These green improvements are thanks to the Park Slope Civic Council’s Spring Civic Sweep on April 21st.  Brian Vines, producer of Brooklyn Independent Television’s show Brooklyn Review, stepped out of the studio and and took the show to Fourth Avenue on Earth Day.  Check out their hard work in the video below:

Looks beautiful, great work!

RE-Stitch welcomes Katie Calcaterra, FBR’s newest team member and Resident Fabric Artist.  Feel free to ask Katie about custom orders for costumes, clothing, uniforms or soft goods.  She’s whipped the RE-Stitch workshop into great shape and is busy, busy, busy working on an incredible collection of aprons hand-crafted from FBR’s stockpile of materials (check out pics here!)

Katie graduated from Stephens College in Columbia, MO with a degree in Fashion Design.  She brings with her 6 years of experience working as a costume designer for tv shows (Late Night with Jimmy Fallon - not bad!), commercials and films all throughout NYC.  She started her company, Mary Jane Lane , about a year ago when she began to take her fashion design and business aspirations seriously.

Descended from a family of seamstresses, Katie started sewing at 8 years old.  Katie’s grandmother – the original Mary Jane Lane and an accomplished seamstress in her day – passed on the family wisdom and Katie’s mother instructed her  daughter on the in’s and out’s of the craft.  While rummaging through her grandmother’s sewing library (buttons, trim and patterns galore), Katie came across some old labels that Mary Jane Lane had once used to identify her handiwork.   It was serendipitous and Katie knew at once that this was the name for her business and a statement to her aesthetic.

Katie started out with children’s wear, using her attention to detail and whimsical creativity to inspire the imagination.  She first began designing men’s accessories – suspenders and ties – for her boyfriend; she is inspired by classic looks that have a modern flair and loves to go people-watching in Williamsburg to get ideas.  Her style is classically inspired, silhouettes from an eras past that have been updated and reimagined.

How does Katie fit into FBR?  She used to source Salvation Army and other thrift stores, using oversized men’s shirts as fabric to make smaller items.  She’s had a long-stading interest in doing the “green thing” and is excited by the idea of fabrics and materials whose original purpose is unrelated to their end product.  Needless to say, the FBR staff is tickled pink to have her on board.  Make sure to stop by the Shop and check out her incredible hand-crafted designs in the RE-Gallery!

Welcome to FBR Mary Jane Lane!

Film Biz Recycling is excited to participate in Ethikus‘ Shop Your Values Week May 3rd – May 10th.  Take the pledge to shop locally, ethically & sustainably all week long & enjoy free events & discounts across NYC!  Search the Shop Your Values website for participating businesses & their incentives.  Feel good about contributing to an NYC economy that you can believe in!  And… mention Shop Your Values week at FBR to receive 10% off your purchase.

This past Sat. FBR went into the labyrinth with BBQ Films‘ Labyrinth Night of Props.  BBQ Films is a cinema social club that hosts a curated menu of mainstream & indie films, popup style around the city, complete with matched meals and beverages.  Jim Henson’s Labyrinth set against the prop wonderland that is Film Biz Recycling made for an incredible night and great fun had by all.  Red Clog provided “clog tarts” – homemade peach pop tarts – to nibble on, popcorn was available of course and a festive intermission performance by Stephen Pitalo of the Golden Age of Music Video.  As a special treat, Gowanus brewers Billingsgate Brewing Co. created 4 themed beers exclusive for this event!  Bog beer?  Delicious!  Check out pics below… (photos courtesy of Clay Williams).

One of FBR’s RE-Workshop artist/educators Kat Roberts was recently interviewed by Crafty Crafty about her incredible upcycling endeavors – check out step-by-step DIY projects on her blog.  She cited Film Biz Recycling as one of her favorite places to find crafting supplies.  Thanks Kat!  Check out the whole interview here:

Craft Stars: Upcycling Genius Kat Roberts

Kat will be bringing her enviable upcycle skills to FBR in June for a DIY workshop that’s not to be missed!

FBR welcomed Dale Radio for his third live radio performance with FBR Presents!  His guests, Cory McAbee (director of films American Astronaut and Stingray Sam), Jen Messier of Brooklyn Brainery and Matthew Fass of the Raya Brass Band were an absolute delight.  Looking forward to the next Dale show on May 24th!  See you there!

A pivotal member of FBR’s DIY team, Juliana O’Byrne (under the moniker Fit For A King) has been working hard all month long to bring one-of-a-kind armchairs to the RE-Gallery.  This beautiful piece was once a frumpy office chair; Juliana reupholstered it with a plush grey velvet and an unexpected batik piping.  She sanded down the woodwork to create a homey, worn-in feel using materials and fabric donated to FBR!  How exquisite!

Juliana identified this particular piece as a vintage Knoll chair (original tags attached!) whose upholstery was old and decaying.  She found some fun, funky woven material here at the Shop and totally redesigned the chair into a modern masterpiece perfect for your kitchen or office.  Be sure to stop by the RE-Gallery for exciting new pieces all the time!

On Saturday 4/21, FBR hosted the third installment of the Super Fun Superfund Variety Show.  Great crowd, incredible performers.  Thanks for another memorable night!  We’re looking forward to the next Super Fun Superfund show on June 23rd.  See you there!  Photos courtesy of Joseph Vincent.

FBR has already gotten some press as a result of the PepCom Eco Focus press event: Check us out on CBS!

Brooklyn Non-Profit Saving Movie, TV Props From Landfills

Earth Day was a whirlwind at Film Biz Recycling!  We were invited to exhibit at PepCom’s Eco Focus Press Event where over 250 of the nation’s press elite were perusing what’s new on the sustainability scene.  We want to say thank you to the folks at PepCom for their generosity in offering us an exhibition space free of charge; as a nonprofit it’s so rewarding to have our work recognized as important and valuable, we really appreciate this opportunity to get the word out.  At Film Biz Recycling, every day is Earth Day and our sustainability pledge extends to include promotional materials too; we stashed our FBR handouts (printed on recycled paper, of course) in donated evidence bags!  Zero waste!  FBR also exhibited at ABC Disney’s internal Earth Day Fair, talking to employees about the importance and effect of greening production.  We’re so happy to be out there educating the industry on the many ways to be eco-conscious and make a difference where it counts.

New in the Re-Gallery…

DIY/Upcycler Courtney Wagner transformed this old wooden dresser into a modern masterpiece.  She artfully recolored the hardware and used old wallpaper to create a contrasting pattern on the dresser drawers.  Check out before & after pics below:

Cheap tickets (sliding scale $8-12), cheaper drinks, tasty treats, discount coupons for future Film Biz purchases, night-of specials, and fabulous prizes–including one, hand-selected mystery treasure from the Prop Shop.  Help make Super Fun a night of unbelievable variety entertainment!

Local business owners and Occupy Wall Street protestors, email us to be listed for half-price admission at the door.

If you’re totally out of work and a full-time activist, contact us for free entry.

• Carla Rhodes & Cecil Sinclair: vexing ventriloquism!
• Dale Seever: shocking spirit portraits!
• Rob Lok: death-defying daredevilry!
• Adam Kuchler: physics-bending feats!
• Jeff Seal: side-splitting comedy!
• Chris Gethard: violence, tears, and literature!
• David Boyd: mystifying magic!
• Zero Boy: sound-trip storytelling!
• Paris: heart-stopping hip hop juggling !
• The Bad Advice Column: exactly what it advertises.
• Sweet Soubrette: songs to inspire and delight!
• Cobra Gold: songs to befuddle and confuse!
• And more!

Recently, FBR has begun to diversify our space to include evening entertainment.  In April, we’ve got all sorts of fun events planned including Dale Radio, the third installment of the Super Fun Superfund Variety Show and a special treat, BBQ Films’ Labyrinth of Props Movie Night.  To accompany our evening events, FBR has received sponsorship from Brooklyn’s own Brooklyn Brewery.  They’re local, they’re green and their beer is just about the best in town – we’re so glad to have them on board!  So look forward to some refreshments at our upcoming FBR Presents! events.

What is Brooklyn Brewery doing to be green, you wonder?  Here are all the answers excerpted from the Brewery’s FAQ’s:

• Here at The Brewery in Brooklyn, we became the first New York City company to use 100% wind-generated electricity.
• We recycle all our paper, plastic, and bottles.
• We recycle our spent grain, sending it to a facility in NJ that turns it into pig feed. Our spent grain also goes to support the Queens Farm Museum that feeds it to their chickens and pigs and also uses it as compost.
• We recycle hot water from the brewhouse.
• We’ve installed: a new, more efficient brewhouse that recycles even more hot water and recovers heat from the vapors off the kettle; more efficient wort chillers; more efficient steam boilers; and a more efficient external wort boiler which uses less heat to get to the necessary temperature.
• All cold and hot pipes are insulated with high-tech foamglass insulation from Dow Corning.
• East Coast Warehouse hold our beer as it ships around the world. The building has solar panels on the roof that provide about 1/3 of their total power needs.
• Our tasting room uses compostable cups and environmentally friendly cleaning products.

Make Earrings from Recycled Umbrella Frames and Plastic Bags!

What you’ll get from this class:

• knowledge basis for “upcycling” or how to use unusual (& often free!) everyday items to create interesting and eco-friendly craft projects.
• comprehensive technique for creating original jewelry pieces
• your own pair of fashionable earring that look beautiful and have a low environmental impact

For more info on this event, click here.

Hilary McHone is Film Biz Recycling’s incredible, awesome, delightful volunteer photographer!  Hilary popped into Film Biz a couple months ago and we’ve just been so happy to have her as part of the team.  Without fail, Hilary has given every effort to be there for FBR’s quickly expanding event list – including our most recent Eco-Easter event, pics here!   Hilary’s incredible eye has even helped us with our staff photos too – her fauxtobooth invention (an easy, transportable modern photobooth of sorts) was tons of fun – hire her for your next event!

Hilary has been a huge help taking super-professional pictures of all the wonderful things that are happening at FBR and creating a Flickr group for FBR so everyone can share their experiences.  Without Hilary, people wouldn’t be able to see what we’re up to here.  Check out her adventures in the city at Brooklyn Hilary, her once-a-day photos around the neighborhood at Daily Brooklyn or go straight to the source on Flickr .

She’s an incredible woman, talented photographer and all around great person!  As a display of our gratitude, FBR gave her a fun photographer trophy (below) because she’s just the best.  Thank you Hilary… you’re AWESOME and FBR appreciates you!

On Easter Sunday, FBR hosted what turned out to be an AWESOME Eco-Easter event at the Prop Shop.  Kids were invited to get their hands dirty with some arts and crafts – reclaimed materials, of course – in the RE-Workshop before venturing on a Scavenger Hunt throughout the Prop Shop and an endless search for Easter eggs.  Everybody had a great time!  Below are a few of the photos, to see the rest, check out FBR’s Flickr Group!

This past Friday, members of the FBR staff were hosted for a lovely lunch and tour of our most recent nonprofit partner, Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden on Staten Island.  Founded in 1801 by Robert Richard Randall (one of New York’s original best and brightest)as a retirement community for aging sailors, Snug Harbor is now an incredible cultural resource, a haven for city-dwellers and truly a sight to behold.  By the turn of the 20th century, Snug Harbor was a self-sustaining community composed of a working farm, dairy, bakery, chapel, sanatorium, hospital, music hall and cemetery.  Today, situated on 83 acres of beautiful waterfront property, Snug Harbor features the largest working farm within city limits, a composting education center, a number of award-winning botanic gardens and 26 historic buildings that, in the 1960′s, were designated as New York City’s first landmark structures.

We were impressed, not only by their completely rare (one of 2 in the U.S.) Chinese Scholar’s Garden, but by their Sensory Garden designed to stimulate not only sight, but sound and smell using entirely natural elements.  The property also boasts several museums (including a children’s museum), a concert hall, secret garden, outdoor pavilions – it’s truly incredible!  The grounds are open to the public free of charge and the Staten Island Ferry – as you may well know – is also completely gratis.  This makes for the perfect weekend getaway, it’s New York City’s greatest untapped resource – we can’t wait to go back!

Film Biz Recycling has partnered with Snug Harbor in contributing to the renovation of their long-dormant artist residences.  The program has recently been revived by President and CEO Lynn Kelly.  This program will host young artists in historic cottages (furnished with goods from FBR) for two-month residency periods in which they will receive mentorship from working arts professionals and a featured exhibition in one of the Harbor’s many galleries.  This season, Snug Harbor will host 8 artists and the team at FBR could not be more delighted to be involved.

So pack your bags, plan your visit and take a day trip to Snug Harbor – guaranteed, you won’t regret it!

Arts Insight – a weekly cable show that draws on diverse arts talent running the gamut from knitting to heavy metal music  - recently moved into FBR!  The Arts Insight crew stopped by to build in their lighting grid above our stage space; slowly but surely things are coming together.  Within the next month or so, Arts Insight will begin shooting live at Film Biz Recycling, bringing creative people from all over New York City and the tri-state area into the Shop, we even hope to invite a live audience to participate!

FBR Presents! Dale Radio, the Gowanus Canal’s premiere arts & culture podcast.  Host and radio personality Dale Seever joined us for an evening of delightful comedy and entertainment after hours in the Film Biz Recycling space.  Guests Debbie Tuch, Matthew Fass and Camille Harris had a great time and we did too.  Dale will return for another great show later this month.  Thanks to our volunteer photographer Sean McCormack (want to volunteer at FBR?) for snapping photos.  Great fun, big laughs…To check out more pictures of the event, click here!

Got kids?  Check out FBR’s Eco-Easter DIY Craft Workshop and Scavenger Hunt this Easter Sunday 2-5PM, as featured in this week’s Time Out NY Kids:

“Learn how to construct a DIY craft from recycled materials, then embark on a scavenger hunt through a shop filled with recycled props straight from the movies. Be on the lookout for hidden Easter eggs filled with Film Biz Recycling discounts and prizes! Free. Ages 5 and up.”

Hey everybody, check it out!  A Park Slope CSA, short for Community Supported Agriculture, is in the works this spring and summer.  This is an incredible opportunity to support independent farmers and have access to incredible, delicious, healthy – and –  organic (need I say more) foodstuffs all season long.  The deadline is fast approaching, so sign up today and take advantage!  Details below:

SIGN UP: http://bit.ly/barefootorganics - DEPOSIT DEADLINE: April 10th

What: 21 weeks of organic, local veggies grown by Farmer Phil on Barefoot Organics farm in PA. Options include veggies, fruits, cheese, eggs and meat*.

When: Weekly Tuesday evening pickups starting early June and lasting 21 weeks.

Where: Pick up happens at Triomph Gym, 540 President St. Brooklyn,  NY on the first floor. The farm, which welcomes visitors, is in Lebanon Valley in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania.

Why: Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a great way to not only support your local farmer, but also participate in an economy where community is at the core. In a CSA, you are invited to purchase a share of the farm that provides the food and in doing so, you are pledging your support of that particular farm no matter what nature has in store for us this year. In return, you receive fresh, local and organic food throughout the summer. While Farmer Phil tries to predict what food will be ready for harvest each week, much of it is up to nature, so each week is a bit of a surprise, but it’s always delicious!

Cost: Shares range from $670 – $820 (approx. $32 – $39/week for veggies all summer long!)

The contract and payment process is up online, but you can still download the old-fashioned paper contract if you want, and deliver a check to Lisa Madison.

For more information, contact Lisa Madison, 917-520-1381 or madison.lisa@gmail.com

SIGN UP: http://bit.ly/barefootorganics - DEPOSIT DEADLINE: April 10th