Made for TV

The Environmental Media Association has always been about congratulating Hollywood. Now, with its 17th annual Environmental Media Awards ceremony on October 24, the EMA is going more Hollywood than ever by growing its E! broadcast. (Last year's broadcast was only 30 minutes, and the show had previously not been televised.) The event kicked off with a two-hour taping of the award show hailing film, television, and entertainment-industry activists for spreading the word about green living. The ceremony at the Ebell Club of Los Angeles will be shown on the E! network on November 7. Debbie Levin, the nonprofit’s executive director, and Ian Stewart of Done and Dusted served as executive producers of the event.

The star-spangled ceremony, which honored Al Gore, Trudie Styler, Sienna Miller, and longtime event sponsor Toyota, began an hour later than its scheduled 6 p.m. start, to allow hip-hop band the Roots time to rehearse. But event producer Patie Maloney, the organization’s vice president, steeled the 950 guests for the long slog ahead with organic raisins and chips from event sponsor Earthbound Farm.Around 9 p.m., guests spilled out of the theater into the grand halls and courtyard of the historic venue. Even the decor by TV Design Inc. was educational: Working with Modern Floristry, Tim Norr promoted recycling with centerpieces and chandeliers made out of water bottles and purple tulips, borrowing one of the colors of the EMA’s new logo.

While EMA board member DJ AM spun an eclectic mix of music, revelers ambled among 14 restaurant and 16 product stations to assemble their make-your-own dinner and gift-bag combos. They sipped organic potables from Bonterra Vineyards and Square One Vodka while they grazed on dishes served by Silk chef Akasha Richmond and Campanile’s Mark Peel. Armed with empty gift bags made from recycled Toyota and Lexus billboards by Billboard 2 Swag, guests picked up green-friendly items like Whole Foods liquid soap, Billboard wine bags, and the California Department of Conservation’s scarves made from recycled soda bottles. "We encourage people not to take something if they won’t use it," Maloney said.