FILM BIZ RECYCLING

Because Film Biz Recycling works with the community,
the entertainment industry and a wide variety of charities, we’re lucky to know some of the coolest people in the world. Consider this weekly post as an introduction.

This summer, Cameron Faulkner has been working at Film Biz Recycling as a full time Marketing & Communication summer intern. He’s been busy keeping you all up-to-date with all things FBR, and we thought it was time to share a bit about him.

FBR: Tell me a bit about yourself - where you’re from, where you go to school and what you’re majoring in.

CAMERON: I was born and raised in central Ohio. I exposed myself to life away from home in NY at SUNY Purchase with a Media, Society & The Arts major for a year. I’m now a senior at The Ohio State University studying New Media & Communication Technology with hopes of moving to Brooklyn after graduation.

FBR: How did you decide on that major? What’s attracted you to it?

CAMERON: I played a game of deduction for a while, eliminating majors I knew I didn’t want to commit myself to. I spent a lot of time taking classes on all different subjects and attending other schools. All of that craziness helped me to finally settle with what I wanted to major in. My parents question it but it’s 2011 and I had to be certain of my choice. It’s not the same playing field they grew up in at all.

It really moves me thinking into how much communication technology makes our world tick right now. Seeing how everyday instruments of communication technology are being used in ways that its creators hadn’t intended is inspiring.

FBR: A lot of people have to sneak in their facebook/twitter time when on the clock and here you are being asked to engage with it more and more (professionally speaking).  Tell me your thoughts on social media?

CAMERON: Social media is always blowing my mind. I didn’t really see the whole picture or notice how capable the technology was until I used it for FBR. It’s something bigger than just networking with friends.

FBR: Who’s diary would you most enjoy to read?

CAMERON: Jeff Buckley and Gabe Newell. Weird combination, I know.

FBR: Who’s blog do you most enjoy to read?

CAMERON: 27b/6 is the only personal blog I’ve ever read. I recommend it. I mostly spend my internet time on tech blogs like Engadget and Kotaku.

FBR: I must confess, I feel terribly that we never got you a desk. You’ve sort of been hopping from table to table, couch to someone else’s desk. How do you feel about that? Be honest - I can take it. Think it has anything to do with Film Biz Recycling? (I’m starting to wonder if the staff is so dedicated to finding homes for “stuff” that we’ve forgotten to truly embrace having our own.)

CAMERON: Don’t feel bad! It’s been a great learning experience to be floating around. I would definitely encourage future interns to be open to moving around and being flexible.  It’s totally FBR’s style to have things organized this way. You realize that it’s a quality to admire when you see others making sacrifices too; my bosses desks have price tags on them.  

FBR: In not a lot of time you’ve worked on communication platforms for many FBR’s efforts, services and partners that had previously been all too under the radar. Do you find some aspects of FBR harder to communicate that others?

CAMERON: It’s been great to be a part of the strong force that helped FBR get online and mingling with awesome neighbors and friends from all over. Sure there were difficulties at first but as we progressed, we created a strong virtual foundation - and we have fun with it.

FBR: Just the other day I felt guilty of BAW, (Bragging About Work). It was when you and I were discussing FBR’s Green Cleanout program and I was spewing a list of the millionhoundred ways in which the service is basically the best thing ever. The reality is that I’m extremely fortunate to have this be a concern of mine as a lot of people whose work incorporates aspects of marketing, branding and/or communication have to speak highly of things that they deep down think are terrible. Have you thought about this during your time with FBR? Think you’re going to be that much more selective now in your job search?

CAMERON: It’s definitely a leisure to be proud of what you preach for sure. I feel that whether you’re happy with your work or not, it’s important to develop a skill in knowing how to achieve balance, making yourself and others happy. It’s amazing that the FBR team has the ability to tend to so many areas in their work: charities, partners etc. They make so many people happy and that alone makes their work complete. I will take what I’ve learned being an intern at FBR and hopefully dive into a job I’m happy with!

FBR: Ok, so you graduate, the economy is stronger than ever, the job market is great, and being that your resume is super strong because of this internship, you’re ready to land your dream job. Tell me what the dream job is!

CAMERON: I’ve always wanted to work a marketing job for a triple-A video game developer and I still do! Wink wink Rockstar Games…

FBR: As a small token of appreciation for your dedicated work this summer, below is some space on our server, just for you. Share anything you want; shout outs, words of wisdom, a specific request to the film industry at large straight from Cameron Faulkner, a treasured photograph - milk it Cameron.

CAMERON: Thank you to the entire FBR staff for giving me the opportunity to be an intern at such an righteous place. I’d like to give a HUGE shout-out to the Moore-Auslander family and thank them for being so beautiful and hospitable. I’d like to give a shout-out and some words of encouragement for my 1998 Honda Civic. It has 240 K miles and I would really like it to stay strong so I can make a lot more trips back and forth from Ohio to New York. I’d also like to give thanks to my family for supporting me from afar.

I hope that more film studios in the near future start to make it protocol to donate all of their set pieces and props to FBR. It’s truly beneficial to the public, the environment and the entertainment industry. There’s no reason NOT to do it.

Thanks Cameron for all of your hard work and for giving us one more reason to be sad when summer is over.

FBR is very fortunate to have been spared of any hurricane related damage.  Located at basement level not far from the Gowanus Canal, extensive precautions were taken to protect all material donations. We will be closed to the public on Monday Aug, 29th as we work to get all materials, props and furniture ready for their next use, home or set. 

We thank you for support and understanding, and hope to see you Tuesday morning when our doors open at 10am.

• If you have a donation pick-up or drop-off scheduled for Monday, August 29th, please call 347.384.2336 or email donate@filmbizrecycling.org - we will do our best to make it happen.

The owner of The Yard at Carroll on the Canal watches the tide.
Photo via Pardon Me For Asking 

Presenting our current web obsession: 
Artist, Tymn Armstrong’s online archive of faux logos created just for movies.
It’s genius. fauxgo.com

Two fauxgos:

(Thanks you swiss-miss.com for the new obsession.)

FILM BIZ RECYCLING is fortunate to see materials we’ve rescued from the landfill used in a variety of inspiring ways. And when it happens in Gowanus, it just brings it all — home. 

Check out the amazing project the Gowanus Canal Conservancy has organized. We’re donating as many cans of paint as needed and hope to see you there, brush in hand.

The Details: The Gowanus Canal Conservancy invites you to participate in a community mural-painting project on Sunday, August 21. The project twill explore 3-themes:

Early Industrialization - along the Gowanus
Recent Improvements - to the Gowanus
Future Visions - for a clean and healthy canal.

The Conservancy needs community support to help paint the murals and give form to the concept. Additional projects will take place that day involving garden work and compost turning. If you have any interest in these activities, please contact the Conservancy to sign up for the event at: volunteer@gowanuscanalconservancy.org

Event Location:
The Salt Lot - 5 Second Ave, Brooklyn (near intersection of 2nd Ave and 5th Street in Park Slope)

Public Transportation:
F-Train to Smith & 9th Street Station(walk 6 blocks to the Salt Lot)

Event Time: Sunday, August 21 from 11am - 3pm

E-mail: volunteer@gowanuscanalconservancy.org Phone: 718 541 4378

Here’s a sneak peek of one of Film Biz Recycling’s episodes on “Dirty Money” - a great new show on Discovery Channel. In this clip you’ll see FBR founder Eva Radke, negotiating with the Diresta family. Tell us if you think Eva played it too tough or too loose!

The money Eva bargained for goes directly to fund our sustainable solutions not-for-profit work and to support our 8 NYC-based charity partners.

Check out Eva & FBR at 10PM tonight on the Discovery Chanel.

A weekly post featuring a rescued prop looking to find its next home. Love it as it is, or explore the many ways of making it new again.

From vintage to new, there’s always a nice selection of kitchen utensils at the FBR PROP SHOP. One would assume the intended use is obvious, but once in a while we at FBR find ourselves baffled. (Check out bottom row, second in from the left!).  Scrambled, mushed, sliced or diced, there’s so much more that your trusty old utensil can do. Or be. Just take a look and you’ll be eating your hearts out.

This Chandelier made of wooden spoons is perfect lightening to set the mood - to eat!

Straight from Iowa, this upcycled creation is nothing less than grate. 

Just follow the simple steps on Design Sponge to make these and you’ll be hooked on upcycling for sure.

To Adopt-This-Prop or another, visit Film Biz Recycling’s Prop Shop.

A weekly expression of appreciation for a partnered charity or in-kind-donor and how we collectively use our powers for good in turning would-be waste into treasure.

This week:

We were so delighted when we got an awesome post on our Prop Shop’s Facebook from Blissful Bedrooms. FBR gives free reign to Blissful Bedrooms to take the materials they need in order to build their projects. So inspired by their efforts, we collect small-change donations from customers at the FBR Prop Shop.

It’s a proud feeling to re-purpose and redistribute materials and props, augment their beauty, and channel them to the hands of deserving and under-served people and organizations.

It’s further confirmation that we fill a critical need between media production industry and a more sustainable future.

“Thank you Film Biz Recycling for once again supporting Blissful Bedrooms in giving another special, young individual with a severe disability a BLISSFUL BEDROOM!! Last weekend we gave Melissa the Fairy Garden Princess bedroom of her dreams!! We are so thankful to you and your generous customers who contribute to the donation jar to make these dream bedrooms happen. It is because of compassionate people like you all that we are able do this heart enhancing work for young individuals who are severely disabled!! Check out the pictures from our Melissa’s bedroom makeover on our website. I think you will be amazed…….”  Melissa’s Page

Blissful Bedrooms is a not-for-profit organization composed entirely of volunteers who craft dream bedrooms for severely disabled teens. We at Film Biz Recycling love playing a part in helping Blissful Bedrooms by opening our doors to any and all materials they may need for their current project. Additionally, the change collected at the Prop Shop register assists in their mission expenses.

Check it out:

To tell us about us your FBR donation story, send us a message on our facebook page.

Because Film Biz Recycling works with the community, the entertainment industry and a wide variety of charities, we’re lucky to know some of the coolest people in the world. Consider this weekly post as an introduction.
 
Just moments ago, Film Biz Recycling was graced with a visit from the urban compost guru. Clutching two filled-to-the-brim compost buckets, our eco-hero stopped for a quick chat before whisking our lunch scraps away.

Meet Vandra Thorburn.

FBR:  I hope you’re not too freaked out to know that we’ve been googling you - and everything we discover is just amazing, you do so much! Surely people must ask you what your “job” is - how do you answer this?

Vandra: Retired, Senior Entrepreneur, Founder/President of Vokashi “A New Urban Composting Service”

FBR: You’re so cool. Any chance you think Film Biz Recycling is cool?

Vandra: Totally! It is a wonderful approach of tying the community and film biz industry together while not destroying the universe.

FBR: What inspires you?

Vandra: Life challenges and a belief one can make a difference.

FBR: Your favorite color?

Vandra: Daffodil Yellow

FBR: Anything that most people don’t know about you that you’d care to share?

Vandra: I’ve lived in New Zealand, Africa, and England.

Brooklyn Spaces, a unique blog that uncovers the treasures of Brooklyn space by space, hosted an amazingly intimate interview with Film Biz Recycling’s very own founder Eva Radke.

Read on below to find the interview and you can always read the original post from Brooklyn Spaces here.

One of my favorite things about this project is how often it surprises me. And was it a surprise walking into Film Biz Recycling, an enormous basement warehouse in Gowanus in between the Ger-Nis Culinary & Herb Center and the Textile Arts Center, just bursting with castoffs from movies, television, and commercial shoots. And I’m not just talking about plastic display food and costume jewelry and faux brick walling (although there’s plenty of those); there’s also racks of designer clothing and shoes, row upon row of high-end leather couches and brass lamps, plus headboards and telephone booths and bicycles and filing cabinets. And those are just the big items; there’s also aisles of small stuff, from books to toasters to street signs to toys.

What’s it all for? Well, for you, for whatever you can think to do with it, whether it’s building out your loft or decorating for a themed party. Eva, the founder, and her crew collect everything the film biz can’t use, and then they separate it into things to sell, things to deconstruct and reuse, and things to donate. They work with dozens of charities, including Blissful Bedrooms, Recycle-a-Bicycle, Room to Grow, Fertile Grounds, and Brooklyn Greenway Initiative, sending clothing to shelters, baby items to single mothers, e-waste to recycling centers, and building materials to reuse shops. In the three years it’s been open, Film Biz Recycling has diverted 180 tons of stuff from landfills. And they’re just getting started! It’s a space you’ve really got to see, and a cause that is so worth supporting, with your time (they love volunteers!), your money (don’t you need a new armchair?), and your ideas. Get over there! But first, click through for my interview with Eva.
brooklyn spaces: What made you get into all this?

Eva: I worked in the film business for fifteen years, and I just spent so much time trying to find homes for all the leftover materials. I started a Google Group in 2007 to get all the art departments talking to one another, figuring out how to exchange materials. But the stuff needed a place to go, so in 2009 I got a tiny space in Long Island City. I used my savings for the deposit; it was totally underfunded, which was fine, that’s what ecopreneurs are famous for. But it turned out we had to grow or die, so I started looking for a new space. When I found this one—11,000 square feet!—I said, “We’ll be here or nowhere.” So we did an emergency fundraiser and raised $20,000 in two weeks, everything from $10 from a production assistant to $1,000 from Bridge Props, another prop house. We were weeping from the support. So we raised the money, signed the deposit, and got the hell out of Long Island City.

brooklyn spaces: Are you happy in Gowanus?

Eva: We love it! It’s like a perfect metaphor. We’re in between Park Slope and Carroll Gardens, which are both gentrified and pretty wealthy; and then there’s this sort of ugly center, this butt crack in between those two lovely cheeks. It’s so dirty here, but the people who love it really love it. One of the first things I did when we got here was start reaching out to anybody who’s trying to make Gowanus a better place, like Gowanus Canal Conservancy. I said, “Hey, we have materials, and we’re going to give them to you for free. Come down and see what you want.” Then I started finding local charities. CHIPS, a men’s shelter, is down the street, as is Camba Women’s Shelter. Sean Casey Animal Shelter is up the road.

brooklyn spaces: Are all the charities you work with so close?

Eva: No, they’re all over. Materials for the Arts picks up from us once a month… Wearable Collections picks up clothing; they send what’s usable to South America and recycle the rest. Our mission is sort of a triple bottom line: people, profit, and planet. People are saving money, and these rich companies aren’t spending $900 a dumpster for all this usable stuff to just be tossed. It’s cheaper to donate it. It’s never not been that way.

brooklyn spaces: Okay, take me through all the different components of the space.

Eva: Well, first we have the Re-Workshop. We want this to be a community hub, a place for groups to meet and talk to one another. We have a Re-Gallery, to show the works of our featured artists, who have a workshop in the back. Right now it’s Dog Tag Designs. We’ve got our offices in the back, and a kitchen, and even an underground terrace, where they used to store the coal to heat the building. It’s our break room and spraypaint area and impromptu garden center—

brooklyn spaces: Now tell me about what you’ve got for sale.

Eva: Let me just give you a couple of examples. There’s a set of brand new white leather couches that cost $3,700 new; the whole batch is $1,200 here. There’s a roll of rubber flooring, which costs $1,000 at RoseBrand, that we’re selling for $200. A gorgeous vintage lamp that was $2,300 new is $400 here. There’s a couple of crazy old phone booths that we just sold to Brooklyn Creative League to use in their coworking spaces. And that’s just the huge stuff. We also have a Small Boxes section. We have things like Bodega in a Box, Birthday Party in a Box, Hospital in a Box—these are usable items, not just props. We have salt and pepper shakers, lunch trays, trophy cups, petri dishes, candles, maps, a whole box of creepy clowns.

brooklyn spaces: So is everything for sale?

Eva: Not everything; we also have a rental-only section for items that are specific to the industry. Like, imagine a Downy commercial, with the mom looking into the dryer at her laundry, or a Sunny-D commercial, with the kid looking into the fridge. How do you get those shots? You cut a hole in the back of the dryer or fridge. And what did we do in the stupid industry forever? Bought a new one every single time. So now at Film Biz Recycling we rent them out.

brooklyn spaces:Have you found anything that you were just stumped about how to repurpose or recycle or resell?

Eva: Theatrical flats. They’re huge, they’re made with lauan—a rainforest material from the Philippines—and they get used once and tossed. But I’ve been thinking about remaking them into composting bins. Our composting company is Vokashi, and I’m going to see if they could use something like that. There’s a solution for everything.

brooklyn spaces:Do you want to export the Film Biz Recycling model to other cities, like LA?

Eva: Well yeah, but you know what? Brad Pitt needs to write me a check. I’m not doing it from the ground up again. But I really do want to fix the film industry. I don’t want to go to a movie and know that everything on the screen is in a landfill now. There’s a midcentury credenza I had to throw away once that haunts me to this day. That thing survived so many decades, made it to our set, and, because somebody flaked on Craigslist, was put into a dumpster and is dead now. That’s not okay with me. Film Biz Recycling isn’t the last resort; we’re the only resort.

brooklyn spaces:And it doesn’t just benefit the film industry.

Eva: The industry is only 10% of our revenue. This is stuff than anyone can use, and I just want to get the word out, so people will. It’s starting to work; Film Biz Recycling is being featured on a new Discovery show called Dirty Money. Eco Brooklyn just wrote a post on us; they redo brownstones sustainably, and they bought some materials from us, which is just what we want. I mean, it’s easy to sell a couch; it’s hard to sell a piece of wood. Anyone who’s redoing their apartment or building out their loft should come here, there are so many possibilities. You could use four theatrical flats to make a platform for your bed or your band or whatever. Trim it with some carpet squares or curtains, it’s beautiful. Anything you can think of.

SOURCE: BROOKLYN SPACES

A weekly post featuring a rescued prop looking to find its next home. Love it as it is, or explore the many ways of making it new again.

Pictured above is a plain set of plastic blinds from the FBR PROP SHOP’s DIY section. You may want to head on over and get a set because while eyes may be the window to your soul, sometimes it’s a lot more fun to be shady.

        

 

We’re blinded by science fiction with this Hand-painted Spock window blind.

We shutter at the thought of this upcycled wall treatment in the trash when all this beauty is possible.

We just may need to sit down from looking at Argentinian design studio, Gruba’s, masterpiece. Talk about transform and function.

To Adopt-This-Prop or another, visit Film Biz Recycling’s Prop Shop.

Because Film Biz Recycling works with the community, the entertainment industry and a wide variety of charities, we’re lucky to know some of the coolest people in the world. Consider this weekly post as an introduction.
 
Just the other day at the FBR Prop Shop, we noticed someone navigating their way around the warehouse with striking determination. We had to know more about her.

Meet Annie Simeone.

FBR: Um…hi! This may sound a little weird but from the stuff you were looking at, we’d guess that you’re some kind of professional. Any chance we’re right?

Annie: Ha! I’m an art director, a scenic, prop and production designer and a sculptor/artist by trade.

FBR: We knew it! 

Annie: FBR Prop Shop always has what I need and surprises whenever I come by. Also the staff is amazing!

FBR: That’s very flattering. We think you’re pretty amazing yourself. Tell us Annie, what inspires you in your work?

Annie: The sea of humanity.

FBR: With that most stimulating answer comes the least stimulating question we could think of. What’s your favorite color?

Annie: *Laughs* Orange.

FBR: Anything that most people don’t know about you that you’d care to share?

Annie: I am a classically trained cello player.

SOURCE: Carroll Gardens Patch

In Boerum Hill, the Greenest Commercial Block in Brooklyn
The Brooklyn Botanical Gardens announced the winners of the Greenest Block contest Wednesday.
By Georgia Kral 

The stretch of Atlantic Avenue between Hoyt and Bond streets in Boerum Hill is already known for great shopping and antiquing (and for traffic.)

But now, a new honor has been granted: the block won the title of Greenest Commercial Block in Brooklyn in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Greenest Block contest.

“The contest encourages members of block associations and merchants’ associations to vie for the coveted title of Greenest Block in Brooklyn by working together to cultivate window boxes, container plantings, front gardens, storefront greenery, street tree beds and more,” according to a press release.

Blocks are judged based on “a variety of criteria”, including color and visual effect, citizen participation, variety and suitability of plants, soil condition, use of mulch and street tree and tree bed care.

This year, judges paid particularly close attention to the blocks that emphasized plants native to the Northeast.

First prize is a $300 check.

“The Greenest Block competition is about more than just beautifying our neighborhoods, it’s about fostering communities,” said Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. “And let’s not forget that when everybody is out working on their green thumbs, it means more neighbors getting to know one another, which makes for a tighter-knit, safer, and more vibrant community. When we plant seeds, all of Brooklyn blooms!”

In its 17th year, the contest is run by GreenBridge, the community environmental horticulture program of Brooklyn Botanic Garden, in cooperation with the Borough President’s office and the Brooklyn Community Foundation.

Click here for the original post in Carroll Gardens Patch

Our rescued props, materials and supplies, your design!

Calling all designers:

The search is on for environmentally conscious design students to create sustainable furniture for the GreenHomeNYC’s garden lounge space premiering this fall at the The NEW New York event. Students are granted access to a wealth of free materials from us (Film Biz Recycling), as well as Build it Green. Even more, students will receive support from our panel of jurors as well as press from various architecture and design sites & blogs, most notably Inhabitat!

Start thinking, start designing, and spread the word. More information and details about the submission process can be found on http://greendesignchallenge.tumblr.com/

A weekly post presenting a nod of our appreciation in the direction of a featured partner, charity or donation and a sneak peek at the process of how we collectively use our powers for good in turning would-be waste into treasure.

This week:

We’ve received a HUGE donation of shoes (thanks!) and now we’re turning to our friends at Wearable Collections who know best what to do next. Some of the volunteers here loved all the high heels and kicks but alas, it’s best not to get attached. 

Here at Film Biz Recycling, we’re all about creating socially responsible and sustainable solutions for media industry waste that would otherwise go the way of the landfill. It’s a proud feeling to be the home for props, fostering their beauty and returning them to the hands of creative people.

In this case, as much as we love to see all of these beautiful shoes in our Prop Shop, it’s much better to see them off with one of our great partners and charities, like Wearable Collections! 

We can’t wait to fill this white van with shoes!

A weekly post featuring a rescued prop looking to find its next home. Love it as it is, or explore the many ways of making it new again.

Ah, the tennis racquet. The beautiful Summer mornings you remember spending together, inseparable on the court during your college years. That satisfying, percussive “clop” of the ball hitting against the tightly threaded net in its lacquered wooden frame, you’ll never forget. 

EMBROIDERY ANYONE?

What you would need:
- various colors of embroidery thread
- wooden badminton/tennis racquet
- embroidery needle
- marker

Step 1: Decide on your design and sketch it out.  Then use a permanent marker to mark your design onto the racquet.

Step 2: Cut a yard or so of embroidery thread.

Step 3: Tie the thread into a knot on the racquet.  Leave a two inch tail of thread so that you can tie the other end off when you are finished wrapping.

Step 4: Continue wrapping thread onto the racquet until the area of your design is completely filled in.  Change colors of thread as often as you like.  A needle isn’t completely necessary, but it made the job go more quickly.

To Adopt-This-Prop or another, visit Film Biz Recycling’s Prop Shop.