PLU STUDENTS EXPLORE THE ISSUES OF FOOD WASTE IN DOCUMENTARY
By Anne-Marie Falloria
Monday, 20 April 2015
Originally seen on:
http://www.tacomaweekly.com/news/view/plu-students-explore-the-issues-of-food-waste-in-documentary/
Pacific Lutheran University’s MediaLab will host an on-campus premiere of its latest documentary film, “Waste Not: Breaking Down the Food Equation,” on Thursday, April 23, at 6 p.m. in the Studio Theater.
MediaLab was established in 2006 as an experimental program that initially focused on print journalism. But the scope of the organization’s work has expanded over the years to include videography, photography, public relations and other media content and services. MediaLab has received numerous awards since its inception, including an Emmy Award, five National Broadcasting Society Awards, and many other honors. MediaLab is one of several programs within the Center for Media Studies at PLU, part of the University’s School of Arts + Communication. Three MediaLab students, all Communication majors, spent more than a year exploring the topic of food waste and its many implications. “Food waste is really an issue that is overlooked in society,” said co-producer Amanda Brasgalla ’15.
Brasgalla, along with senior co-producer Taylor Lunka ’15 and chief videographer Olivia Ash ’15, traveled across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom to conduct interviews and field research. They spoke with everyday citizens, farmers, activists and government officials to present an extensive view of food waste. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, 30 to 40 percent of the U.S. food supply is wasted, which equates to more than 20 pounds of wasted food per person, per month.
“Food is thrown away at all levels of the chain, from the farm all the way to the consumer. What’s really tragic is that some of the food is completely edible,” Brasgalla said. “Many times food is discarded because it doesn’t look right, or is too small or large. This idea of cosmetic perfection leads to tons of food being thrown out and wasted.” In 2013, the nationwide non-profit food bank network Feeding America reported that 49.1 million Americans live in food insecure households. “That means a significant amount of our population goes hungry, even though we are discarding tons and tons of food,” Brasgalla said of this disconnect. “There needs to be a way we can distribute this food that would otherwise go to waste, and help other people.”
Gleaning, a centuries-old method of collecting excess produce after harvest, is one example of how food can be distributed and donated to those in need. Local organizations such as Harvest Pierce County conduct gleaning operations aimed at reducing food waste and building community. Since 2009, Harvest Pierce County’s Gleaning Project has harvested more than 300,000 pounds of food to help the community. In addition to gleaning, food recovery organizations across the country, such as Lovin’ Spoonfuls, a non-profit food rescue operation in Boston, also work to reduce food waste. During their research, Brasgalla and Lunka accompanied a Lovin’ Spoonfuls driver on one of her daily food pickups. “We visited large-scale grocery stores around Boston,” Lunka said, “and were blown away at how much food they would donate.”
In less than three hours, food donations to Lovin’ Spoonfuls filled a refrigerator truck 5 feet wide and 7 feet high. “Lovin’ Spoonfuls has several trucks that pick up daily -- and that was only one truck,” Brasgalla said. “It was unbelievable to see. But seeing an organization like Lovin’ Spoonfuls making a difference was amazing.”
The hard work invested by Brasgalla, Lunka and Ash has not gone unnoticed. “Waste Not” has received several national and international recognitions, including a 2015 First-Place nomination from the National Broadcasting Society, a national second-place finish in the Broadcast Education Association’s Festival of Arts Competition, and a Rising Star Award from the 2015 Canada International Film Festival.
For more information about the campus premiere, please contact the School of Arts and Communication at (253) 535-7140, write to [email protected], or visit:wastenotdoc.weebly.com.
By Anne-Marie Falloria
Monday, 20 April 2015
Originally seen on:
http://www.tacomaweekly.com/news/view/plu-students-explore-the-issues-of-food-waste-in-documentary/
Pacific Lutheran University’s MediaLab will host an on-campus premiere of its latest documentary film, “Waste Not: Breaking Down the Food Equation,” on Thursday, April 23, at 6 p.m. in the Studio Theater.
MediaLab was established in 2006 as an experimental program that initially focused on print journalism. But the scope of the organization’s work has expanded over the years to include videography, photography, public relations and other media content and services. MediaLab has received numerous awards since its inception, including an Emmy Award, five National Broadcasting Society Awards, and many other honors. MediaLab is one of several programs within the Center for Media Studies at PLU, part of the University’s School of Arts + Communication. Three MediaLab students, all Communication majors, spent more than a year exploring the topic of food waste and its many implications. “Food waste is really an issue that is overlooked in society,” said co-producer Amanda Brasgalla ’15.
Brasgalla, along with senior co-producer Taylor Lunka ’15 and chief videographer Olivia Ash ’15, traveled across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom to conduct interviews and field research. They spoke with everyday citizens, farmers, activists and government officials to present an extensive view of food waste. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, 30 to 40 percent of the U.S. food supply is wasted, which equates to more than 20 pounds of wasted food per person, per month.
“Food is thrown away at all levels of the chain, from the farm all the way to the consumer. What’s really tragic is that some of the food is completely edible,” Brasgalla said. “Many times food is discarded because it doesn’t look right, or is too small or large. This idea of cosmetic perfection leads to tons of food being thrown out and wasted.” In 2013, the nationwide non-profit food bank network Feeding America reported that 49.1 million Americans live in food insecure households. “That means a significant amount of our population goes hungry, even though we are discarding tons and tons of food,” Brasgalla said of this disconnect. “There needs to be a way we can distribute this food that would otherwise go to waste, and help other people.”
Gleaning, a centuries-old method of collecting excess produce after harvest, is one example of how food can be distributed and donated to those in need. Local organizations such as Harvest Pierce County conduct gleaning operations aimed at reducing food waste and building community. Since 2009, Harvest Pierce County’s Gleaning Project has harvested more than 300,000 pounds of food to help the community. In addition to gleaning, food recovery organizations across the country, such as Lovin’ Spoonfuls, a non-profit food rescue operation in Boston, also work to reduce food waste. During their research, Brasgalla and Lunka accompanied a Lovin’ Spoonfuls driver on one of her daily food pickups. “We visited large-scale grocery stores around Boston,” Lunka said, “and were blown away at how much food they would donate.”
In less than three hours, food donations to Lovin’ Spoonfuls filled a refrigerator truck 5 feet wide and 7 feet high. “Lovin’ Spoonfuls has several trucks that pick up daily -- and that was only one truck,” Brasgalla said. “It was unbelievable to see. But seeing an organization like Lovin’ Spoonfuls making a difference was amazing.”
The hard work invested by Brasgalla, Lunka and Ash has not gone unnoticed. “Waste Not” has received several national and international recognitions, including a 2015 First-Place nomination from the National Broadcasting Society, a national second-place finish in the Broadcast Education Association’s Festival of Arts Competition, and a Rising Star Award from the 2015 Canada International Film Festival.
For more information about the campus premiere, please contact the School of Arts and Communication at (253) 535-7140, write to [email protected], or visit:wastenotdoc.weebly.com.
MediaLab Documentary "Waste Not" Receives More Awards
By: Taylor Lunka '15
Originally seen on: http://www.plu.edu/marcom/news/2015/02/25/medialabawards/
TACOMA, Wash. (Feb. 25, 2015)–The awards for MediaLab’s 2014 original documentary, Waste Not: Breaking Down the Food Equation, keep rolling in. The documentary has won three additional awards in the past week.
Waste Not, which focuses on global food waste and hunger, received second place in the long-form video category in the Broadcast Education Association’s (BEA) Festival of Media Arts Competition, and also earned the Rising Star Award in the Canada International Film Festival.
Senior Producer Amanda Brasgalla ’15 is grateful for the recognition the film is receiving.
“It’s an international competition, and we beat out a lot of big broadcasting schools,” Brasgalla said. “Every award we receive shows a huge appreciation of our work.”
Waste Not was made entirely by students over more than a year. Brasgalla and Taylor Lunka ’15, also a senior producer of the film, began research in the fall of 2013. The pair then traveled across the United States, Canada and London with Chief Videographer Olivia Ash ’15 to film the documentary. Evan Heringer ’16 and Taylor Cox ’15 helped complete the final project with their editing and graphic-design skills.
“We put our hearts and souls into this film, and its nice to be recognized with these awards,” Lunka said. “People don’t often give students enough credit, but we do great work.”
In addition, Waste Not also is a finalist in the National Broadcasting Society-AERho Student Competition, in the Nonfiction Long-Form category. The NBS holds this competition every year to honor the best student-produced films in universities across the United States. Two other films are competing in this category, for which the results will be announced March 28.
The film premiered at the Broadway Center for Performing Arts Theatre in Tacoma on Nov. 8, 2014. The team also has presented the film to schools all over the Tacoma area. Most recently, the filmmakers traveled to Lakes High School in Lakewood, Wash., to educate students about food waste and creating documentaries.
“It’s great to connect with the community,” Lunka said. “It promotes a good cause and shows students what they can accomplish in college.”
Waste Not will premiere on campus in the spring, in celebration with Earth Week, on April 23, 2015, in the Black Box Theatre.
By: Taylor Lunka '15
Originally seen on: http://www.plu.edu/marcom/news/2015/02/25/medialabawards/
TACOMA, Wash. (Feb. 25, 2015)–The awards for MediaLab’s 2014 original documentary, Waste Not: Breaking Down the Food Equation, keep rolling in. The documentary has won three additional awards in the past week.
Waste Not, which focuses on global food waste and hunger, received second place in the long-form video category in the Broadcast Education Association’s (BEA) Festival of Media Arts Competition, and also earned the Rising Star Award in the Canada International Film Festival.
Senior Producer Amanda Brasgalla ’15 is grateful for the recognition the film is receiving.
“It’s an international competition, and we beat out a lot of big broadcasting schools,” Brasgalla said. “Every award we receive shows a huge appreciation of our work.”
Waste Not was made entirely by students over more than a year. Brasgalla and Taylor Lunka ’15, also a senior producer of the film, began research in the fall of 2013. The pair then traveled across the United States, Canada and London with Chief Videographer Olivia Ash ’15 to film the documentary. Evan Heringer ’16 and Taylor Cox ’15 helped complete the final project with their editing and graphic-design skills.
“We put our hearts and souls into this film, and its nice to be recognized with these awards,” Lunka said. “People don’t often give students enough credit, but we do great work.”
In addition, Waste Not also is a finalist in the National Broadcasting Society-AERho Student Competition, in the Nonfiction Long-Form category. The NBS holds this competition every year to honor the best student-produced films in universities across the United States. Two other films are competing in this category, for which the results will be announced March 28.
The film premiered at the Broadway Center for Performing Arts Theatre in Tacoma on Nov. 8, 2014. The team also has presented the film to schools all over the Tacoma area. Most recently, the filmmakers traveled to Lakes High School in Lakewood, Wash., to educate students about food waste and creating documentaries.
“It’s great to connect with the community,” Lunka said. “It promotes a good cause and shows students what they can accomplish in college.”
Waste Not will premiere on campus in the spring, in celebration with Earth Week, on April 23, 2015, in the Black Box Theatre.
Jan. 5, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Grace Takehara
MediaLab Assistant General Manager
[email protected]
360.770.7493
MEDIALAB AT PLU RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION
PARKLAND, Wash. - MediaLab at Pacific Lutheran University recently won an Award of Merit -- Special Mention from The Accolade Competition of Southern California for its 2014 documentary Waste Not: Breaking Down the Food Equation.
Waste Not, which publicly premiered in Tacoma, Wash. in November 2014, won in the “Documentary Short” category. Amanda Brasgalla, a senior producer on the film, said the award is gratifying and rewarding.
“Winning a Special Mention Accolade Award of Merit is gratifying,” said Brasgalla, a senior Communication major who will graduate in May 2015. “We worked hard to make the documentary thought-provoking and influential, so it’s a great feeling to be acknowledged.”
Created by a team that included Brasgalla, senior Communication major Taylor Lunka, and three other Pacific Lutheran University students, Waste Not focuses on global food waste and related issues. Brasgalla and Lunka traveled to cities across Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom to perform research and conduct interviews. Senior Communication major Olivia Ash, senior Art and Graphic Design major Taylor Cox, and junior Communication major Evan Heringer rounded out the team.
During research and production of the film, the students conducted dozens of interviews, meeting with average citizens, farmers, activists, officials from the United Nations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and many other public and private organizations.
This Accolade award adds to more than a dozen other national and international recognitions MediaLab has received during its eight-year existence, including five Emmy nominations and one Emmy win in 2009. The Accolade recognizes film, television, videography and new media professionals who demonstrate exceptional achievement in craft and creativity, and those who produce standout entertainment or contribute to profound social change. Rick Prickett, Accolade competition coordinator, praised the recent winners.
“The Accolade is an international awards competition that honors those who demonstrate exceptional achievement in craft and creativity,” Prickett said in a statement. “The awards go to those filmmakers, television producers and videographers who produce fresh, standout entertainment and compelling documentaries.”
For more information about Waste Not, or other MediaLab projects and productions, please visit: www.plu.edu/~ml, or contact Grace Takehara at 360.770.7493, or via email at [email protected].
About MediaLab at PLU:
MediaLab is an award–winning, student–run media and applied research organization located within the Center for Media Studies at Pacific Lutheran University’s School of Arts and Communication. Students work on projects across the media spectrum, including market research, photography, graphic design, web design, writing, video, public relations, event planning, filmmaking, and more.
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Grace Takehara
MediaLab Assistant General Manager
[email protected]
360.770.7493
MEDIALAB AT PLU RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION
PARKLAND, Wash. - MediaLab at Pacific Lutheran University recently won an Award of Merit -- Special Mention from The Accolade Competition of Southern California for its 2014 documentary Waste Not: Breaking Down the Food Equation.
Waste Not, which publicly premiered in Tacoma, Wash. in November 2014, won in the “Documentary Short” category. Amanda Brasgalla, a senior producer on the film, said the award is gratifying and rewarding.
“Winning a Special Mention Accolade Award of Merit is gratifying,” said Brasgalla, a senior Communication major who will graduate in May 2015. “We worked hard to make the documentary thought-provoking and influential, so it’s a great feeling to be acknowledged.”
Created by a team that included Brasgalla, senior Communication major Taylor Lunka, and three other Pacific Lutheran University students, Waste Not focuses on global food waste and related issues. Brasgalla and Lunka traveled to cities across Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom to perform research and conduct interviews. Senior Communication major Olivia Ash, senior Art and Graphic Design major Taylor Cox, and junior Communication major Evan Heringer rounded out the team.
During research and production of the film, the students conducted dozens of interviews, meeting with average citizens, farmers, activists, officials from the United Nations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and many other public and private organizations.
This Accolade award adds to more than a dozen other national and international recognitions MediaLab has received during its eight-year existence, including five Emmy nominations and one Emmy win in 2009. The Accolade recognizes film, television, videography and new media professionals who demonstrate exceptional achievement in craft and creativity, and those who produce standout entertainment or contribute to profound social change. Rick Prickett, Accolade competition coordinator, praised the recent winners.
“The Accolade is an international awards competition that honors those who demonstrate exceptional achievement in craft and creativity,” Prickett said in a statement. “The awards go to those filmmakers, television producers and videographers who produce fresh, standout entertainment and compelling documentaries.”
For more information about Waste Not, or other MediaLab projects and productions, please visit: www.plu.edu/~ml, or contact Grace Takehara at 360.770.7493, or via email at [email protected].
About MediaLab at PLU:
MediaLab is an award–winning, student–run media and applied research organization located within the Center for Media Studies at Pacific Lutheran University’s School of Arts and Communication. Students work on projects across the media spectrum, including market research, photography, graphic design, web design, writing, video, public relations, event planning, filmmaking, and more.
###
Wasting and wanting in America
By Craig Sailor
Staff Writer
Originally seen on: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2014/11/06/3474991_wasting-and-wanting-in-america.html?sp=/99/289/&rh=1
Food waste — the loss of food intended for consumption — begins in the field and ends in the trash cans of consumers, a group of documentary filmmakers has discovered.
Pacific Lutheran University students Amanda Brasgalla and Taylor Lunka spent the past year researching, investigating and creating a documentary film on food waste. They were joined in January by videographer Olivia Ash.
The 30-minute documentary, “Waste Not: Breaking Down the Food Equation,” explains how and why food is wasted. It will premiere at 3 p.m. Saturday at Theatre on the Square. The event is free and open to the public.
Lunka said the simple statistics are alarming. But breaking them down and finding the root causes are complicated. The United Nations estimates $750 million worth of food is lost annually. And food wasted means energy and resources wasted.
Food can be measured in a variety of ways: volume, weight, item count and calories. Food loss can be measured by its impact on the environment — the cost of disposing it and the impact on landfills – and its economic impact.
Lunka uses volumeto measure the annual food waste every year in the United States, which he calculates at 40 percent. The typical U.S. family dumps 20 pounds of food into the trash every month.
“Most of the food is thrown away at the consumer level,” Lunka said. “In other countries, it’s at the production level because they don’t have the technology or systems to get it to the markets or to the consumers.”
It’s a systemwide problem, Lunka said.
“We just can’t pinpoint the cause. From farm to fork there’s food waste.”
The researchers interviewed people who can’t get enough to eat despite living in a world full of food going to waste.
They followed a Tacoma family of six who make just enough money to disallow them from government assistance. Still, they struggle to provide food and rely on food banks to fill the gaps.
“It is your neighbors and co-workers who you don’t think suffer from food insecurity. But they do,” Lunka said.
The PLU students traveled to an Iowa farm and even the United Kingdom to interview subjects.
A panel discussion will follow the screening and include Kate Edwards, an organic farmer from Solon, Iowa; Beth Elliott, executive director of FISH Food Banks of Pierce County; and Tacoma mother Jessica Frazier.
The film also offers tips for the consumer to reduce food waste.
The trio of students are members of PLU’s MediaLab, a student-run media and applied research organization at PLU’s School of Arts and Communication.
By Craig Sailor
Staff Writer
Originally seen on: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2014/11/06/3474991_wasting-and-wanting-in-america.html?sp=/99/289/&rh=1
Food waste — the loss of food intended for consumption — begins in the field and ends in the trash cans of consumers, a group of documentary filmmakers has discovered.
Pacific Lutheran University students Amanda Brasgalla and Taylor Lunka spent the past year researching, investigating and creating a documentary film on food waste. They were joined in January by videographer Olivia Ash.
The 30-minute documentary, “Waste Not: Breaking Down the Food Equation,” explains how and why food is wasted. It will premiere at 3 p.m. Saturday at Theatre on the Square. The event is free and open to the public.
Lunka said the simple statistics are alarming. But breaking them down and finding the root causes are complicated. The United Nations estimates $750 million worth of food is lost annually. And food wasted means energy and resources wasted.
Food can be measured in a variety of ways: volume, weight, item count and calories. Food loss can be measured by its impact on the environment — the cost of disposing it and the impact on landfills – and its economic impact.
Lunka uses volumeto measure the annual food waste every year in the United States, which he calculates at 40 percent. The typical U.S. family dumps 20 pounds of food into the trash every month.
“Most of the food is thrown away at the consumer level,” Lunka said. “In other countries, it’s at the production level because they don’t have the technology or systems to get it to the markets or to the consumers.”
It’s a systemwide problem, Lunka said.
“We just can’t pinpoint the cause. From farm to fork there’s food waste.”
The researchers interviewed people who can’t get enough to eat despite living in a world full of food going to waste.
They followed a Tacoma family of six who make just enough money to disallow them from government assistance. Still, they struggle to provide food and rely on food banks to fill the gaps.
“It is your neighbors and co-workers who you don’t think suffer from food insecurity. But they do,” Lunka said.
The PLU students traveled to an Iowa farm and even the United Kingdom to interview subjects.
A panel discussion will follow the screening and include Kate Edwards, an organic farmer from Solon, Iowa; Beth Elliott, executive director of FISH Food Banks of Pierce County; and Tacoma mother Jessica Frazier.
The film also offers tips for the consumer to reduce food waste.
The trio of students are members of PLU’s MediaLab, a student-run media and applied research organization at PLU’s School of Arts and Communication.
PLU's MediaLab premieres film on food waste
NOVEMBER 4, 2014 BY THE SUBURBAN TIMES
Originally seen on: http://thesubtimes.com/2014/11/04/plus-medialab-premieres-documentary-about-food-waste/
PARKLAND, Wash. – Wastefulness can produce distressing results.
This is especially true in the international food industry, in which more than one-third of all food produced globally each year goes to waste, resulting in economic, energy and environmental losses totaling more than $750 billion annually, according to the United Nations.
Intrigued and disturbed by this statistic, Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) students Amanda Brasgalla, Taylor Lunka and Olivia Ash began to research the topic in October 2013. Their year-long investigation has culminated with a new documentary titled Waste Not: Breaking Down the Food Equation, which premieres at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014 the Theatre on the Square, located on Broadway between 9th and 11th Streets. The event is free and open to the public.
The trio of students, all senior communication majors and members of PLU’s MediaLab program, spent more than a year traveling and conducting nearly 100 interviews across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
“Waste Not is an exploration into how food impacts our everyday lives and how food waste impacts society,” said Brasgalla, who served as one of the film’s senior producers.
The documentary explains in detail how and why food is wasted, often unintentionally.
“Food is something a lot of us take for granted,” said Lunka, who also worked as a senior producer, “and this film will totally change the way you see food every day.”
MediaLab has received dozens of recognitions for its documentary films during the program’s eight years of existence, including one Emmy award, five Emmy nominations and three first-place National Broadcasting Society Awards. Those interested in attending Waste Not are encouraged to RSVP at [email protected]. For more information, visit wastenotdoc.weebly.com, or call MediaLab Public Relations Associate Trish Shoop at 360-550-7874.
About MediaLab at PLU:
MediaLab is an award–winning, student–run media and applied research organization within the Center for Media Studies in PLU’s School of Arts and Communication. MediaLab students work exclusively on off-campus projects across the media spectrum, including market research, photography, graphic design, web design, writing, video production, public relations, event planning, and more.
NOVEMBER 4, 2014 BY THE SUBURBAN TIMES
Originally seen on: http://thesubtimes.com/2014/11/04/plus-medialab-premieres-documentary-about-food-waste/
PARKLAND, Wash. – Wastefulness can produce distressing results.
This is especially true in the international food industry, in which more than one-third of all food produced globally each year goes to waste, resulting in economic, energy and environmental losses totaling more than $750 billion annually, according to the United Nations.
Intrigued and disturbed by this statistic, Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) students Amanda Brasgalla, Taylor Lunka and Olivia Ash began to research the topic in October 2013. Their year-long investigation has culminated with a new documentary titled Waste Not: Breaking Down the Food Equation, which premieres at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014 the Theatre on the Square, located on Broadway between 9th and 11th Streets. The event is free and open to the public.
The trio of students, all senior communication majors and members of PLU’s MediaLab program, spent more than a year traveling and conducting nearly 100 interviews across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
“Waste Not is an exploration into how food impacts our everyday lives and how food waste impacts society,” said Brasgalla, who served as one of the film’s senior producers.
The documentary explains in detail how and why food is wasted, often unintentionally.
“Food is something a lot of us take for granted,” said Lunka, who also worked as a senior producer, “and this film will totally change the way you see food every day.”
MediaLab has received dozens of recognitions for its documentary films during the program’s eight years of existence, including one Emmy award, five Emmy nominations and three first-place National Broadcasting Society Awards. Those interested in attending Waste Not are encouraged to RSVP at [email protected]. For more information, visit wastenotdoc.weebly.com, or call MediaLab Public Relations Associate Trish Shoop at 360-550-7874.
About MediaLab at PLU:
MediaLab is an award–winning, student–run media and applied research organization within the Center for Media Studies in PLU’s School of Arts and Communication. MediaLab students work exclusively on off-campus projects across the media spectrum, including market research, photography, graphic design, web design, writing, video production, public relations, event planning, and more.
MediaLab Breaks Down the Film Equation
By Natalie DeFord ‘16
MediaLab
Originally seen on: http://www.tacomaweekly.com/news/view/medialab-breaks-down-the-food-equation/
An estimated one-third of food produced in the world each year goes to waste, according to a 2013 United Nations special report, causing economic, energy and environmental losses of more than $750 billion annually.
That startling statistic caught the attention of three communication students at Pacific Lutheran University (PLU), all of whom are members of the school’s award-winning MediaLab program. Intrigued, the trio began asking questions, conducting research and investigating the problem.
Now, after more than a year of research, travel, interviews and production, the result is a new documentary film titled “Waste Not: Breaking Down the Food Equation,” which premieres in Tacoma on Saturday, Nov. 8.
“Waste Not” explores the complexities associated with how and why food is wasted, as well as the many ramifications of wasted food.
“Through making this film, I’ve had a plethora of experiences that have shaped the way I think about food waste and food in my own life,” said Taylor Lunka, a senior communication major who served as a senior producer. “I hope people who see the film realize it’s something we can all do something about, and it’s an issue that deserves our attention.”
In addition to Lunka, senior communication students Amanda Brasgalla and Olivia Ash spent more than a year traveling across the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom, conducting nearly 100 interviews with people involved in various aspects of the food system, including several food recovery organizations.
“Food waste is an issue that’s becoming widespread across the world, and it’s something everyone can connect to,” Brasgalla said. “Food recovery organizations have been cropping up all over the world and many government organizations are making the elimination of food waste a top priority in the next five years.”
MediaLab is an award-winning program housed within the Center for Media Studies in PLU’s School of Arts and Communication. In its eight years of existence, MediaLab has received multiple recognitions for its documentary films, including one Emmy award, five Emmy nominations, three National Broadcasting Society Awards and a host of other regional, national and international honors.
“Waste Not” is the latest in a series of MediaLab films that have tackled big, highly topical issues such as religion, water, oil and immigration. All of those productions have been supported by PLU’s Wang Center for Global Education and other on- and off-campus organizations such as the School of Arts and Communication, Korean Women’s Association and others.
In addition to gaining valuable experiences in filmmaking, the “Waste Not” team also learned a great deal about agriculture, economics, cultural differences and related issues while making the film.
PLU communication professor Robert Marshall Wells, Ph.D., MediaLab’s co-founder and faculty advisor, served as executive producer on “Waste Not.” Wells said the filmmakers’ primary goals are to provoke thought.
“I’m hoping that someone who attends this film will come away informed, enlightened or perhaps even shocked,” Wells said. “Minor adjustments in behavior and perspective can go a long way toward solving major problems.”
The documentary, 30 minutes in length, premieres at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8 at the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts’ Theatre on the Square, located between 9th and 11th Streets on Broadway in downtown Tacoma.
Admission is free and the event is open to the public. Those interested in attending are encouraged to RSVP with the desired number of attendees at: [email protected]. For more information about the film, please visit: http://www.wastenotdoc.weebly.com, or call PLU’s School of Arts and Communication at (253) 535-7150.
Natalie DeFord is a freelance writer based in Parkland and a member of MediaLab at PLU. She can be reached at: [email protected].
By Natalie DeFord ‘16
MediaLab
Originally seen on: http://www.tacomaweekly.com/news/view/medialab-breaks-down-the-food-equation/
An estimated one-third of food produced in the world each year goes to waste, according to a 2013 United Nations special report, causing economic, energy and environmental losses of more than $750 billion annually.
That startling statistic caught the attention of three communication students at Pacific Lutheran University (PLU), all of whom are members of the school’s award-winning MediaLab program. Intrigued, the trio began asking questions, conducting research and investigating the problem.
Now, after more than a year of research, travel, interviews and production, the result is a new documentary film titled “Waste Not: Breaking Down the Food Equation,” which premieres in Tacoma on Saturday, Nov. 8.
“Waste Not” explores the complexities associated with how and why food is wasted, as well as the many ramifications of wasted food.
“Through making this film, I’ve had a plethora of experiences that have shaped the way I think about food waste and food in my own life,” said Taylor Lunka, a senior communication major who served as a senior producer. “I hope people who see the film realize it’s something we can all do something about, and it’s an issue that deserves our attention.”
In addition to Lunka, senior communication students Amanda Brasgalla and Olivia Ash spent more than a year traveling across the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom, conducting nearly 100 interviews with people involved in various aspects of the food system, including several food recovery organizations.
“Food waste is an issue that’s becoming widespread across the world, and it’s something everyone can connect to,” Brasgalla said. “Food recovery organizations have been cropping up all over the world and many government organizations are making the elimination of food waste a top priority in the next five years.”
MediaLab is an award-winning program housed within the Center for Media Studies in PLU’s School of Arts and Communication. In its eight years of existence, MediaLab has received multiple recognitions for its documentary films, including one Emmy award, five Emmy nominations, three National Broadcasting Society Awards and a host of other regional, national and international honors.
“Waste Not” is the latest in a series of MediaLab films that have tackled big, highly topical issues such as religion, water, oil and immigration. All of those productions have been supported by PLU’s Wang Center for Global Education and other on- and off-campus organizations such as the School of Arts and Communication, Korean Women’s Association and others.
In addition to gaining valuable experiences in filmmaking, the “Waste Not” team also learned a great deal about agriculture, economics, cultural differences and related issues while making the film.
PLU communication professor Robert Marshall Wells, Ph.D., MediaLab’s co-founder and faculty advisor, served as executive producer on “Waste Not.” Wells said the filmmakers’ primary goals are to provoke thought.
“I’m hoping that someone who attends this film will come away informed, enlightened or perhaps even shocked,” Wells said. “Minor adjustments in behavior and perspective can go a long way toward solving major problems.”
The documentary, 30 minutes in length, premieres at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8 at the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts’ Theatre on the Square, located between 9th and 11th Streets on Broadway in downtown Tacoma.
Admission is free and the event is open to the public. Those interested in attending are encouraged to RSVP with the desired number of attendees at: [email protected]. For more information about the film, please visit: http://www.wastenotdoc.weebly.com, or call PLU’s School of Arts and Communication at (253) 535-7150.
Natalie DeFord is a freelance writer based in Parkland and a member of MediaLab at PLU. She can be reached at: [email protected].
MediaLab's Newest Film Breaks Down the Food Equation
By Natalie DeFord ‘16
MediaLab
Originally seen on: http://www.plu.edu/news/2014/10/wastenot/home
TACOMA, Wash. (Oct. 23, 3014)—An estimated one-third of food produced in the world each year goes to waste, causing economic, energy and environmental losses of more than $750 billion annually, according to a 2013 United Nations special report.
That startling statistic caught the attention of three PLU Communication students, all of whom are members of the award-winning MediaLab program. Intrigued, the trio began asking questions, conducting research and investigating the issue.
Now, after more than a year of research, travel, interviews and production, the result is a new documentary film titledWaste Not: Breaking Down the Food Equation, which premieres in Tacoma on Nov. 8.
Waste Not explores the complexities associated with how and why food is wasted, as well as the many ramifications of wasted food.
“Through making this film, I’ve had a plethora of experiences that have shaped the way I think about food waste and food in my own life,” said Taylor Lunka ‘15, a Communication major who served as a senior producer. “I hope people who see the film realize it’s something we can all do something about, and it’s an issue that deserves our attention.”
MediaLab members, from left, Olivia Ash, Amanda Brasgalla and Taylor Lunka work on location for "Waste Not" in Austin, Texas. (Photo courtesy of MediaLab)
Lunka and fellow Communication students Amanda Brasgalla ‘15 and Olivia Ash ‘15 spent more than a year traveling across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, conducting nearly 100 interviews with people involved in various aspects of the food system, including several food-recovery organizations.
“Food waste is an issue that’s becoming widespread across the world, and it’s something everyone can connect to,” Brasgalla said. “Food-recovery organizations have been cropping up all over the world, and many government organizations are making the elimination of food waste a top priority in the next five years.”
MediaLab is an award-winning program housed within the Center for Media Studies in PLU’s School of Arts and Communication. In its eight years of existence, MediaLab has received multiple recognitions for its documentary films, including one Emmy award; five Emmy nominations; three National Broadcasting Society Awards; and a host of other regional, national and international honors.
Waste Not is the latest in a series of MediaLab films that have tackled big, highly topical issues such as religion, water, oil and immigration. All of those productions have been supported by PLU’s Wang Center for Global Education and other on- and off-campus organizations such as the School of Arts and Communication, The News Tribune, KWA and others community partners.
In addition to gaining valuable experiences in filmmaking, the Waste Not team also learned a great deal about agriculture, economics, cultural differences and related issues while making the film.
PLU Communication Professor Robert Marshall Wells, MediaLab’s co-founder and faculty advisor, served as executive producer on Waste Not. Wells said the filmmakers’ primary goals are to provoke thought.
“I’m hoping that someone who attends this film will come away informed, enlightened or perhaps even shocked,” Wells said. “Minor adjustments in behavior and perspective can go a long way toward solving major problems.”
By Natalie DeFord ‘16
MediaLab
Originally seen on: http://www.plu.edu/news/2014/10/wastenot/home
TACOMA, Wash. (Oct. 23, 3014)—An estimated one-third of food produced in the world each year goes to waste, causing economic, energy and environmental losses of more than $750 billion annually, according to a 2013 United Nations special report.
That startling statistic caught the attention of three PLU Communication students, all of whom are members of the award-winning MediaLab program. Intrigued, the trio began asking questions, conducting research and investigating the issue.
Now, after more than a year of research, travel, interviews and production, the result is a new documentary film titledWaste Not: Breaking Down the Food Equation, which premieres in Tacoma on Nov. 8.
Waste Not explores the complexities associated with how and why food is wasted, as well as the many ramifications of wasted food.
“Through making this film, I’ve had a plethora of experiences that have shaped the way I think about food waste and food in my own life,” said Taylor Lunka ‘15, a Communication major who served as a senior producer. “I hope people who see the film realize it’s something we can all do something about, and it’s an issue that deserves our attention.”
MediaLab members, from left, Olivia Ash, Amanda Brasgalla and Taylor Lunka work on location for "Waste Not" in Austin, Texas. (Photo courtesy of MediaLab)
Lunka and fellow Communication students Amanda Brasgalla ‘15 and Olivia Ash ‘15 spent more than a year traveling across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, conducting nearly 100 interviews with people involved in various aspects of the food system, including several food-recovery organizations.
“Food waste is an issue that’s becoming widespread across the world, and it’s something everyone can connect to,” Brasgalla said. “Food-recovery organizations have been cropping up all over the world, and many government organizations are making the elimination of food waste a top priority in the next five years.”
MediaLab is an award-winning program housed within the Center for Media Studies in PLU’s School of Arts and Communication. In its eight years of existence, MediaLab has received multiple recognitions for its documentary films, including one Emmy award; five Emmy nominations; three National Broadcasting Society Awards; and a host of other regional, national and international honors.
Waste Not is the latest in a series of MediaLab films that have tackled big, highly topical issues such as religion, water, oil and immigration. All of those productions have been supported by PLU’s Wang Center for Global Education and other on- and off-campus organizations such as the School of Arts and Communication, The News Tribune, KWA and others community partners.
In addition to gaining valuable experiences in filmmaking, the Waste Not team also learned a great deal about agriculture, economics, cultural differences and related issues while making the film.
PLU Communication Professor Robert Marshall Wells, MediaLab’s co-founder and faculty advisor, served as executive producer on Waste Not. Wells said the filmmakers’ primary goals are to provoke thought.
“I’m hoping that someone who attends this film will come away informed, enlightened or perhaps even shocked,” Wells said. “Minor adjustments in behavior and perspective can go a long way toward solving major problems.”
Preview: 'Waste Not' unwraps perspectives on food consumption
Jesselyn Kenduck, Guest Writer
Originally seen on: http://mastmedia.plu.edu/2014/10/10/preview-waste-not-unwraps-perspectives-on-food-consumption/
A United Nations statistic from 2013 revealed that one-third of food produced internationally is wasted.
The proportion is higher in the United States — 40 percent of U.S. food ends up in landfills.
Unsettled by these numbers, MediaLab students Amanda Brasgalla and Taylor Lunka set out to create a documentary about food waste worldwide.
From recycling initiatives to encouraging the student body to serve their communities, Pacific Lutheran University is known for its efforts in sustainability, conservation and care. These calls to action are prevalent in the mission statement and culture of PLU.
When thinking about the idea of waste, though, one often thinks of water, energy and other natural resources. It seems that the world forgets that food is also a resource that is often misused.
As humans, all are connected by the need for food and responsible for waste of this resource. Food is first and foremost seen as a social problem, with nearly 50 million Americans facing food insecurity according to Feeding America.
It also stands as an economic and environmental issue. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, uneaten food that goes into landfills adds a large amount of methane to the atmosphere, a greenhouse gas that is more damaging than carbon dioxide.
The MediaLab project “Waste Not” will tackle this issue by exploring some surprisingly simple solutions. This will include education about waste, as well as establishing awareness within students about the amount of food purchased in The Commons during All-You-Care-To-Eat meals.
The production team, comprised of senior producers Brasgalla, Lunka, chief videographer Olivia Ash, assistant producer Evan Heringer and faculty adviser Dr. Robert Marshall Wells, have been working for almost a year.
The project has taken them across the U.S., through parts of Canada and to London. During their travels they spoke with professors, farmers, food industry experts and local citizens about food waste and the problems it causes.
“‘Waste Not’ is so much more than just another documentary,” Lunka said.“It is a topic that affects us all and will force us to take notice of the issue. It will change your views on food drastically.”
The premiere of “Waste Not” will be held at 3 p.m. Nov. 8 at the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Tacoma. Admission is free. More information can be found on the “Waste Not” website, http://wastenotdoc.weebly.com
Jesselyn Kenduck, Guest Writer
Originally seen on: http://mastmedia.plu.edu/2014/10/10/preview-waste-not-unwraps-perspectives-on-food-consumption/
A United Nations statistic from 2013 revealed that one-third of food produced internationally is wasted.
The proportion is higher in the United States — 40 percent of U.S. food ends up in landfills.
Unsettled by these numbers, MediaLab students Amanda Brasgalla and Taylor Lunka set out to create a documentary about food waste worldwide.
From recycling initiatives to encouraging the student body to serve their communities, Pacific Lutheran University is known for its efforts in sustainability, conservation and care. These calls to action are prevalent in the mission statement and culture of PLU.
When thinking about the idea of waste, though, one often thinks of water, energy and other natural resources. It seems that the world forgets that food is also a resource that is often misused.
As humans, all are connected by the need for food and responsible for waste of this resource. Food is first and foremost seen as a social problem, with nearly 50 million Americans facing food insecurity according to Feeding America.
It also stands as an economic and environmental issue. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, uneaten food that goes into landfills adds a large amount of methane to the atmosphere, a greenhouse gas that is more damaging than carbon dioxide.
The MediaLab project “Waste Not” will tackle this issue by exploring some surprisingly simple solutions. This will include education about waste, as well as establishing awareness within students about the amount of food purchased in The Commons during All-You-Care-To-Eat meals.
The production team, comprised of senior producers Brasgalla, Lunka, chief videographer Olivia Ash, assistant producer Evan Heringer and faculty adviser Dr. Robert Marshall Wells, have been working for almost a year.
The project has taken them across the U.S., through parts of Canada and to London. During their travels they spoke with professors, farmers, food industry experts and local citizens about food waste and the problems it causes.
“‘Waste Not’ is so much more than just another documentary,” Lunka said.“It is a topic that affects us all and will force us to take notice of the issue. It will change your views on food drastically.”
The premiere of “Waste Not” will be held at 3 p.m. Nov. 8 at the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Tacoma. Admission is free. More information can be found on the “Waste Not” website, http://wastenotdoc.weebly.com
TYFPC Participates in U.S.-led Global Food Waste Documentary
June 21, 2014
By Martina Marsic
Originally seen on: http://tyfpc.ca/news/tyfpc-participates-in-u-s-led-global-food-waste-documentary/
Waste Not: Breaking Down the Food Equation is a documentary by the award-winning filmmakers of MediaLab at Pacific Lutheran University (Washington, U.S.A.) on the dissection of issues of food waste around the world. According to a recent United Nations special report (2013), an estimated one-third of global food production is wasted each year, resulting in astronomical environmental, economic and human costs. The filmmakers are travelling across North America and just recently landed in Europe to document their findings from farm and production/processing site visits, and in-person industry, academic and NGO interviews. The original production is set to premiere Fall 2014.
On June 10th, Martina Marsic and Jessica Reeve, current TYFPC Members, as well as Heather Lee (past member) were interviewed on issues of food waste in Toronto. Each member contributed their specific experience, working with food issues, locally and globally. Martina spoke to her background in both the small-scale and corporate food industry and current work in social entrepreneurship and software development, where innovative solutions are leveraging technology to implement lean methods that cut food waste. Jessica contributed her research and findings on therapeutic and institutional horticulture, with a particular focus on prison farms in the U.S. and Canada, which serve(d) to rehabilitate prisoners and produce food in sustainable and efficient ways. Heather featured her consulting work with the Toronto Food Policy Council on food waste reduction and diversion for the city. Her research identifies opportunities for the City of Toronto to incorporate food waste as a priority in its Long Term Waste Management Strategy. Such findings are additionally relevant to other jurisdictions in Ontario.
More information on the documentary can be found at the project’s website.
Photo (in order of appearance from left to right): Amanda Brasgalla, Martina Marsic, Jessica Reeve, Olivia Ash, Taylor Lunka, Heather Lee. Thank you to Robert Marshall Wells for the photo.
June 21, 2014
By Martina Marsic
Originally seen on: http://tyfpc.ca/news/tyfpc-participates-in-u-s-led-global-food-waste-documentary/
Waste Not: Breaking Down the Food Equation is a documentary by the award-winning filmmakers of MediaLab at Pacific Lutheran University (Washington, U.S.A.) on the dissection of issues of food waste around the world. According to a recent United Nations special report (2013), an estimated one-third of global food production is wasted each year, resulting in astronomical environmental, economic and human costs. The filmmakers are travelling across North America and just recently landed in Europe to document their findings from farm and production/processing site visits, and in-person industry, academic and NGO interviews. The original production is set to premiere Fall 2014.
On June 10th, Martina Marsic and Jessica Reeve, current TYFPC Members, as well as Heather Lee (past member) were interviewed on issues of food waste in Toronto. Each member contributed their specific experience, working with food issues, locally and globally. Martina spoke to her background in both the small-scale and corporate food industry and current work in social entrepreneurship and software development, where innovative solutions are leveraging technology to implement lean methods that cut food waste. Jessica contributed her research and findings on therapeutic and institutional horticulture, with a particular focus on prison farms in the U.S. and Canada, which serve(d) to rehabilitate prisoners and produce food in sustainable and efficient ways. Heather featured her consulting work with the Toronto Food Policy Council on food waste reduction and diversion for the city. Her research identifies opportunities for the City of Toronto to incorporate food waste as a priority in its Long Term Waste Management Strategy. Such findings are additionally relevant to other jurisdictions in Ontario.
More information on the documentary can be found at the project’s website.
Photo (in order of appearance from left to right): Amanda Brasgalla, Martina Marsic, Jessica Reeve, Olivia Ash, Taylor Lunka, Heather Lee. Thank you to Robert Marshall Wells for the photo.
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