Amanda Smith has spent over two decades as a scenic artist working across theater, theme parks, and film. In 2022 she joined IATSE Local 729, became a Certified California Naturalist through the UC CalNat program, and launched two parallel projects: Los Angeles Is Not A Desert — an art and writing initiative exploring LA's overlooked ecosystems — and the IATSE Local 729 Set Painters and Sign Writers Sustainability Committee.

In this conversation Amanda talks about what sustainability actually looks like inside a paint department, why the Paint Care recycling program is a free and underutilized resource for film lots, how native plants are showing up (and not showing up) on screen, and why she thinks environmental education — not compliance — is the key to lasting change in the industry.

She also shares her artwork live on the show, walking us through a papercut depiction of the LA River's Glendale Narrows and the vision behind it.

Find Amanda at losangelesisnotadesert.com or on Instagram @laisnotadesert. Sign up for her newsletter on the website for upcoming events and community activations.

Keywords/Tags

sustainability, film industry, IATSE, set painting, paint recycling, Paint Care, native plants, Los Angeles, urban ecology, California naturalist, LA River, ecological art, environmental justice, green production, chaparral, biodiversity, entertainment industry

Resources from this episode:

CalNat Course: https://ucanr.edu/program/uc-environmental-stewards/become-certified-naturalist-or-climate-steward

Paint Care Program: https://www.paintcare.org/states/california/

Connect With Our Guests:

losangelesisnotadesert.com

LA Is Not A Desert on Instagram

Sign up for her newsletter on the website for upcoming events and community activations.

Connect With our Hosts:

Zena Harris on LinkedIn

Mark Rabin on LinkedIn

What if a QR code at a live show could route thousands of people to exactly the right place to make a difference — based on where they're scanning from?

Pete Kronowitt is "an activist with a music problem" and board member of Music Declares Emergency. He joins Zena and Mark to talk about the organization's Amplify program — a system that gives artists at any level a simple, trackable way to direct their audiences toward high-impact organizations. He breaks down how it works, why it works, and what a small 10-show tour with a 36% conversion rate taught him about human behavior and mobilization.

Also in this episode: how a songwriting workshop produced a track recorded by 2,500 kids worldwide, and how that project evolved into a solar installation program connecting schools across continents.

Topics: fan engagement · artist strategy · music industry · Amplify program · Music Declares Emergency · behavioral mobilization · school solar partnerships

Connect With Our Guests:

Music Declares on Facebook

Music Declares US on Instagram

Music Declares UK on Instagram

Music Declares on TikTok

Peter Kronowitt:

Spotify

Apple Music

Connect With our hosts:

Zena Harris on LinkedIn

Mark Rabin on LinkedIn

What does it look like when actors use their power on set to drive real climate action? In this episode of The Tie In, Zena and Mark sit down with Danusia Samal, co-founder of the Green Rider. The Green Rider is a UK-based organization that provides actors, writers, and directors with practical tools to reduce the carbon footprint of film and TV productions. We explore how the Green Rider's "handshake" model is breaking down communication barriers between talent and production, why early conversations are the key to greener sets, and how talent agencies are starting to rethink what they negotiate for their clients. If you work in film, TV, or entertainment and care about sustainability, this episode is for you.

🌱 Connect With Our Guests:

Danusia Samal Instagram

Green Rider Instagram

Green-Rider.org

🎙️Connect with our hosts:

Zena Harris on LinkedIn

Mark Rabin on LinkedIn