The Sundance Channel will begin airing tonight the second season of its award-winning series, The Green. The series is television’s first regularly scheduled program dedicated to the environment and is brought to us by the producers of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. The Green is presented by Robert Redford and hosted by environmental journalist Simran Sethi and community advocate Majora Carter. Recurring expert commentators will include scientists, inventors, entrepreneurs, and Talking Heads frontman and bicycle advocate David Byrne.

Each episode will focus on a different environmental theme as well as various innovations that can help us to understand and deal with the related issues. Topics range from climate change to fashion to consumer gadgets. Tonight’s episode entitled “Big Ideas for a Small Planet: Power” will explore alternative energies. Innovations dealing with clean and renewable energy sources such as solar energy, wind energy, and even cow manure will be discussed. Next week’s show will introduce viewers to common household hazards as well as safe and green ways to decorate and maintain a home. One future episode will focus on several individuals who are bringing green to fashion, clothing stores, and dry cleaners.

Diary of the Dead
Directed by George A. Romero
Starring Shawn Roberts, Joshua Close, Scott Wentworth
Rated R
Release date: Feb. 15, 2008 (limited)

Zombie master George A. Romero brings the dead back to life for the fifth time with his latest film, Diary of The Dead. This film follows Night of the Living Dead (1968), Dawn of the Dead (1978), Day of the Dead (1985), and Land of the Dead (2005).

Diary of The Dead revolves around a group of college film students who are attempting to film their own horror movie. Much to their surprise, strange things start happening while they are filming and their movie quickly becomes a documentary of an unexplained phenomena taking place throughout the world. The students’ motivation for filming the movie changes from GPA to their newfound obligation to inform any survivors of what is really happening. After seeing falsified news clips, the students felt that when uploaded on the Internet, their documentary would show the unexplained horror for what it really was, should normalcy ever return.

PRESS RELEASE

Universal City, CA- An “Eco-Fair, ” presenting the latest ideas, tips and technologies via interactive displays, high-impact exhibits and remarkable demonstrations will make Universal Studios Hollywood a
must-see “Green” family destination on Saturday, November 10 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Admission to the Eco Fair is free (but does not include theme park admission).

I found this too geeky to pass up.

Brian May, the 59-year-old guitarist of the legendary rock group Queen, has just completed his PhD in astrophysics. His thesis was on interplanetary dust clouds.

May left school over 30 years ago to contribute to the world’s pool of quality music. After recently co-authoring a children’s science book with astronomer Sir Patrick Moore — Bang! The Complete History of the Universe — his interest was again sparked. He decided to go back to school and finish up what he started. He dug up his notes from 33 years ago, which he found in his loft, and picked up where he left off.

See, I always felt that it pays to be a pack rat. Congratulations Brian! An admirable accomplishment indeed.

Evan Almighty, which opens tomorrow, will have a green message attached to it. I am not referring to the green message that most films carry with them in their hope to make money. Nor will the movie’s posters be colored green or have the Geico Gecko telling you to go see the movie. This green message involves the environment.

Universal Pictures, with some help from its sponsors, is spending roughly $25 million on its Get On Board eco-awareness campaign, with a website created in conjunction with The Conservation Fund. The campaign will give audiences tips on how to help stop global warming while advertising the film at the same time.

The educational site includes the Almighty Forest, where you can plant a virtual and a real tree for a mere $5 donation. A cool little extra is that contributors will have their name included on the film’s DVD.

[UPDATE: Watch the behind-the-scenes clip here after the jump where the director discusses the film’s environmentally friendly filming practices.]