Interview with MA Shumin, an Environmental Documentary Film-maker

AG: How did you get into film-making, and environmental films in particular?
MS: I studied filmmaking since freshman year in 1998 at Syracuse University and am loving it since. I have always been interested in the theme of society, people and culture. In our current time, humans affect the environment, and the environment affect us. From September 2007 to June 2008 I am a Metcalf Fellow in Environmental Reporting at NPR Science Friday, producing environmental videos for their website.

AG: What was your most interest experience while working on a project?
MS:Learning that there is such thing as (and eating it) vegetarian shark fin soup. I am working on a video about Shark, one of the reason they are endangered is because of shark finning.

AG: What was the most alarming experience working on a project?
MS: Learning about the value of the most precious resource on Earth.... water. And that starting now, very soon, wars will be fought not on oil, but on this precious and vital resource.

AG: What is your best "green pratice"?
MS: I have become a minimalist, and don't consume so much. I believe the best we can do for our environment is not to have stuff to throw out in the first place.

Check out these links to some of her work
an awesome video on biodiesel here in NYC

video about oysters - not just for eating!
E-waste video on Green.tv