Green's the Thing at the Environmental Media Awards - Hillary Atkin

What do the feature film "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax," the HBO comedy "Veep," the documentary "Chasing Ice," the Disney Channel show "Handy Manny" and the National Geographic Channel's reality show "Superfish: Bluefin Tuna" have in common?

They all incorporated environmental themes into their storytelling, in some cases making them a big part of their characters' lives, besting a field of contenders to take home the trophies at the 22nd Annual Environmental Media Awards, held recently on the back lot of Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank.

Capping off a steamier than usual September in the LA basin, the gala event started off in a sultry manner as actress Malin Akerman took the stage in an AC/DC T-shirt to perform with her band. She then hosted the festivities, and announced that she is expecting her first child with husband Roberto Zincone.

The EMAs (pronounced like "Emmas"), first presented in 1991, are awarded to television shows, individuals and feature films that bring environmental messages to mass audiences, raising public awareness and inspiring action on environmental issues.

Some people exemplify the concept of being green, and for them, the Environmental Media Association had special honors.

Kelly Chapman Meyer was given the EMA Lifetime Achievement Award. She's a passionate environmentalist and a health advocate, a trustee of the NRDC, a co-founder of the Women's Cancer Research Fund, a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation–for which she has helped raise more than $40 million for medical research. She recently completed a solar and wind energy project at her children's public elementary school where the community experienced first-hand the concept of thinking globally, while acting locally. It became the impetus for all schools in the Santa Monica Unified School District to install solar panels.

PayPal co-founder Elon Musk got EMA's Corporate Responsibility Award. He is the CEO of two companies, Tesla Motors and SpaceX. At Tesla, Musk has overseen product development and design for the all-electric vehicles, working towards a sustainable energy economy in which such vehicles will play a pivotal role. At SpaceX, he is overseeing development of spacecraft to orbit the earth, and ultimately to journey to other planets.

Actress Jessica Alba was the recipient of the EMA Green Parent Award for her work launching The Honest Company. As the mother of two daughters, she saw a need for safe, effective and affordable products for the home, children and babies. The company's products range from diapers and wipes to detergents and a line of body care products for children, all created and designed to foster a friendly, healthy and sustainable future.

Actor Ian Somerhalder received the EMA Futures Award. In 2010, he launched an eponymous foundation, whose goal is to educate, empower and collaborate with people and projects to positively impact our planet and its inhabitants. The Ian Somerhalder Foundation strives to create awareness for environmental and animal rights-related issues, focusing on the environment and clean energy initiatives.

It was an eco-friendly evening under the stars, with presenters, winners and a guest list which included Tobey Maguire, James Van der Beek, Danny DeVito, Jesse Metcalfe, Paula Abdul, Wilmer Valderrama, Constance Zimmer, Adam Scott, Julie Bowen, Jessica Szohr, Rob Riggle, Frances Fisher, Lance Bass, Daryl Hannah, Amy Smart, Carla Gugino and Emily VanCamp.

After the ceremonies, guests made the rounds of restaurants set up in a food festival-like environment, headlined by the soon to close landmark Los Angeles restaurant Campanile, which spawned the nationally known La Brea Bakery. Its accomplished chefs served up delicious duck meatballs, salmon roulade and caramel apple cheddar crisp.

Other eateries represented with equally savory fare included Chaya, Pace, Picca, Racion, Real Food Daily, Susan Feniger's Street, Yamashiro and Tiato Garden Café and House of An, with their signature garlic noodles.

Vendors showcasing their eco-friendly products included Stila, Cat Cora's Kitchen, Green Works compostable cleaning wipes, Ecomom, Kellog Garden Products, LA Car Guy and event sponsor Lexus/Toyota, which showcased hybrid vehicles including the new Toyota RAV4 EV, the Avalon and the Lexus ES 300h hybrid.

In addition to VeeV acai spirit, libations were courtesy of Eel River Brewing Co., Pasquini Espresso, Patron tequila and Ultimat vodka, all adding up to a festive night where good works were lauded and recycling was encouraged.

Hillary Atkin is the editor and publisher of The Atkin Report, www.atkinreport.com and has written extensively on media and entertainment for USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, Daily and Weekly Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, TelevisionWeek, Entertainment Weekly, The New York Observer and LA Confidential. She is an award-winning journalist who began her career as a television news writer, reporter and producer. As a broadcast producer at KCBS in Los Angeles, she won numerous Emmy, Associated Press and Golden Mike Awards for live coverage and entertainment special events programming, and then produced and directed biographies on Robert Duvall, Elizabeth Montgomery, Linda Darnell and Nicolas Cage for A&E and E!. She can be reached at hillaryatkin@yahoo.com.

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