Amanda Smith: Greening the Paint Department and Reclaiming LA's Wild Side
About this episode
Amanda Smith discusses sustainability in the paint department of the film industry and her art initiatives focused on Los Angeles ecosystems.
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. Resources from this episode: CalNat Course Paint Care Program Depave LA Report from…
More episodes of The Tie-In
- Hollywood Power Infrastructure & Sustainable Base Camp Solutions: Hybrid Generators, Battery Tech & Clean Energy Transition for Film & TV Production | Mark Walter
- How a Musician Became a Climate Action Concierge: Vienna Teng on Fan Engagement, Hope-Based Storytelling & Using Music to Drive Real Climate Action | The Tie-In
- Cardboard Sets, Zero Waste & the Circular Economy: How Nordwerk Design Is Replacing Plastic, Wood & Metal in Film and Event Production | Karmen Hansen
- Building Community in the Age of AI: Jenny Stefanotti of Denizen on Regenerative Economics, Human Agency & the Future of Work
- Holy Days Is Coming to Canada | Nat Boltt on Sustainable Filmmaking & Telling Better Stories | The Best of The Tie In
- Film Set Safety, Crew Wellbeing & The Documentary Hollywood Doesn't Want You to See — Becky Morrison
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Tie-In podcast page.