WilsonFilmAnnotation7

**1. Title, director and release year?**  Blue Vinyl, Daniel B. Gold and Judith Helfand, 2002.

 **2. What is the central argument or narrative of the film?**  Although the products themselves are normally perfectly harmless (unless they catch on fire are get old or wet and leach), the life cycle of Vinyl and other products like PVC are very harmful to the people involved in their manufacture. There is also evidence that the industry is aware of this and has covered it up to advertise their products as safe necessity.

 **3. How is the argument or narrative made and sustained? How much scientific information is provided, for example? Does the film have emotional appeal?**  This film is another investigative journalism movie, in which the narrator goes on a journey and discovers information at the same time as the audience. A lot of scientific information is conveyed through the use of diagrams, flow charts and processes, and interviews with doctors, scientists, and other stakeholders (like the executives of the companies that produce the vinyl). The film has emotional appeal because the story is told from the perspective of the everyday home-owner or renter that has no pre-distinguished scientific background or basis.

 **4. What sustainability problems does the film draw out?**  **Political? Legal? Economic? Technological? Media and Informational? Organizational? Educational? Behavioral? Cultural? Ecological?**  This film has sustainability problems that are featured in the following areas: informational, ecological, technological, legal, and organizational. A big problem that the film capitulates on is how it was the narrator’s parents that personally chose to replace their house’s covering from rotting wood with vinyl. This illustrates that it was their own choice, despite the narrator’s protests and concerns about possible health issues (which she was already experiencing from unrelated circumstances). Ecologically, the vinyl can release toxins if heated up or set on fire. The entire process of producing the vinyl is also extremely hazardous for everyone involved (this is related to the technological issue). Legally, there are no laws strong enough currently in place to regulate how these products are produced and organizationally there is a problem because the corporations are well aware of the issues that are happening and are still supporting the practice (even though businessmen in Venice, Italy were tried in court for manslaughter for this).

 **5. What parts of the film did you find most persuasive and compelling? Why?**  I actually found the “prepping for the interview” part of the movie pretty interesting. This is because I would have liked to learn more on how one would go about doing the research and the tactics used to learn the information like the narrator did for her 30 minute interview with the vinyl representative. I would have also been interested in learning how to ask questions or to conduct an interview. Other parts of the film that I found compelling was the graphics where it showed the toxins in the vinyl being transferred to every factor of modern life (especially when it got into the baby from the mother’s milk).

 **6. What parts of the film were you not compelled or convinced by? Why?**  I was a little annoyed with the vinyl panel prop that the narrator insisted on lugging around. I realize that it was a continuity gag to move the storyline along, but I felt that they failed in this regard. I also didn’t really see anything “comedic” about the film, despite its status as a comedy movie.

 **7. What audiences does the film best address? Why?**  The audience that the film best addresses are homeowners and consumers of anything made from vinyl. While it will probably be difficult to find cheap and convenient alternatives, the movie urges these targets to choose wisely what products they use every day in case they have detrimental side effects. People who do use vinyl paneling currently may be convinced to switch to an alternative – and to then spread the word.

 **8. What could have been added to this film to enhance its environmental educational value?** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> I wish that the film had a longer section on sustainable alternatives instead of just shots of the narrator standing next to weird looking houses. There was no in-depth explanation on how to choose sustainable materials for the geographic location the audience members were in (a straw house probably wouldn’t do well in upstate New York) and the side story with the artist offering to redesign the narrator’s house for her father never came to fruition – a little bit of a disappointment.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> **9. What kinds of action and points of intervention are suggested by the film? If the film itself does not suggest corrective action, describe actions that you can imagine being effective.** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> The film or its website doesn’t really describe actions one can take except to be aware of what you are buying and to spread the word. I suppose that some actions that might be effective include reading up on sustainable materials or educating yourself on what alternative methods are available to accomplish the same effect that you were originally looking for. In addition, you can advocate for stricter laws, regulations, or legal action by writing to senators and to organizations that deal with the problem specifically to show your support and concern.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> **10. What additional information has this film compelled you to seek out? (Provide at least two supporting references.)** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">The Vinyl Institute claims that Vinyl has environmental properties such as that it is energy efficient, is a thermal insulating value, has a low contribution to green house gases, is durable, and is recyclable. However Greenpeace says that vinyl releases phthalates and dioxins that can affect respiratory systems and cancer. Although these aforementioned factors (from the Vinyl Institute) don’t make up for the suffering many workers have to endure throughout their lives to produce, I did want to hear the ‘other side of the story’. In the end, it is up to the responsibility of the consumer to study the alternatives and make their own educated choices regarding alternatives to PVC – but it is within everyone’s right to know the truth and to not hide how sick workers get when producing a product.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">References: <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">[] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">[]