WHRO Public Media and askHRgreen.org Team up to Create Catchy GreenBeats Video
(Hampton Roads, Virginia, Oct. 4, 2023) – WHRO Public Media and askHRgreen.org have teamed up to produce the latest video in the station’s popular GreenBeatsSM animated shorts series for youth, and audiences may find themselves singing along to the catchy “foam-free” earworm.
Developed in support of askHRgreen’s region-wide public awareness and education campaign, the video examines the harmful impacts of polystyrene—specifically Styrofoam found in disposable cups, plates, take-out containers and other products, which are not recyclable and take years to break down when left as litter.
The video will premiered Oct. 6 on WHRO TV 15, WHRO Facebook and YouTube.
“This was a great opportunity to work with askHRgreen.org, and our mission statements are so closely aligned,” said Bert Schmidt, President and CEO of WHRO Public Media. “Our GreenBeats series focuses on critical environmental issues, such as protecting nature, recycling and waste reduction. It was exciting for us to step in and produce the video.”
Using stop-gap animation effects and an infectious punk rock-style tune, the video takes viewers through a typical day of a young person, stopping at the corner store for a drink, “That’s served in a big old white cup that’s made of foam.”
“Uh-oh,” she sings. “I’d rather be foam free.”
WHRO collaborated with the askHRgreen.org Recycling & Beautification Committee on the video’s theme and story line. They used a collage effect to create the characters and backdrops, then manually moved the objects an inch or so at a time in front of the camera to create the motion.
“We love that the WHRO team just took the ball and ran with it, and the song is so fun and memorable,” said Katie Cullipher, who co-leads the askHRgreen.org initiative with Rebekah Eastep. “Having a ‘foam-free’ world is ideal, and we hope young audiences will understand that keeping Styrofoam products out of the waste stream and the environment is the way to go.”
The video was produced with grant funds from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, which covered the production costs.
Viewers can tune into Facebook to watch the GreenBeats “Foam Free” video premiere live on Friday, October 6 at 11:00 a.m. After launch, the video will be added to the GreenBeats catalogue and can be viewed on demand at whro.org/greenbeats. For more information, visit: www.askHRgreen.org.
Watch it here: Greenbeats Foam Free
About askHRgreen.org askHRgreen.org is your go-to resource for all things green in Hampton Roads – from recycling tips and pointers for keeping local waterways clean to water-saving ideas and simple steps to make local living easy on the environment. Launched in 2011, the region-wide public awareness and education campaign is administered through the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission and powered by the following members: The cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, and Williamsburg; the counties of Gloucester, Isle of Wight, James City, Southampton, Surry and York; the town of Smithfield; and HRSD. Like askHRgreen.org on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram, tune in to YouTube and catch the “Let’s Talk Green” blog, written by a team of local experts.
Media Contacts:
Katie Cullipher, Principal Environmental Education Planner (757) 420-8300; kcullipher@hrpdcva.gov
Elizabeth Evans, Red Chalk Studios (757) 705-7153; elizabeth@redchalkstudios.com