"Green Porno," the series of short, funny films on Sundance Channel featuring Isabella Rossellini acting out the reproductive activities of animals (“If I were a spider ... ”), returns to the channel on Sept. 21 (8 p.m.) with a more direct pro-environmental message.
Rossellini, who also writes and directs the films, said it was a natural evolution. In Series 1, the six films, about flies and snails and the like, “were meant to be little jokes” that maybe taught the viewer something about commonly seen creatures.
Series 2, about sea denizens such as whales, starfish and limpets, added more “wonderment” about the subjects, which can be the first step toward motivating viewers to protect them.
This time, marine biologist Claudio Campagna suggested, “Why don't you add a third reaction, which is an awareness of the fragility of the ocean,” Rossellini said in a phone interview Friday. “The third series takes the third step, which is to be more explicit about the environmental message.”
The first three episodes start with Rossellini in the kitchen, preparing shrimp, squid or anchovies. Then comes the learning part: about how those creatures have sex, and finding out that “a lot of the fish are fished while they are reproducing,” she said, because they aggregate while spawning.
“That has contributed to the depletion of the fish stock,” she said, “and it's perfect for Green Porno.” After she gets the depressing news about overfishing, Rossellini loses her appetite, and then Campagna gives his environmental message, she said.
There's a road trip this season: Rossellini visits Campagna in the Patagonian region of Argentina, where he has extensively studied elephant seals. The fourth episode — running an unprecedented six minutes — tells their story, using real footage, puppetry and animation.
What's next for Rossellini? She's started a script that's different than Green Porno, she said. “I live in Manhattan, so I would like to talk only about animals that live in Manhattan.” The Wire hopes she settles the whole alligator thing once and for all.
Green Porno 3 debuts at the Toronto Film Festival on Sept. 11. Then the shorts go online at Sundancechannel.com on Sept. 14, followed by the on-air premiere on Sept. 21. HarperStudio's GREEN PORNO: A Book and Short Films by Isabella Rossellini hits stores Sept. 22, with a DVD of all 18 episodes. Video-on-demand episodes start Oct. 7.
