Director: Judith Helfand and Daniel B. Gold

Cast: Ted and Florence Helfand, Diane Prince, Billy Baggett, Dr. Caesare Maltoni, Dr. William F. Carroll, Jr.

Country: U.S.
Year: 2002
Running Time: 60 min
Format: Beta SP

What would you do if someone you loved decided to put vinyl siding on their house? Of course, you would demand that they start all over again with a healthier material, and you would gather a film crew to help document the ill effects of the manufacture and disposal of vinyl.

Believe it or not, that is exactly how Judith Helfand reacted when her parents put blue vinyl siding on their family home in Long Island. Judith was sure there was a better way, and she set out to find it. Carrying a piece of her parents' blue vinyl siding, and accompanied by a film crew and directing partner Daniel Gold, she traveled from Long Island to Louisiana to Italy. Improbably, the result is an informative, funny, touching, highly personal movie that you are likely to never forget. Aided by Emily Hubley's and Jeremiah Dickey's inspired animation, the viewer learns a great deal about PVC, its pervasiveness throughout our society, and a variety of alternative siding materials.

Ultimately, this singular journey has a great deal to say about corporate science and marketing, about family, and about the incredible determination of one person to fix just one problem.

First seen at Sundance 2002, Blue Vinyl will air on HBO.

--Jed Dietz

Presented By: Judith Helfand and Daniel B. Gold

Co-director and co-producer Judith Helfand has worked as a documentary producer and director for 10 years. Her films include The Uprising of '34, which was broadcast on the POV series on PBS and A Healthy Baby Girl, which won a Peabody Award for excellence in journalism and public education.

A Director of Photography and Cameraman, Daniel B.Gold's work has frequently been seen on Saturday Night Live, Dateline NBC, and The Hallmark Channel. His documentary work has been broadcast on several networks including PBS and the Discovery Channel. Blue Vinyl marks his feature documentary debut as co-director and co-producer.