Atsuko Quirk, Director, Producer, Cinematographer and Editor is a documentary filmmaker, environmental advocate and Cafeteria Culture’s Executive Director and Media Director. She is a 21st generation Samurai family member from northern Japan, living in NYC. Her documentary, “Its Everybody’s Ocean” won Best Documentary Short at NYC International Film Festival (2014) and has been screened in film festivals in ten cities around the world. “School Lunch in Japan – It’s not just about eating” (2010), her short documentary, has over 25 million views on YouTube! The movie conveys the importance of quality school mealtime and has inspired international audiences of students, educators, and school food leaders, as well as Cafcu’s own zero waste cafeteria programs. (more about Atsuko ->)
Debby Lee Cohen, Director, Producer, and Animation Director on CSO and title segments – is a multi-media artist/activist and Former Executive Director and Founder of Cafeteria Culture. She designed scenery, puppets, and animation for theater, parades, film and television, including design for HBO shows, “Classical Baby” and “Saving My Tomorrow.” In partnership with parents, students and NYC school food directors, she led the Styrofoam Out of Schools campaign, resulting in the elimination of half a billion plastic styrofoam trays per year from landfills, incinerators and students meals in NYC and 9 other cities. Debby Lee received a Proclamation from Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer (2018) for her zero waste efforts and is a board member of Manhattan SWAB and Plastic Free Waters Partnership NY/NJ. (more about Debby Lee ->)
Daniel Ramos, Lead Animator/Visual Effects Designer and Multi-media Assistant, is a Brooklyn native, born and raised in the neighborhood of Williamsburg. Since childhood, he has had a passion for computer and digital technology, having constructed his own computer as a teenager. This led him to the field of film and media, earning a BFA in Radio and Television production at the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT), broadening his interest in visual effects and animation. Currently, his many roles at Cafeteria Culture include filming, editing, and creating animation and digital effects for the Microplastic Madness movie.
5th grade students P.S. 15 K Red Hook, Brooklyn, Class of 2017-18
Narrators: Maggie Dalencour and Skylene Morales
Abraham Nagi
Aden Campbell
Adonis Hall
Aliyah Oneal
Andrew Cartagena
Angel Acosta
Angel Encarnacion
Angelina Sanchez
Arianna Gonzalez
Bridgette Llera
Christian Morales
Cruz Huntley
Damien Rodriguez
Daquan Lee
Desire Borden
Devin Monroe
Donni Jr. Riley
Emily Colbert
Grace Foley-Murphy
Isaiah Carow
Isaiah Llera
Ixchel Herrera
J’vonn Edwards
Jack Guido
Jahde Rodriguez
Jahziyiah Worrell
Jamel Mclean
Jaylene Portalatin
Jayleen Antonetty
Jayla Purvis
Joshua Caraballo
Kalena Rudnicki
Kayla Delgado
Khamari David
Luis Perez
Mia Rosoboro
Mikayla Williams
Nazeah Ellison
Nautical Rosa
Nixzmary Martinez
Olivia Gonsalves
Pedro Lopez Chan
Ronen Battis
Roua Alzandani
Sanaya Santiago
Sharon Li
Shayla Pyrant
Sincere Vanderhorst
Skylar Rogers
Tamara Torres
Tiffany Nunez
Tracy Bedell
Travis Scott
Valerie Rodriguez
Yaseem Ross-Townsend
Ziannah Smith
Zion Harris
Experts and Scientists (in order of appearance)
P.S. 15 Patrick F Daly, Red Hook Brooklyn
Red Hook Community