A young mother holds her son’s hand as he’s fed into an MRI machine. The camera zooms in on her eye. As the mournful orb begins to fill the screen, the image is intercut with shots of a loud house party. The mother, even younger, hangs out in a crowded living room—a beer in her hand, raucous punk rock blaring around her. You wouldn’t think a despondent drama about a terminally ill child would be an excuse to make with the visual razzle-dazzle. But writer-director-actress Valérie Donzelli takes a number of unexpected paths with her involving feature, Declaration of War.

It must be hard filling 24 hours a day, seven days a week with a particular type of programming. Which is probably why Syfy Channel hardly has any science fiction on it anymore. And when you try your damnedest to stick to a limited topic, you’re bound to come up with some pretty odd iterations on the theme. Which is why, I suspect, “Sweet Genius” exists on the Food Network.

Green the Scene: A Practical Guide to Sustainable Film Production is a three-hour workshop designed to teach filmmakers how to shoot a movie without harming the environment. Everything from energy management to environmentally friendly set construction will be discussed in this practical “how to” session. The free class is being taught by Holly Roach, a local location manager and founder of Green Production Resource, and Lauren Selman of Reel Green Media. Combined, these ladies have worked on more than 20 “green” films. Their workshop will be held at the Center for Progress and Justice in Santa Fe (1420 Cerrillos) on Saturday, April 7, from 1 to 4 p.m. Space is limited. To sign up, email michelle@iatselocal480.com.