Sustainability could play a leading role in the film industry as the fad for both local and international studios to incorporate green production practices that lighten their environmental impact is cast.
While studios lead the way and set the tone, it is up to the individual to change the shape of the demand. One such individual is doing just that in KZN. After ten years of being in the film industry, Elle Matthews, producer at Green Shoot Films saw the immense waste that happens around productions, and in 2008, after watching An Inconvenient Truth decided to re-launch her production company Tidal Wave Productions as Green Shoot Films, an environmentally conscious film production company. “I needed to do my part within my own profession,” she says.
Green Shoot Films works on local and international productions consistently conscious that every action they take, and inspire others to take, makes a difference. “When we undertook our new business plan for Green Shoot Films we decided to implement basic principles for greening our productions, including conserving fuel and energy, avoiding toxins and pollution, saving water and preventing landfill waste,” explains Matthews. “The most important change has been bringing about a massive shift in mind-set, so we started with our own production office. Email and electronic scheduling replace printing, and Skype or phone calls substitute driving and flying to meetings wherever possible. Energy efficient lighting replaces conventional globes, and recycling is key to everything we do from inks to electronics. We even stock chlorine-free toilet paper and paper towels.”
They too advise all crew to keep that green mind-set throughout and therefore implement changes from individual to individual. “We also brief our film catering companies to make sure they source organic, locally produced products wherever possible, and have replaced plastic bottled water with a tap water dispenser and recyclable paper cups on shoots. Any fresh food left after a shoot goes to a local church or charity,” says Matthews.
Even the Art Department is made conscious of reusing and recycling throughout the construction, rigging and wrap processes. “They are encouraged to rent sets, props and plants instead of buying, to choose wood from trees grown in sustainable forests when building, and to use eco-friendly paints, adhesives and cleaners during set construction,” says Matthews. Adding that the appointment of an eco-consultant helps cast and crew implement sustainability practices by sourcing green vendors and products, disseminating information and resources and working with department heads to green their departments.
“Before every shoot we consult with the gear hire companies to establish how they can work to ensure the most eco-friendly equipment during filming. The most obvious way is replacing film cameras with HD cameras. If you have to use traditional film, there is the option of shooting in 3-perf, which uses 25 per cent less film and processing chemicals. Lighting is easier to green than Grips, although there is a lot the Grips Department can do in terms of recycling. With lighting, our favourite green source of light is the sun – we use natural light wherever possible and it always looks better. It’s been standard practice on our shoots for years to opt for CFL and LED lights, to turn off all lighting that’s not in use, and to use dimmers to reduce energy use between bright shots,” explains Matthews.
Matthews says they too replace polyboards with environmentally friendly alternatives. For smaller productions this includes biodegradable foam board or recycled board painted white, along with foldable white, silver or gold reflectors. For bigger productions Media Film Service offers eco-friendly white board alternatives to polyboards. In the USA they’re using Myco Board as a green alternative to polystyrene.
Regrettably going green is not yet simple, “And it probably won’t be until the film industry as a whole adopts more green practices,” adds Matthews.
With a number of pending studio projects on the table, Green Shoot Films is looking for a green film studio for a feature film currently in development, “It would be amazing for us to be able to shoot in KZN in an eco-friendly film studio,” hopes Matthews.
Internationally, Vancouver Film Studios claim they became the first carbon neutral film studio. They are an eco-conscious and self-sustaining enterprise by recycling; by using less water and not buying plastic water bottles or straws; by using energy efficient LED lights; by incorporating a community garden; by composting; by going electric with vehicles and installing charging stations to encourage electric vehicle use.
There are interesting case studies emerging from the growing pool of productions that choose to go green, and the result is always the same: reducing waste and seeing financial benefits in the process. One international feature film saved £18 000 simply by abandoning disposable plastic bottles in favour of water coolers.
Universal Pictures and Focus Features are further international examples of film studios committed to reducing the environmental impact from filmmaking actions. NBC Universal developed a Sustainable Production Programme which empowers its film divisions to integrate sustainable best practices across their productions. Sony Pictures employed a full-time independent contractor, Earth Angel, on The Amazing Spider-Man 2 set and accomplished a 52 per cent waste diversion rate from landfills. This blockbuster is touted as the most eco-friendly film in the history of Sony Pictures and saved an estimated $400 000 by going green.
It is unheard of to have a studio without a green room, could it soon be unheard of to have a film production that is anything but entirely green?
