Filmmaking is a brilliant industry – it takes the mundane and makes it magical. Yet underneath all this glitz and glamor, there’s a seedy side – its environmental impact. The Conversation reveals several real-world effects still being felt today in natural environments due to unsustainable filmmaking. It’s easy to mistake the depth of the impact when you examine an entire country since the environmental woes are usually limited to a small region.
Several industries are embracing the move towards more sustainable operations. The cinema industry is no exception, making moves towards reducing its environmental impact. Euro News notes that the commercial film industry wants to regulate carbon dioxide emissions due to their productions. How does the film industry approach the mentality of sustainability? Is it even possible with the volume of demands on modern producers?
Sustainability Needs to be Ingrained
The biggest issue that the film industry has is that it doesn’t have a culture of sustainability. From the earliest days, Hollywood would simply create sets on location then abandon them without a thought for its impact on the local ecology. Without any oversight to guide their actions, the film industry continued to do that for years. Now, as climate change starts to affect humanity in noticeable ways, the industry needs to step up to the challenge. The mindset of sustainable filmmaking must make it to the forefront. It’s no longer just an option that the community has. It’s a stake in the future of humanity.
Green Filmmaking as a Drive to Lower Impacts
Green Film is a rating system for sustainable film production. It focuses on the significant aspects of filmmaking, including energy-saving, catering, transport and accommodation, communication, material selection, and waste management. It hopes to change how films, especially commercial projects, are undertaken. For smaller producers, it offers independent verification and a label that they are practicing sustainable filmmaking. Green filmmaking isn’t just a European idea. Several American producers have embraced sustainability in their films. Massive studios such as Sony Pictures and NBC Universal are introducing sustainable filmmaking practices into their productions. Advances in the industry are also helping to spur this environmental push.
Digital film projects have significantly cut the use of plastics in the industry. While some filmmakers prefer to shoot on plastic film, many modern producers have grown used to digital filmmaking. It’s easier, costs less, has a lower environmental impact, and is perfect for smaller productions. Even cast and crew prefer digital options where available. However, holdouts might still insist that plastic film is necessary to make a good feature. Environmentally and cost-wise, plastic film is slowly being phased out in preference to digital media. It’s just easier to work with. Most freelancers and professionals within the filmmaking industry prefer working with digital clips because they are handier and don’t require specialized equipment to interact with. This move is in keeping with the film industry’s new environmentally conscious mindset.
It’s the Little Things
On most filmmaking sets, it’s common to see a lot of waste hanging around. From used coffee cups to wrappers and bits of paper, these small additions can add up quickly. When one considers that a big studio may involve several hundred people in an on-site location, it’s easy to see how that volume builds. Even the impact from a small studio, or an independent filmmaker is noticeable. Small changes can make a massive difference to how the film impacts the locale environmentally. Factors like banning plastic water bottles or requiring biodegradable wrappers are a start. Reducing litter and recycling where possible can help to upkeep the location. Especially in picturesque locations, these concerns can have a significant impact on the appeal. It’s about considering the long-term effects on the location. Producers need to constantly ask themselves, “What happens here after we leave?”
Reducing Supply Chain Dependence
Filmmaking is a business. Like all businesses, it has some requirements that simply can’t be ignored. Elements such as catering for crew and cast can come with a significant carbon footprint. Oftentimes it’s unfeasible to carry caterers along with the rest of the staff and team. Most filmmakers get around this by leveraging the local restaurants as places where staff can have regular meals. Finding a small restaurant that sources its food from local producers helps to maintain sustainability over the long run. Sure, fast-food chains might be what everyone is used to. However, putting money into a local economy like this can have vital knock-on effects. Not only does this help to support a local business, but it also offers financial support to local farmers.
Emissions Reduction Is an Essential Concern
Humanity has spent much of its time on developing more efficient ways to get around. Filmmaking, especially in its modern sense, has a lot of transport concerns. Carrying crew, cast, and equipment may take several trips. Convenience would dictate that everyone comes in their own vehicle to leave when they want to. However, a single car’s carbon footprint makes it unfeasible in the long run to keep this practice going. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes that a passenger vehicle releases up to 4.6 metric tons of carbon into the atmosphere each year. Carpooling is one way to deal with this effect but is only viable if filming occurs in a small geographic area.
Since filming may span several regions, producers might consider letting staff get to the new locations on their own. While it might save the production money, it leaves a black mark on its environmental sustainability. Private jet companies such as Fly XO are an affordable alternative for a producer to have everyone on the same flight. A single airplane can ferry the entire staff and all production equipment to where it needs to be. Since everyone is on the same airline, there’s less of an overall impact on the environment. Not all the staff will be glad about this, but the decision is more impactful than a single person’s protests. Reducing carbon emissions from transport is necessary to ensure the environmental sustainability of the project.
Power Down Equipment When not in Use
It’s a common practice to leave lights on in-studio during downtime, like lunch and coffee breaks. It’s more convenient for gaffers and G/E teams to have them ready to go once the team is ready again. Unfortunately, the energy consumption levels can get massive. Small things like switching off lights when not in use can help to mitigate this impact. Additionally, if laptops are used on set, keeping them unplugged further reduces the consumption. Users can plug in when the battery gets too low then unplug when fully charged. Most power plants are still carbon-based. A film producer lowers the need for burning fossil fuels at the power station by reducing energy consumption.
We’re All in This Together
It’s been easy to dismiss environmental concerns in the past as being unimportant. Yet, around the world, global weather patterns have shifted due to rising temperatures. Sea levels are also rising, thanks to humanity’s dependence on burning fossil fuels. Each small step that a filmmaker takes to be more sustainable can help to avoid disaster. Little things like managing supply chains and reducing energy consumption can go a long way towards helping the earth recover. Filmmakers need to start thinking about sustainability as a core part of their production process. We may still be able to stem the tide of climate change with sustainable filmmaking practices.
