How to Make a Sustainable Movie or TV Show: Pre-Production
So, you want to focus on sustainability for your next movie or TV production. Great! But where to start? How about from the beginning? Before you put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard), you must educate yourself on sustainable production and seek guidance from industry standards such as our EMA Green Seal and third-party help from a sustainable production company. To help you on your way, we've elicited advice from our friends at Green Eyes Production for a series on sustainable movie making, from pre-production to release.
Green Eyes Production is a trailblazer in sustainable filmmaking dedicated to transforming the industry's landscape. Green Eyes' mission involves examining a project's life cycle, from the green light stage to distribution, ensuring that every stage aligns with our commitment to environmental responsibility.
Let's get to our interview to learn how filmmakers can consider sustainability.
Green Eyes Production Co-Founders Júlia Tordai and Zsófia Szemerédy
Your website claims the climate is present in every story; what does that mean?
When a story neglects to address climate change, it effectively constructs a fictional reality. This understanding stems from the recognition that we cannot overlook the pervasive impact of climate change on our world. By integrating the realities of climate change into our narratives, we raise awareness and normalize sustainability and climate action.
To illustrate, consider crafting a modern-day drama set in a country where recycling is legally mandatory. Refraining from depicting recycling in such a narrative would create an unrealistic fictional world.
However, it is imperative to go beyond merely recognizing the impact of narratives. We must also emphasize that climate change influences every aspect of storytelling, including the carbon footprint of each action taken during filmmaking. Every decision leaves an environmental footprint, from arranging crew accommodation to selecting suppliers for production needs.
As filmmakers, we navigate diverse facets to deliver a creative final product. Regardless of scale, each aspect of the filmmaking process contributes to our environmental impact. We aim to mitigate the film industry's negative environmental footprint while integrating climate communication to foster positive change.
Ultimately, we aim to empower individuals to find their leverage points. While responsibilities vary based on roles and personalities, acknowledging our shared responsibility is paramount. While we oppose shifting the burden solely onto individuals rather than society, recognizing individual responsibility is crucial today.
Let's start with the paper. What can productions in the screenwriting phase do to commit to sustainability?
Screenwriters play a pivotal role in shaping narratives within film production, as decisions heavily rely on the script they create. Screenwriters must recognize their capacity to effect positive change by integrating sustainable storytelling arcs, characters, and behaviors, along with themes addressing climate concerns. For instance, incorporating characters who practice recycling, narratives centered on resilience and communal efforts in tackling environmental challenges and showcasing the splendor of natural ecosystems alongside the benefits of conservation endeavors. These eco-conscious narrative elements raise environmental and sustainable awareness and advocate for best practices, empowering screenwriters to play a pivotal role in shaping narratives that reflect our ecological consciousness.
Screenwriters can also facilitate a shift in mindset by actively educating themselves, seeking information, and delving deeper into relevant topics. Recognizing that every word carries a carbon impact can be a daunting realization. However, as a screenwriter, you're accustomed to receiving feedback from the industry, whether it's about reducing budgets or other considerations. This process isn't dissimilar; instead of solely focusing on fiscal budgets, it involves managing a carbon budget. Picture it as having a carbon budget and being tasked with staying within its limits, much like you would with a financial budget. This shift allows for reframing priorities, where environmental impact becomes a crucial consideration alongside creative and economic concerns.
Prioritizing communication and collaboration at the forefront, we advocate for a preliminary carbon footprint estimation based on the available information for production. This step allows us to assess the environmental impact early in the process and guides decision-making. Given that producers make many decisions before the pre-production stage, particularly during the greenlight stage, it's imperative to prioritize sustainability from the outset, ensuring it's a fundamental consideration from day one of the project. This process begins with questions of how, where, when, with whom, and what we are shooting. Location selection plays a significant role in starting sustainably. We then delve into other aspects that impact sustainability, namely the supply chain and budget. Once you identify these elements, we craft a comprehensive sustainability plan tailored specifically for the production.
Following this estimation, we can re-evaluate the budget and align plans that integrate sustainability seamlessly into every aspect of the production. Since every production element is interconnected, clear communication is vital, with each department discussing solutions and challenges to ensure everyone is on the same page. Through productive communication, training, and education, we can effectively build onto the sustainable plan and integrate sustainability into every aspect of the project. This collaborative approach fosters innovation and allows for informed decision-making that balances creative vision with environmental responsibility.
To reiterate, the sustainability of any project hinges on the script and various production parameters. We recognize the importance of adaptability and flexibility. Circumstances may change, but our commitment to sustainability remains unwavering. Thus, engaging with eco-conscious supply chains, vendors, and environmentally friendly locations is pivotal. By prioritizing eco-friendly practices in pre-production, we lay the groundwork for a sustainable project.
Furthermore, as part of the industry shift towards sustainability, we advocate embracing the principles of circularity, long-term planning, and insetting. Industry-specific insetting initiatives involve investing in studio infrastructure upgrades, such as energy-efficient lighting systems and renewable energy sources or supporting the transition to sustainable transportation options like electric vehicles. Collaborating with suppliers to implement sustainable practices and investing in conservation projects to benefit local communities and ecosystems further contribute to our sustainability efforts.
By integrating circularity, long-term planning, and industry-specific insetting into our sustainability efforts, we pave the way for a more environmentally conscious and resilient film industry.
What are the benefits of production using a consulting company such as Green Eyes Productions to help them on their sustainable mission?
Engaging a consulting company like Green Eyes Productions for its sustainable mission offers productions a tailored and comprehensive approach to sustainability. Green Eyes brings specialized expertise in sustainable practices, meticulously tailored to each production's unique needs. Their guidance enables informed decision-making, ensuring alignment with the production's goals and values.
Moreover, Green Eyes excels in optimizing resources and identifying opportunities to reduce waste, energy consumption, and costs. Their streamlined implementation processes save time and effort, seamlessly integrating sustainability into every aspect of production.
By partnering with Green Eyes and following standards set in the EMA Green Seal, productions also benefit from significant time, cost, and resource savings. Just as one might use a casting agent to find the perfect talent fit, Green Eyes is a specialized consultant, guiding productions toward sustainable practices efficiently and effectively.
Additionally, Green Eyes leverages its invaluable network within the sustainable filmmaking community, laying it bare before the production and utilizing all its connections to make a meaningful impact. Through their partnership, productions actively contribute to a more sustainable film industry, promoting environmental responsibility and long-term sustainability practices.
Finally, why is it critical for TV and movie projects to consider an established sustainable guide such as our EMA Green Seal early in production?
When TV and movie projects consider an established sustainable guide like the EMA Green Seal early in production, they unlock critical benefits for their sustainability efforts. As sustainability consultants, we stress the importance of platforms such as EMA to ensure adherence to sustainable industry standards and best practices from the outset.
Integrating sustainability initiatives early on is essential, enabling meticulous planning and implementation throughout the production process. This early integration allows for better data collection, which is vital for assessing environmental impacts and tracking progress toward sustainability goals. In turn, this data informs the availability and allocation of financial incentives, such as tax rebates, which significantly promote sustainable practices.
Moreover, adherence to a recognized sustainable guide like the EMA Green Seal provides clear and measurable objectives, ensuring filmmakers prioritize environmental considerations alongside creativity and financial aspects. Additionally, considering an established guide early in production facilitates alignment with unified regulations and industry standards, promoting consistency and coherence across projects. Finally, EMA offers a tremendous platform to amplify your work.
There you have it, folks! You've considered sustainability from idea to script to pre-production. Please stay tuned for part two of our series to learn the following steps to make your TV show or Movie sustainably.
Edited by Jay Jasinski, Managing Director, Marketing & Campaigns, EMA.