I don’t know about you but when I watch films, the environmental impact from the filmmaking process never crosses my mind. I had never thought about all the different aspects that go into film production, from equipment and location to catering and transportation, and how, collectively, they all have quite a big impact on the climate.
Over the summer, I completed an extra university course in sustainability and employability, which encouraged me to look into the sustainability of the film industry. I was shocked at the information I came across about the negative impacts of an industry that I aspire to be a part of. Of course, filmmaking practises are slowly becoming more eco-friendly, and there are examples of large scale productions that have a carbon neutral status, however there is still much to do to make sustainable practises habitual in the film industry.
The Past
While the industry may produce less emissions than others such as energy, water and waste, film production contributes to many of these sectors. Filmmakers are understandably concerned with efficiency on set, however this often leads to less sustainable practises. Cast and crew are transported all around the world by fuel consuming vehicles, sets are constructed with various materials of different disposal methods and energy is used by multiple pieces of high powered equipment. An abundance of food is leftover and wasted from catering, locations are scouted then damaged and tonnes of physical waste is created over the duration of a film shoot.
Of course, productions differ. The size, duration and location of a shoot determines the resources needed and therefore the carbon footprint. Larger productions with more cast and crew will require more transportation, equipment, materials and food, therefore producing more CO2 and physical waste. But no matter the size, scale or length of a production, all the choices it makes throughout will contribute to its overall carbon footprint.
Let’s focus on Hollywood, one of the largest film industries in the world. Containing many major film studios, including Disney, Universal and Fox, and producing hundreds of films each year, it is all condensed within the city of LA. This of course has an impact on the surrounding area and those who live there. In a 2006 study by the University of California, they found in the LA region, film production contributed more to air pollution than any other major industry, including clothing and aerospace manufacturing.
Often, other states and countries offer incentives to production companies in order for them to film in their region. While this does reduce emissions in the LA area, the additional transportation to move productions from one place to another significantly increases the overall greenhouse gas emissions of one single film. In a 2016 thesis by Carolyn Buchanan, she found that a production moved to Boston produces five times the emission than if it were filmed in LA.
Similarly in the UK, there is concern as to how the British film industry is impacting the environment both globally and locally, with the majority of film studios located in London. In a 2009 report by Green Screen, it stated that 125,000 tonnes of carbon emissions are produced each year by screen productions in London, equivalent to that of 24,000 homes.
It isn’t all bad though! Over the past decade, many major studios have made huge changes to the way they make films, bringing sustainability to the forefront of their filmmaking practises.
The Progress So Far
With sustainability growing increasingly crucial within business, many major Hollywood studios are becoming more transparent about their carbon footprints and efforts to become sustainable.
The Walt Disney Company is one of the biggest mass media conglomerates in the world, owning many different companies and studios and having multiple theme parks across the globe. It is important to question the sustainability of such a huge company, but Disney are extremely vocal about their impact and efforts to improve. Each year, Disney releases a Corporate Social Responsibility Update, in which they report their data from the past year and their targets for the future. In 2018, Disney had carbon emissions of 897,523 metric tons, reduced from 915,764 in 2014. While this is not specific to its film production, there are examples of Disney produced films which show the progress they are making in their studio productions too.
According to the MPA, Disney’s 2014 production ‘Tomrrowland’ followed a zero waste initiative, achieving a 91% waste diversion rate from landfill. During the shoot, compulsory recycling and composting schemes were followed, with construction materials being reused, recycled or donated, saving 390 tons of waste heading to landfill. Generators were run on biodiesel instead of regular diesel, and reusable water bottles were given to cast and crew, saving over 100,000 disposable plastic bottles.
Universal Pictures have also been very proactive in increasing sustainability within their filmmaking, developing a Sustainable Production Program which illustrates the best sustainable practises to allow filmmakers to reduce the environmental impact of the shoot. The ‘Green is Universal’ website features examples of Universal’s recent films and practises that were followed during production to reduce their carbon footprint. For example, their most recent release ‘Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw’ (2019) featured a recycling and compost programme, reusable water bottles for the crew and heaters run off renewable diesel. They also donated $45,000 worth of wardrobe to different companies, and 1400lbs of extra food to those in need.
Many other major studios also feature websites in which they present their eco-friendly filmmaking efforts and their targets for the future, including Warner Brothers. with ‘WB Good’, Sony Pictures ‘Greener World’ and Paramount ‘Giving Back’.
Independent Impact
It’s great to see large film studios taking responsibility and changing their practises, but what can independent filmmakers do? For smaller companies, there are official schemes which can help reduce their environmental impact. The BAFTA backed organisation albert+ acts as a carbon footprint calculator, allowing productions to calculate their predicted CO2 output and offer tips and training to help reduce their overall impact. Some of the productions that have received the ‘albert sustainable production certification’ include television series such as ‘Trollied’, ‘Pointless’ and ‘Inside No.9’.
Another non-profit scheme to help reduce productions environmental impact is the Film London powered Green Screen. Similarly to albert+, Green Screen provides productions with an environmental programme which helps them plan each aspect of their shoot to be as sustainable and cost saving as possible. Some productions which received the Green Screen certification include ‘The Theory of Everything’ (2014) which saved £750 by donating unwanted assets to charity, and ‘The World’s End’ (2013) which saved £2884 by using water coolers instead of plastic bottles.
One independent film studio which puts sustainability at the forefront of their work is Fishtown Films. The Philadelphia based company is the very first Zero Waste film studio, creating TV ads, music videos, documentaries and more for clients including National Geographic and Nickelodeon - all made with as little waste as possible! Their practises are simple and logical; avoiding single use plastic, using reusable bottles and dishware, composting leftovers, using thrifted costumes and found locations etc.
To give an example of the success of their work, their music video for ‘Siren Song’ by Gracie Martin was shot over the course of a year, and in total only produced 4oz of rubbish!
Their next project however is even more impressive - to shoot the first ever Zero Waste movie! ‘Here Comes The Blackout’ is a rom-com that not only aims to engage audiences, but prove to Hollywood that this can be done in a way that is beneficial to both the industry and the environment. Co-founder Austin Elson says “There is simply no reason for Hollywood to be so wasteful, and we aim to show everyone there is a more sustainable option”.
Actors to Activists
From major production studios to smaller independent companies, everyone involved in the filmmaking process needs to do their bit to reduce the overall impact of the project they’re on. However, these efforts shouldn’t stop once the shoot is over. Actors, especially those who are well known, have a huge influence over the general public, and now more and more big names are being increasingly vocal about the state of the climate.
One actor who is doing a great deal both on and off screen is Leonardo DiCaprio. Establishing the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation when he was just 24, DiCaprio has done much to bring awareness to global warming and create projects to support renewable energy and biodiversity. He has also helped produce multiple environmental documentaries including ‘Cowspiracy’ (2014), ‘The 11th Hour’ (2007) and ‘Before the Flood’ (2016).
Other actors turned environmentalists include Cate Blanchett, who is an ambassador for the Australian Conservation Foundation, Woody Harrelson, co-founder of a sustainable paper company, and Mark Ruffalo who is a vocal anti-fracking activist.
The Future
So now we know what practises production companies should follow in order to become more sustainable, but what can we do as an audience?
Firstly, education is extremely important, and film is a powerful tool to teach people about the reality of Earth’s future. There are many documentaries that discuss the impacts different industries have on the climate, from agriculture and deforestation to fracking and sea fishing. Some key documentaries include ‘Cowspiracy’ (as mentioned previously), ‘Gasland’ (2010) and ‘Chasing Ice’ (2012). Environmentalist films increase awareness to aspects less often explored and help encourage change in behaviour and beliefs, creating a more active audience.
Furthermore, while major studios already have programmes in place to reach sustainability targets, independent filmmakers may need support to achieve their own eco-friendly goals. As mentioned before, Fishtown Films are currently fundraising for their Zero Waste film, ‘Here Comes The Blackout’. Check out their Indiegogo campaign and help be a part of something incredible! https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-first-zero-waste-movie#/
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