LED’ing Your Production Towards a Greener Future | Sustainable Production
Sustainable Production
LED’ing Your Production Towards a Greener Future:
Even more practices for sustainable filmmaking.
Last week we dived into some essential practices which should be at the core of each environmentally-conscious film production. This time, we go even deeper to discover what individual crew departments can (and should) do to reduce their negative impact.
1. Light department
Let’s start with the most significant energy engine on every set - light. Without professional lighting, there can be no filmmaking, which usually generates tremendous amounts of energetic waste, making our issue a real catch-22. Thankfully, there are proven solutions to lead our light departments down a greener path, and so far, all signs point to LED and fluorescent lighting, slowly replacing traditional tungsten and HMI’s.
Although the technology still needs to be advanced enough to power high-scale productions with LED panels, implementing them wherever possible is already a massive step in the right direction. What is more, LED lighting allows for local energy sources in locations instead of using hugely wasteful generators. Switching to house power on set can reduce emissions even by 85%, and although it can be a costly solution, it is often a cost worth taking. While some locations make it impossible to abandon generators completely - do not fret. There are already companies such as Green Voltage (UK) and De Groene Aggregaat, Volta Energy and Stroom & Co in the Netherlands, which offer emissions-free, battery-powered, rechargeable generators. Those generators can save up to 35kg of carbon and are already used on some of the most extensive major studio film sets.
2. Costumes and props department
Another department worth investigating with a more environmentally conscious eye is costumes and props. It is no surprise that the fashion industry presents a massive threat to our climate, and it is up to the producer to decide whether your film supports such practices. Styling choices and demands vary from script to script, but there are essential things to consider when briefing the costume department. First, reusing is the most obvious step. Stylists can choose to purchase vintage clothing, reuse or borrow certain pieces from past productions, or even transform existing fabrics into new and exciting designs.
When sourcing new clothes, however - which is often the case - paying attention to what and where we buy is also crucial. Is the fabric organic, can it be recycled, and is the brand sustainable and ethical? Remember - every purchase you make on behalf of your production is a vote with your wallet.
Making sustainable choices after the shoot is also part of the process. Instead of throwing out the clothes or abandoning them somewhere in a storage archive, many production companies donate suitable items to homeless shelters or reuse companies. If the clothes must be disposed of, ensure they are recycled. The same philosophy can be applied to props and various set design fragments.
3. Hair & makeup department
A smaller but equally as impactful pollutant is the hair & makeup department, which generates significant amounts of waste, not to mention other ethical and sustainable concerns. Popular beauty products often come in non-recyclable plastic packaging, have environmentally toxic ingredients and, in many cases, are also tested on animals. Thankfully, MUAs nowadays can choose from many organic and ethical makeup brands, which should be the standard on all sustainable film sets. Some organic cosmetic brands easily accessible in the Netherlands are Weleda, John Masters Organics and Lush. Although switching from commercial beauty brands to an organic path less travelled may require more research and, in turn, more effort, it is a small price compared to its environmental benefits.
4. Catering
The final point of this unofficial green memo is dedicated to catering - a department which comes with much joy and even more responsibility. Food is an integral part of each film set, and the consumer choices that we make here can genuinely contribute to preserving our environment and making a positive change. First, there are the obvious intersectional steps such as waste recycling, reducing plastic packaging, opting for ceramic plates and cutlery instead of disposables, investing in organic brands and reducing energy. Then, there are more concrete steps like, for example, settling on an all-vegetarian (or better yet, vegan) menu. Eliminating daily meat consumption within a large crew for a shoot is a simple yet very effective way of implementing a sustainable and equally delicious standard. When paired with responsible waste management and sustainable ingredients, it’s a surefire way for your catering to be an environmentally-friendly success.
These few examples show that sustainability on a film set can be easily achieved - all it takes is research, planning and readiness to do the right thing. If we all work together with a shared sustainable goal, our crew can become a fruitful engine, producing great content as a force for good that people actually want to watch and having a positive impact while creating it.
Stay tuned for next week’s article instalment as we dive into examples of some beloved sustainable productions and learn tips and tricks to follow in their footsteps.