As a seasoned gamer who has spent countless hours immersed in virtual worlds, I can’t help but draw parallels between the gaming industry and Hollywood when it comes to making a difference in society. Just like how games have evolved to include environmental messages, climate change narratives, and sustainable practices within their digital landscapes, so too should films and TV shows.
In relation to conveying environmental and climate change themes effectively through film, Hollywood might find guidance from shows such as “Will & Grace” and “Cheers,” suggested Sam Read, the executive director of the Sustainable Entertainment Alliance, during a talk in Toronto over the weekend.
During the “Strategies for Sustainable Cinema” panel at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival’s industry conference, he pointed out: “Though our industry has a carbon footprint that requires attention and everyone here is making significant efforts, we should remember that it’s smaller compared to industries like concrete production. However, where we truly excel is in our impact on culture.
Essentially, the entertainment industry provides a stage for both showcasing content and fostering change. As Read pointed out, over time we’ve witnessed the industry’s capacity to shape societal perceptions, such as how shows like “Will & Grace” brought about a shift in attitudes towards gay marriage and LGBT rights. Similarly, sitcoms like “Cheers” sparked the concept of designated drivers, subtly influencing behavior for social impact. In other words, we often discuss the industry’s potential to promote and back sustainable behaviors.
The Alliance, a collaboration of entertainment industry leaders dedicated to minimizing their worldwide carbon impact and advocating for a greener tomorrow, is constantly pondering ways to aid creators in portraying how climate change affects our daily lives on screen. They are interested in demonstrating eco-friendly behaviors through various storylines, ranging from entire shows centered around the topic to subtler details like incorporating solar panels in the background of a scene or even reimagining characters as solar technicians, such as in a sitcom where the main character is a plumber who has transitioned into installing solar panels.
As a gamer, I always remember to let the game’s narrative flow naturally without forcing irrelevant elements into it. For instance, when creating a historical role-playing game, it wouldn’t make sense to suddenly introduce climate change. However, if I’m developing a modern-day game, I ensure to incorporate relevant topics like climate change and contemporary behaviors in a way that feels organic to the storyline.
The panel aims to highlight strategies for incorporating eco-friendly techniques into film production, ensuring that environmental goals are met without jeopardizing artistic vision, financial resources, or quality, as stated on the TIFF website. It’s noted that sustainable practices in filmmaking and festivals are rapidly advancing, introducing innovative methods to minimize carbon emissions from pre-production to post-production.
As a devoted enthusiast, I found myself seated among esteemed company: Justin Cutler, the illustrious Ontario Film Commissioner, and Arsalan Talebzadeh, the dynamic director of partnerships at Invert – a pioneering organization dedicated to reducing and removing carbon emissions.
The experts stress that sustainability initiatives should begin during the early stages of production planning and require sincerity and commitment. It’s important to first assess and minimize a production’s environmental impact before attempting to offset any actions taken, as Talebzadeh explained. “We aim to avoid being labeled as greenwashers,” he added. “We don’t want this label for ourselves, we don’t want it for our clients, and we certainly don’t want them associated with it.
His firm is actively working on ways to lessen emissions, particularly in the production of concrete. One area of concentration is finding methods to make concrete more eco-friendly, such as reducing emissions or creating greener concrete. He mentioned a Canadian company called Carbon Cure that they have backed. This company has the ability to capture CO2 and incorporate it into the concrete mixture. By doing so, less cement is required. The cement industry is responsible for almost 10% of global emissions, so this approach offers dual advantages: not only does it help capture CO2, but it also decreases the need for cement throughout the entire production process, from mining all the way upstream.
Cutler mentioned that “over 900 individuals have attended our carbon calculation training program, as well as our sustainable action courses, all of which are offered for free. This has significantly contributed to the creation of a network of advocates on set.
He mentioned that there are numerous prospects at our disposal, emphasizing this point to the group. “Green storage facilities,” he explained, “are a particularly significant chance for Ontario in the current context, as we’ve observed their successful implementation in New York and British Columbia. Interestingly, local businesses in Ontario have already started embracing this concept and making it their own.” In essence, these eco-friendly storage spaces serve as repositories for materials used in entertainment, such as costumes, props, set pieces, and equipment. Instead of discarding them in a landfill, they are repurposed for other productions or donated to the community.
Cutler added: “Additionally, our exceptional set designers are considering designs for reusability, an aspect I consider crucial. As such, we’re adopting a strategic stance, and the initial outcomes are quite promising.
Read mentioned that the Alliance is developing instruments for various sectors, including a carbon tracker designed to assess the carbon impact of specific productions. This tool considers factors such as energy consumption, transportation, accommodations, and more.
Additionally, it compiles benchmarking reports. In essence, these reports indicate that approximately half of the carbon emissions in typical operations are attributed to fuel, primarily due to transportation like trucks and cars used for transporting crew and equipment, as well as diesel generators employed for mobile power. Our members focus on numerous projects related to clean mobile power, expanding access to batteries, and educating crews on how to maximize battery efficiency as a substitute for diesel generators. They also collaborate on the use of electric vehicles (EVs) to replace diesel trucks.
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2024-09-07 21:55