Technology & Film: Setting the scene for saving the world
What's the problem?
Film and TV production is fleeting, but its environmental impact is sadly not. The screen industries have an immense ecological impact.
From the energy to power the cameras, lights, and everything else on set. To the air miles from location to location. To the making and disposal of sets, props and materials. There's a lot of travel, people and waste involved. The average tentpole production creates waste weighing the same as 313 blue whales and eleven trips to the moon in air miles. Add it all up, and you've got a Bigfoot-style carbon footprint.
The Screen New Deal report, a collaboration between the BFI, BAFTA, albert and Arup, sets out a vision for a more sustainable industry. It touches on 5 critical areas for improvement: production materials, energy and water, studio buildings and facilities, studio sites and locations, and production planning.
Big industry players know that responding to the climate emergency is one of the most significant responsibilities of our time. And no business can ignore the pressure to do better. Sky has committed to Net Zero Carbon by 2030 and is building Sky Studios Elstree as the world's most sustainable film and tv studio. Netflix plans to have a net-zero carbon footprint by the end of this year. And NBCUniversal is committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2035 across its productions, theme parks, and facilities.
But this is just the beginning.
How can technology help?
The old saying goes, "If you can't measure it, you can't manage it."
And one of the biggest problems the industry faces - is that the real damage is underreported.
According to the A Screen New Deal, 2021:
"...resource consumption and associated carbon emissions are underreported by productions, and in some cases not reported at all."
Times are changing, though. Now productions can accurately track their impact and share it too - often anonymously. Measuring the progress of sustainability initiatives means we can join the dots as an industry to identify what works - and where there's room for improvement.
Towards transparency
The Generator Project crowdsources anonymous data about energy use on set and shares quarterly reports so anyone can use their insights.
This is good news because sometimes, doing the right thing is expensive… As anyone who's ever looked into replacing generators with batteries will tell you. We're talking fifty thousand pounds minimum (into the hundreds of thousands).
It's easier to go to a bank and finance a battery when you can show all the generators already used in filmmaking. Battery technology is up and coming for productions - Amelia Price of Sustainable Film says, "... it's happening, but we're only just starting to see the benefits of using it since this summer."
Joining the dots
You couldn't write a list like this without a nod and giant hat tip to albert. Launched originally as a BBC project in 2011, albert was soon acquired by BAFTA. And now they're leading an environmental movement to unite the UK screen industries, gather data and share learnings. And not just for productions but to "inspire audiences to act for a sustainable future", too.
Their Carbon Calculator allows productions to predict their carbon footprint from pre to post-production. And this ability to bake sustainability in (at the start of production) is a game changer.
With albert, a bit like the B-Corp movement, productions go through a certification process where they apply sustainable production practices to the way they work. In the UK, all Sky, Netflix, and UKTV productions have to register their footprint using the calculator - as do the BBC, ITV and Channel 4.
Selling and shifting, not skipping
albert recommend a life cycle approach to production assets. This means reusing all materials and moving towards zero waste "while still meeting creative and financial requirements, and regenerating the environment."
But with intense timelines, even with the best intentions in the world, it takes time to find a new home for an asset. And of course it's impossible when everyone's moved on. pal is changing all that by making it easier and faster for productions to source and sell reusable assets.
Turning a negative asset into a positive one. pal's production-to-production marketplace helps smaller-budget films get access to the store cupboards of bigger-budget films to buy items they no longer need. And at the same time, it allows larger productions to plan ahead and monetise their asset lists.
Being able to connect with other productions and prep assets for sale before wrap, means asset managers could have a percentage of their assets pre-sold by the time production ends.
Another way you can bake sustainability from the start is with Qflow. Sustainable Film Consultant Amelia Price says, "Originally designed for the construction industry, it allows productions to track the carbon of set construction."
As businesses in every industry solve sustainability challenges, this is an excellent example of how technology can speed up the spread of good ideas.
Paperless tools
Digital tools that remove the need for printing are a no-brainer for productions looking to reduce consumption on set. With Digital Production Office products and Docusign, it's possible to run an entirely paperless production office. Everything from start forms, return-to-work forms, and crew contracts can be created, signed and shared digitally.
Virtual production
It's early in its infancy, but it's happening. Most new studios are building a virtual production stage these days. And The Mandalorian was shot on an entirely virtual set.
Millions of people around the world watch movies. So filmmakers have an enormous opportunity to share powerful messages about creating a better future.
New technologies can help film and tv productions streamline their production process, creating both environmentally-friendly and profitable entertainment.
And as audiences demand more environmentally-friendly content, the key to making sustainable screen production a reality - is working together to find creative solutions that work for everyone.
pal.film is a sustainable marketplace for Film and TV professionals. Create your free account today to start buying and selling reusable assets.