Definition July 2024 - Newsletter

SUSTAINABILITY PROFILES

is ‘sustaining the industry’ as a whole and supporting the three pillars: people, planet and profit. “We ask productions difficult questions: do they have mental health support? Is there any chance for flexible working? It’s something I’m particularly passionate about – how we get the best out of people,” describes Price. “We need the industry to make money and thrive so people can get paid, but it’s all interconnected. It’s much more interesting when we’re working with people who are engaged.” Price’s day-to-day mainly consists of conversations – meeting with suppliers or people on productions, upskilling them where appropriate and connecting them with one another. “We spend a lot of time explaining that this is what the industry needs. If you want to be successful in the industry, then you’re going to need to do X, Y and Z.” This is especially true for the PGGB. “The Guild’s membership is a key group of people – a powerful voice for sustainability. It’s about getting them on board with what we’re doing. It can be hard work if you get a line producer who doesn’t understand why you exist, essentially,” Price admits. Price echoes Pilcher on the importance of climate storytelling. “As the makers of content internationally,” she says of the UK screen industries, “there’s so much we could do in terms of narrative and getting simple things into everyday scenes. We’ve got such power pertaining to massive behaviour change. It doesn’t need to be complicated.” IT’S hard work IF YOU END UP WITH A LINE PRODUCER WHO doesn’t understand WHY YOU EXIST”

The UK is one of a few countries arguably leading the charge. “We have a fair amount of the technology in place, and people are starting to get used to it. When you shoot abroad, it can be a bit trickier,” Price confesses. That said, sustainability is a ‘small world’, and Price maintains an international network of professionals who can ‘provide the on- the-ground support’. Frustration is par for the course in this line of work. “Not everyone loves looking at carbon footprints,” admits Price, “but every day is a new learning experience too. You have to be patient – and must rein your expectations in,” she concludes. However, a breakthrough (as well as the satisfaction that comes with it) would be worth the wait.

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