ROUND TABLE
Our focus as a studio operator is on how we can make the most impact in our operations, and help our production clients make significant impacts on their sustainability credentials. The easiest way is through how we provide power. I need to provide the cleanest power I can to the site, and then ensure I am distributing that clean power around the site in a way that ensures my clients’ productions have access to it wherever and whenever they need it. Site power to all our unit bases (which will be available this year) will mean we can do away with all generators onsite. We already only allow HVO fuels, but to completely eliminate generators will be a great step. example, we have replaced our Bristol fleet with two EVs; but for London, every time that we look at it, diesel is felt to be the only viable vehicle solution. If you think 110 miles of range sounds practical for a van, then you should factor that 80% is recommended as the maximum range for everyday use; a cold day and a half-tonne payload may reduce this to only a 40-mile practical range, meaning just one delivery to east London is likely to need a charge for its return trip, so this represents a serious problem for Barry Bassett: One area to fix is replacing diesel transport. As an
COMPLETELY ELIMINATING GENERATORS will be a great step ”
logistics. However, battery technology is improving all the time – and a new range of hybrid vans is a useful halfway house (we have now ordered two hybrid vans to replace diesels at the end of 2024). So 80% of our fleet will either be pure electric or hybrid, but achieving 100% is currently out of reach for us. Another point is that albert has frozen its members listings in order to better appraise the sustainability credentials of approved members. While albert is being strict about who it acknowledges as accredited suppliers, no suppliers will be pressured into adhering to specific environmental standards. Def: How can we collectively address these obstacles to pave the way for a more sustainable future in filmmaking? BB: Transport will be rectified with better batteries, available HVO (biofuels) and
maybe with the introduction of hydrogen as an intermediate fuel. More sustainable equipment choices will certainly help people make better decisions, such as not shooting in 8K Raw when the programme will be delivered in 4K. Also, people tend to overestimate their power needs, so using battery power stations in place of diesel generators can make a huge impact on carbon emissions. Simple decisions like this can have a dramatic effect on the carbon footprint of a production. FP: It’s important, as an industry, that we support each other to become more sustainable and create an environment where we don’t just work in isolation – but work together and learn from one another. There are several industry- specific organisations focusing on sustainable TV and film production that exist to support businesses in the film industry, and wider media industry, to become more sustainable. BAFTA albert is one example: providing advice, guidance, tools and resources to help productions reduce their carbon footprints. It also offers certification to those that meet its standards. Organisations like albert will be critical in helping the industry become more sustainable. PDC: First, we must commit to taking action – and happily it’s clear that many players have made that commitment. Then we need to measure the impact of those actions, share information on what is working and what is not, giving out our expertise or lessons learned, and finally commit to taking further action from those lessons. Def: Can you cite successful examples of projects implementing sustainability in production? What specific factors contributed to their success?
SOLAR FLAIR Clean energy sources such as solar power – on a large and small scale – are crucial
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