ROUND TABLE
PDC: We are a 200-year-old site, the heart of the Three Mills Conservation Area with several listed buildings as part of the studios, so taking meaningful action on sustainability is no mean feat. We saw 2022 as a year of gathering data, then 2023 as a year of massive action to improve our performance against the Studio Sustainability Standard. I’m very happy to say that we have improved our score by over 250% from 2022, and are now ranked ‘Very Good’ by the Standard, with a ranking above the average of all the studios participating in 2023. But for us, the Sustainability Standard is just a starting point. We are continuing to work with the BFC and Film London as part of their studio sustainability round tables, which are a great way to share information and best practice. It is fantastic to hear from experts such as Toby Dare at MBS Equipment on what he and his teams are doing across the MBS-managed studio facilities in the UK and Ireland – and see how facilities like Garden Studios are talking recycling and re-use issues for example. Garden Studios is now a certified B Corp, which is fantastic.
BB: A recent two-day retriever commercial for Seresto, which was shot in the middle of a field, would have traditionally used a diesel generator. Instead, the production team took an EcoFlow Delta AC battery power station to set, which included a solar panel. This solitary AC battery powered the production’s video village where they were far from mains power; the 3.6kWh capacity let us power our monitors for the entire shoot with ease. Two days of sunlight meant that the solar cells actually increased the charge of the battery even while they were using it! FP: Sustainable Screens Australia – an initiative operating in Australia and New Zealand – is an excellent example of how albert’s model can be adapted. The initiative focuses on promoting sustainable practices in the local film and TV industry via events, and offering a directory of sustainable partners that production companies can use. Also worth mentioning here are the growing number of broadcasters who are promoting sustainable content. The Dutch arm of the RTL Group is making
viewers aware of whether they are watching content produced sustainably or not. As consumer awareness around sustainability grows, this may start to matter more and more. Newyonder is a streaming platform that focuses on sustainable and eco-friendly content, showcasing documentaries and series that highlight environmental issues – and have been made following sustainable guidelines. Another streaming platform that specialises in environmental and sustainability- focused content is WaterBear Network. It offers a range of documentaries and series that raise awareness and inspire viewers to take action. Def: How do we define and measure success in sustainable filmmaking? Is there a better way to do this, and if so, what might that look like? PDC: For a studio, I believe the best way is to sign up to the BAFTA albert Studio Sustainability Standard. We were one of 12 studios who signed up in the first year it was running (2022), and again one of 29 studios who participated in 2023. It is great to see the number
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