We’ve all spent countless hours watching film and television productions. They entertain us, inform us, and allow us to process complex emotions and ideas through a lens of creativity. What we don’t always consider is the footprint of these productions.
It takes a lot to produce a film; teams of filmmakers work for years to bring a project from development through distribution. In the process thousands of metric tons of carbon are emitted.
While studying film production at two different universities, one of my biggest frustrations with my experience was the omission of curriculum and tools that covered on set sustainability. As I continued to work in and outside of the classroom, it was impossible to ignore the on-set waste that was generated and immense resources that were used to shoot minutes, or even just seconds, of usable footage.
Above: waste from a crew lunch that was carried by wind into a slope, 2023
My experiences gave me an intense passion and motivation to work towards making film productions more sustainable, which led me to Earth Angel. Through my work as the Eco Team Program Manager at Earth Angel, I was able to learn about an exciting organization called the Green Film School Alliance.
Created in partnership by the Sustainable Entertainment Alliance (SEA) and the Producers Guild of America (PGA) in 2020, the Green Film School Alliance is a coalition of film production programs that work to integrate sustainable production practices into collegiate curriculum around the world. Initially beginning with eleven film schools, the alliance has grown to include over 25.
In addition to providing students with the foundation to green their sets, the GFSA also provides students with the tools to earn the Environmental Media Association’s (EMA) Green Seal for Students by using tools like the PEACHy (the Production Environmental Actions Checklist for Young filmmakers), which was piloted by the GFSA and modeled after the Green Production Guide.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Harry Winer, one of the Executive Directors of the Green Film School Alliance, a filmmaker with over 30 years of experience, and an Associate Professor at NYU TISCH about his role in the GFSA and the goals of the organization.
After spending years working on film productions in Los Angeles and seeing a lack of on-set sustainability, Winer moved to New York City and began teaching at NYU. In 2019, before the creation of the Green Film School Alliance, Professor Winer instructed his students to implement sustainable practices for their tv production pilots and document their experiences doing so. While some of his students were hesitant at first, he found that they not only enjoyed the process, but also brought some of their sustainable practices into their everyday lives.
Professor Winer also worked to create a free 4-module sustainable production course through NYU Smashcut with Earth Angel founder Emellie O’Brien. After film productions began resuming in 2021 after their pause due to the pandemic, Winer was contacted by the GFSA and joined as an Executive Director.
The work of the Green Film School Alliance is no small feat. Winer cited how each institution has its own culture, bureaucracy, and curriculum structure, so getting educators and students on board for change requires time and hard work.
Another interesting point Professor Winer mentioned was the importance of introducing on-set sustainability earlier in the curriculum. He noted how senior students often had a more difficult time implementing the practices than first year students.
In regards to forming a student’s foundation of on-set sustainability, he stated, “In order for it to be a standardized process, we have to incentivize filmmakers and students to embrace this as an integral part of the production process.” The goal is for students graduating from these programs to make no separation between sustainability and the process of filmmaking.
Professor Winer also brought to light the complex challenge of working with local waste vendors in each university’s region in order to make sure that all on-set waste streams are properly processed.
On top of all of their current initiatives, the Green Film School Alliance has ambitious plans for the future. They’re working hard to expand their reach, create opportunities to highlight the work of young filmmakers through sustainability-focused film festivals, normalize climate storytelling in all genres, and create programs for young filmmakers to experience natural environments and create short films without a carbon footprint.
I left my conversation with Professor Winer feeling energized. With all of these goals in mind, it’s an exciting time to be a filmmaker. Through the work of organizations like the Green Film School Alliance, new cohorts of filmmakers will be entering the industry ready to implement the solutions that are needed on a global scale. Now and into the future, sustainably needs to be ubiquitous with the process of film production, and more importantly, it needs to be ubiquitous with all industries.
For additional information contact gfsa@greenproductionguide.com
GFSA includes representation from over 30 film schools and programs including membership from nine of the top ten schools in The Hollywood Reporter’s 25 Top Film Schools.
About the Author:
Stevie Gray
Born and raised in Miracle Mile, Los Angeles, Stevie Gray is a non-fiction storyteller and film production sustainability professional determined to produce solutions-forward work that evokes systemic change. In his travels, Stevie has witnessed the intense effects of our species on Earth's ecosystems, fueling his commitment to share intersectional stories that have local and global impact. Stevie hopes to motivate readers to work towards dismantling the harmful systems that have brought us to this point in our history.
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