It’s no secret film sets from pre-production to post-production produce a lot of waste and emit large quantities of carbon.
Recently, there has been a shift towards a more sustainable approach to filmmaking. The LeBron James biopic “Shooting Stars”, produced by Universal Pictures and The Springhill Company, was shot in the Cleveland and Akron areas in 2022 and is believed to be the first local film to receive the Environmental Media Association Gold Seal Award. The Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District provided consulting services to the sustainability coordinator on this film.
Besides the EMA Gold Seal Award, the result is this “Sustainability One-Sheet” for future films to use in Northeast Ohio. Whether you wish to pursue EMA Green Seal Certification or just add some sustainable measures to your production, this “One-Sheet” should provide you with quick and easy access to resources.
The EMA Green Seal Program is a recognition program honoring the progress in sustainable production for movies, television shows (animated and live-action), commercials, and print advertising. Learn more by visiting the EMA Website.
Outside of Northeast Ohio, studios may contact the local solid waste district or solid waste authority for similar information presented in this guide.
INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT: Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences
In October of 2020, the Academy Museum was awarded a LEED Gold Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. Short for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design,” a LEED designation is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement. The world’s most widely used green-building rating system, LEED provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, cost-saving green buildings.
Designed and built to be environmentally responsible, the Academy Museum contains the following components:
- High-performance indoor environmental systems
- Solar power systems
- Waste reduction programs
- Easy public transportation access
- Ride-share pickup and drop-off
- Bicycle racks
- Flow-conscious water fixtures
- A stormwater reuse system for landscaping irrigation
- Natural ventilation on its bridges and terraces
- Maximized natural daylighting
- High-efficiency LED lighting
- Green cleaning and integrated pest control programs
- Radiant heating and cooling
- Solar-tracked automated shading and ventilation