Sustainable sets aren’t just a trend, British Columbia is a pioneer. Beverley Dondale, CEO of Alpha Select Production Services, is leading the $242 million studio project in collaboration with the Malahat Nation. The initiative aims to create a carbon neutral, zero waste production facility on Vancouver Island. Using a phased construction approach, the studio will incorporate renewable energy, waste management and sustainable practices, and will be 51% owned by the Malahat Nation.
The planned facility will include a 10-acre backlot, two production offices, workshops, a warehouse, and two sound stages. Because the island has no waste disposal options, Don Dale is partnering with construction companies to dismantle sets, salvage materials, and give the salvaged resources back to local non-profits. They’ve also partnered with organizations that donate unused food and materials to the community.
“We have composting and recycling capabilities,” Don Dale explained, emphasizing the need to make sustainability easy for the production team. She worked with companies that offered tax breaks for donations, making it financially feasible for the production team to get involved.
Don Dale is confident that if you build it, production will come.
In Vancouver, major studios are also pursuing sustainability goals. Shannon Burt, Netflix’s senior manager of sustainability and production, points out that industry research shows that the biggest source of emissions on set is fuel, with about 70% coming from vehicles and 30% from diesel generators. Since 2020, Netflix has been implementing a sustainability roadmap to 2030 that focuses on energy efficiency, vehicle electrification, clean mobile power and renewable energy sourcing. “So we’re really focusing on those areas in terms of reducing our use of fossil fuels and transitioning to cleaner energy sources,” she says.
So these cleaner options are not only better for the production community, but they also give filmmakers a lot more creative freedom and production agility.
For example, on “Virgin River,” which was shot in British Columbia, the production team was able to use small portable batteries instead of generators, which Burt explains allowed them to film in places that wouldn’t normally be possible, like on boats and large suspension bridges. “It allows for some beautiful shots,” she says.
In June 2023, Netflix partnered with Disney to co-launch the Clean Mobile Power Initiative, which aims to find, test, pilot and scale cost-competitive, zero-emission solutions to accelerate the industry’s transition away from diesel generators.
“When it comes to sustainability in production, we’re focused on developing long-term solutions that can be easily replicated and implemented around the world,” says Yarmaz Siddiqui, vice president of environmental sustainability at The Walt Disney Co. “We also recognize that each production is unique, so we strive to engage with local communities in unique ways to reduce emissions, waste and environmental impact.”
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Despite fewer films being shown during the downturn following the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, “the bonds and reputation that BC has are incredibly strong, even with the fluctuations in the market, and that’s what made 2023 a strong year,” said Marnie Gee, BC’s film commissioner.
Gee said Canadian film production will increase in B.C. during the 2023 strike, with early estimates showing only a nine per cent drop in domestic activity. In April, Creative BC and the province of British Columbia announced they would invest $15.9 million over three years to support domestic filmmaking.
“Our current focus is on workforce development, environmental sustainability resources and industry training, which will be supported by historic investments from the state.”
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Creative BC expects 1.04 million square feet of additional production space across 50 new stages will be available in 2025.
Meanwhile, on Vancouver Island, Film Commissioner Kathleen Gilbert has reported an increase in requests over the past month. “It feels like we’re on the road to a full recovery,” she said, noting that 16 shows have been held this year through August, with three more scheduled for September.
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