For February, we caught up with Toronto’s Woody Brown, who works to green Toronto’s film industry by offering eco-consulting services to production companies big and small.

How did you come to play a role in greening Toronto’s film industry?
WOODY: I studied environmental engineering at University, but for the last six years have been working in the film industry. As the movement toward sustainable film production grew, I became more actively involved with local productions, consulting with them to develop and implement strategies designed to reduce their environmental footprint.

Biggest enviro pet peeve?
WOODY: It’s sometimes hard to be an advocate for a vegetarian or vegan diet because it’s an issue that has become highly politicized. But the facts are that industrial meat production – factory farming - consumes massive amounts of energy, generates a significant percentage of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions, is a major culprit in the deforestation of the rain forest, and whose effluent is arguably the single largest pollutant of our waterways. Reducing your meat intake is an unpopular notion, and so it is very rarely presented as an option for people to help reduce their environmental footprint. Yet it’s probably the easiest, most effective step you could take.

Biggest eco-inspiration?
WOODY: The Toronto union local IATSE 873 were the first in the film community that I know of to start an environmental committee for its members. They have led the charge from day one, and the energy of the three women most heavily involved, Melissa Morgan, Jacqui Hemingway, and Erin Leslie is the reason. We’re all benefiting from their efforts.

How much of an impact will greening the film industry have on our environment?
WOODY: Even the responsible efforts of a small film crew can be significant, especially in terms of waste reduction. Responsible purchasing and active salvage practices can make a huge dent in the amount of material that a film sends to landfill. Right now, in Toronto, going to landfill means a truck driving the waste to Michigan – another reason to minimize what is thrown out.

How can film productions go green?
WOODY: You can bring the same tools to a film set that you use at home, or are used in any work environment. Recycle, collect organic waste, use hybrid cars and car pool – those are all good first steps. There is definitely an opportunity to salvage the wood used in set construction and divert that would-be-waste to charity or even to a crew member for re-use. Have the caterer emphasize local produce to cut down on food miles. Have every department work with their suppliers to recycle and recapture unused product – especially the paint department, which often works with hazardous materials. Use a stainless steel water bottle. Buy electricity from a renewable energy provider. These are achievable goals for every production.

But that’s not the whole solution, we’ve also got to aggressively work toward some bigger goals that will require imagination and innovation to solve, things like a paperless office environment, and the continued development of hybrid or bio-diesel generators.

How will films benefit from making the effort to be eco-friendly?
WOODY: There’s certainly a marketability associated with all “green” products, and films are no exception. But the emphasis put on green production will also have a compounding effect as it moves down the supply chain. And that has an impact on the overall sustainability of the industry as a whole – while films can realize cost savings immediately in areas such as waste haulage and fuel consumption, the long term effects will be far greater, in helping to ensure the health of the industry for years to come.

Your hopes for the film industry’s eco future?
WOODY: The fact that it is so highly visible really means that environmental stewardship has to be a mandate for the industry. People have an ingrained notion that filmmaking is an inherently wasteful process, and there is some truth to that; so it’s imperative that we’re being proactive and making positive changes. And there’s absolutely no reason that the industry can’t be a leader in this area, illustrating by example that even within the high pressure and cost sensitive arena of film production, you can make a difference.

Any resources you’d recommend?
WOODY: Toronto has formed an industry organization called Green Screen Toronto, to help coordinate and lead efforts at reducing the footprint caused by local film production. We’re working on a website, a resource guide, and a comprehensive best practices manual – everything a film shooting in Toronto would need to put an environmental initiative in place.

The Environmental Media Association (EMA) is also a great hub for the eco movement in the film industry in general. They’ve been pioneers in this field since the early 1990s.