In this Spring newsletter, APDGreen Representative Imogen Ross welcomes back Jen McAuliffe from Sustainable Screens Australia, and shares opportunities for members to extend their knowledge of current best practice in the screen industry. And if you work in live performance please take 15mins to contribute to the large-scale Culture for Climate National Survey designed to assess how the performing arts are responding to the climate crisis across policy and practice.
Ever left a production wondering about its environmental impact, or feeling overwhelmed by how to start being more sustainable? Sustainable Screens Australia (SSA) is here to help! As an industry-led and funded initiative, SSA, in partnership with BAFTA albert, provides practical tools that integrate sustainability into screen productions. Think of it as your go-to resource hub, featuring an industry-specific carbon calculator, a database of sustainable suppliers, workshops for screen practitioners, and departmental checklists. SSA co-founder, props master and sustainability advocate Jennifer McAauliffe shares recent sustainability successes, valuable tips for art and costume departments, and explains why championing green production practices is essential for creating positive change.
CULTURE FOR CLIMATE – NATIONAL PERFORMING ARTS INDUSTRY SURVEY 2024
The Culture for Climate National Survey is the first large-scale national survey into how the Australian performing arts sector is currently responding to the climate crisis across policy and practice.
The results will help frame future research into assisting the sector in transitioning to ecologically sustainable practice.
The Performance+Ecology Research Lab (P+ERL) are seeking participants working in the Australian performing arts sector to take part in the Culture for Climate National Survey. This survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete and is anonymous.
To participate in this survey, please go to this link
This research has been developed for industry with PAC Australia; One Stone Advisors; Arts on Tour; Theatre Green Book Australia; Charcoalblue; Performance + Ecology Research Lab (CARI, GU) and Climate Action Beacon (GU).
Want to be involved with Culture for Climate? P+ERL want to hear from you!
If you would like to learn more about how you or your organisation can be involved in the Culture for Climate research project please contact our research team PERL@griffith.edu.au
Join their mailing list
Image credit: Designer Tanja Beer’ project The Living Stage
APDGREEN CONVERSATIONS: INTERVIEW WITH JEN MCAULIFFE FROM SUSTAINABLE SCREENS AUSTRALIA
Ever left a production wondering about its environmental impact, or feeling overwhelmed by how to start being more sustainable? Sustainable Screens Australia (SSA) is here to help! As an industry-led and funded initiative, SSA, in partnership with BAFTA albert, provides practical tools that integrate sustainability into screen productions. Think of it as your go-to resource hub, featuring an industry-specific carbon calculator, a database of sustainable suppliers, workshops for screen practitioners, and departmental checklists. SSA co-founder, props master and sustainability advocate Jennifer McAauliffe shares recent sustainability successes, valuable tips for art and costume departments, and explains why championing green production practices is essential for creating positive change.
Jennifer McAuliffe has worked in the art departments of film and television since 2005. From local drama to large-scale international productions, her credits include Preacher and The Leftovers – shot at the Melbourne Docklands Studios. Environmental stewardship has been a mainstay of her career, holding a Diploma of Sustainable Operations, and currently completing a Bachelor of Sustainability. In addition, Jen works as a Wildlife volunteer in rescue and care and is the Sustainability Manager at the Environmental Film Festival Australia.
Why is sustainability important to a production?
Sustainability matters on so many levels. Depicting the real life climate crisis gives our audiences stories they can relate to. Building resilient production practices ensures our crew and operations are better placed to face the challenges and changes that climate change will bring.
Our planet doesn’t have endless resources, so making sustainable and environmental choices when selecting and disposing of materials, or considering where our energy comes from helps preserve natural resources on which we depend. We know that when materials are in short supply they become more expensive, so it also makes budgetary sense to support a circular economy and keep materials in rotation where possible.
Ultimately though, humans as a species don’t live in a silo. We live within an interconnected web, and we depend on the land, its creatures, seas and a healthy atmosphere to survive. Since the industrial age our actions and the way we build, live and work has seen long term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns (climate changes).
For the first time in our planet’s history, humans have been the main driver of climate change, primarily from the removal and burning of fossil fuels. This brings about biodiversity loss, species extinction, risks to humans and homes from major weather events, resource, food and health challenges to people across the globe.
We can’t film without our talented crews and in the summer of 2019-2020 we saw our crews working in smoke filled cities from bushfires wearing masks while so much of our native wildlife perished. Many productions had to review schedules and source equipment to adapt, adding additional costs. The climate crisis is here, and there is an increasing recognition within society that as a species we need to adapt, we need to step lighter on our planet to ensure a healthy planet and people for the future. Just like other industries are making the changes, it is important that productions incorporate environmental sustainability into all decisions. How can we produce stories on a dying planet? Who will be here to watch them?
What are some sustainability wins you’ve seen on set, or heard of from colleagues?
An exciting one is an increasing interest in electric generators. A major part of a production’s carbon footprint comes from fuel and electricity use. So to see productions like Matchbox’s La Brea using a hybrid battery system and solar panels to reduce diesel fuel use is really exciting. Docklands Studios in Melbourne is now 100% run on GreenPower also which is massive. Hybrid and electric generators have historically been harder to come by in Australia, but demand drives supply so it’s great to see the demand increasing which makes them more affordable.
What are some challenges still facing production design departments?
I would say time pressure, agency to make the changes, knowledge and access to sustainable alternatives.
Sustainability really needs to be embedded from the very beginning of a production to allow for planning and implementation of sustainable pathways throughout the whole production. From the budget line, to allowing a bit more time at the start to source existing and recycled materials and a plan for reuse and recycling at the end.
Our departments, particularly the Art and Costume crews who will be there managing the materials, work long, high pressure days with increasingly shorter pre and post production days. So all too often you see things just get chucked in a skip, or purchase new because they don’t have time to find a more sustainable alternative.
I know from my experience within the art department that it can feel hard for crew, especially the newer and perhaps more environmentally conscious crew to feel like they have the agency to suggest and make more sustainable changes. In such a fast paced environment implementing changes can feel hard, and feeling supported in doing so isn’t always felt. It needs to be championed from the top so that as a team we can work together to make real impact and long term changes from production to production.
It’s why we needed to establish SSA. To support the people and organisations keen to make change and make it easier for the whole industry. The team can support every level of production – from producers to crew and from development to picture wrap and we already have a huge number of engaged Australian and global commissioners, broadcasters, streamers and production companies championing our tools and resources.
Any tips for the costume and art department?
Being creative and thinking on our feet is what we do best, the solutions and opportunity to support our natural environment is out there so go for it. Connect and follow numerous environmental fashion designers, builders, set artists and manufactures to inspire you. And share and talk about it with your colleagues so we can all celebrate the wins.
Check out SSA’s free resources and tools via the website
In particular the Art Department: Sustainable Actions, Art Department: Sustainability Checklist, and Sustainability In Your Role: Costume and Wardrobe
And for inspirational real-life stories of Australian (and global) industry leaders and productions: In Action
APDGreen Conversations would like to thank Tess de Josselin from Sustainable Screens Australia for her assistance in putting this interview together.
UPCOMING ONLINE EVENTS – SUSTAINABLE SCREENS AUSTRALIA
Sustainable Production Methods Workshop: Join Sustainable Screens Australia (SSA) for a 90 minute practical workshop that offers valuable insights into sustainable practices within the screen industry that reduce environmental impacts.
This session introduces you to a range of tools designed specifically for Australian screen practitioners. You’ll gain a clear understanding of the environmental impacts of the screen industry and steps you can take to integrate sustainable practices into your workflow.
Don’t miss this unique, industry-specific opportunity to contribute to our collective mission that puts the planet in the picture!
Date / time: Tue, 24 Sep, 1pm – 2:30pm AEST
90minute online interactive workshop delivered by SSA’s Charlotte Westlake (Sustainable Production Lead)
Sustainability on Screen: As screen practitioners and storytellers, our authentic and creative voices are uniquely placed to inspire audiences to act for a sustainable future. Join Sustainable Screens Australia (SSA) for a practical workshop that offers valuable insights into:
- The value of sustainability in screen storytelling
- Practical approaches for incorporating climate content across your own genre of work
Writers, directors, producers, actors, designers and editors – this workshop is for you!
Date / time: Thu, 24 Oct, 10am – 12pm AEDT
2 hour interactive workshop delivered by SSA’s Tessa de Josselin (Sustainable Content and Practitioner Lead)
Image: The launch of Sustainable Screens Australia at Sydney Film Festival, L-R: co-chairs Sara Horn and Anna Kaplan, executive director Maree Cochrane and evening host Mark Humphries.
THERE IS ALWAYS SO MUCH MORE TO THE GREEN CONVERSATION…
If you are interested in adding your professional design voice and suggestions to an APDG Sustainability Protocols group or promoting green initiatives in future Green Conversations, please send an email to Imogen Ross to offer assistance, suggest topics of research and point us towards members who are doing great things in the field of sustainable design.