The 2023 #REELEarthDayChallenge brought together film crews, productions, sponsors and industry stakeholders to raise funds towards projects for Metro Vancouver Regional Parks. This year the BC film industry raised $100,000 towards 9 projects. These projects are led by the Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Foundation (MVRPF) and have already begun impacting the communities in positive ways. The 2023 Fall Report features progress updates on the 5 fully funded projects from the 2023 REEL Earth Day Challenge.  

Read a few highlights from the report below and read the full Fall 2023 Report here.

 

Strengthening Mental Health in Youth: 

Research shows that spending time in nature can have a positive impact on mental health by lowering anxiety, improving mood, boosting creativity, reducing stress, and more. Fraser Health has an average of 500 youth admitted annually for psychiatric needs, a number that has increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Depression and anxiety are two of the major health conditions affecting the youth. 

The Challenge has funded a pilot program that aims to develop and deliver in-park programs for out-patient youth in the Fraser Health Psychiatric Unit, providing a safe and supportive environment for them to engage with nature. By offering these programs, we are improving the mental health and wellness of these youth and promoting the understanding of the healing power of nature. 

Latest Project Update: 

Park Interpreters worked to develop and deliver in-park Wellness Walks for out-patients with the Fraser Health pediatric psychiatry unit. Initial meetings with Fraser Health and program development began in April. In addition, two staff members completed Mental Health First Aid training. 

The program launched in August, with two cohorts from Fraser Health participating. Each cohort will participate in its own ‘Wellness Walk’ over the course of the next 6 months, across multiple parks in the Regional Parks system. In total 26 youth will spend a combined 300 hours in nature. 

 

New Life For Rare Ecosystems:

Last year, an unprecedented storm surge and king tide caused severe damage to Iona beach, threatening this rare and delicate habitat. With $25,000 generously pledged from MBS Equipment Co., we helped restore and protect endangered coastal dune ecosystems located near the mouth of the Fraser River in Iona Beach Regional Park. This project made a significant difference in preserving the natural beauty and balance of this unique coastal ecosystem and improving this ecosystem’s overall resiliency. 

Latest Project Update: 

Timing:
Log Cleanup: August – September 2023 Invasives removal and beach planting: Oct 2023 

Results to Date: 

 

Since 2021, the event has raised over $373,000 to build biodiverse, inclusive park spaces, and a more sustainable world. Thanks to all our sponsors and production teams, this years’ challenge raised $100,000 to support the Metro Vancouver Regional Parks which fully funded 9 transformational projects. Read about all of the projects here.  

To read all the updates, download the Fall 2023 Report here.  

 

If you’re looking to sponsor the 2024 REEL Earth Day Challenge, take a look at the 2024 Sponsorship Tiers. 

A circular economy is one that minimizes waste and makes the most of available resources. In contrast to the traditional linear economy, which follows a “take, make, dispose” model, a circular economy aims to keep products, materials, and resources in use for as long as possible. It emphasizes recycling, reusing and refurbishing to extend the lifespan of products and reduce their overall environmental impact. 

Alongside the Reel Green™ Circular Economy Committee, we’re excited to launch the Circular Economy Toolkit. This evolving resource orients, engages, and services productions, municipalities, and individuals, helping the film industry adapt tools to embrace a circular economy.

 

Explore the Toolkit 

The toolkit comprises three fact sheets, each designed to share circular economy resources and promote awareness about transitioning to a circular economy.  

  1. Get Involved: A comprehensive guide that outlines ways to participate in the circular economy and establish its principles within your production. 
  2. Discover the Circular Economy Marketplace: This fact sheet delves into the stages of a circular economy and provides valuable tips for entering the circular economy marketplace. 
  3. Share the Resources: A concise one-pager designed to facilitate the dissemination of information and encourage engagement in the circular economy. 

 

Discover Reel Green™ Circular Economy Vendors 

Reel Green™ maintains a vendor list that showcases organizations providing sustainable solutions for British Columbia’s motion picture industry. Among them, several are industry leaders driving the adoption of the circular economy. We’ve highlighted a few below and invite you to explore our complete list of eco-friendly vendors for comprehensive production support.

 

Spread the Word 

In addition to sharing our latest circular economy toolkits, there are various ways to immerse yourself in the circular economy. We wholeheartedly encourage you to be an active participant whenever and wherever you can! 

 

Check out the toolkit here! 

Did you know that travel and transport produce the most carbon emissions during productions? In their inaugural report on Production Carbon Emissions, the CBC delves into the main sources of production-related carbon emissions and discusses ways to reduce them.

The report consolidates data from sixty-four productions that submitted albert carbon footprint reports since the CBC started requiring them for all their original productions in January 2022. CBC’s objective with this report (and future updates) is to offer data-driven insights into making the industry more environmentally sustainable.

Key findings from the report include:

 

Based on the results, CBC suggests giving top priority to addressing the environmental impact of productions by focusing on Travel & Transport, Filming Spaces and Materials. The following are suggested strategies to minimize the environmental footprint of these operations.

These are all suggestions the Reel Green team stands by as well!  

To further explore some of the report’s findings and discover ways to make positive changes in reducing production emissions, the CBC has created an interactive quiz. Completing the quiz takes about three minutes and all those that complete it will earn complimentary 6-month premium subscription to CBC Gem.

This report is the kickoff to what is anticipated to be an annual series tracking progress and sharing eco-friendly tips to make our industry more sustainable. We look forward to more insights from the CBC as we steer toward a greener production future!

 

Reel Green™ Vendor, Onstage Cleaning, is the leading film industry professional cleaning company that provides eco-friendly cleaning services while creating safe, sustainable and healthy cleaning protocols for each customer all while taking care of the planet. Onstage Cleaning’s services include but are not limited to: residential and commercial buildings, production offices, sound stages and film warehouses as well as streets and alleys, junk and snow removal, and general environmental services.  

We had the opportunity to talk with Onstage Cleaning and they gaves us further insight into their sustainability practices in regard to their Purpose – Action – Relentless (PAR) Mantra for their cleaning services.  

Can you share some specific ways in which  On Stage Cleaning implements the “Three R Program” (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) in your daily operations, and how theycontribute to minimizing environmental impact?

At On Stage Cleaning we are committed to reduce, reuse and recycle before we buy new.  Our crew has been trained to use what we have and keep and good maintenance practices to keep containers, machines and equipment in constant use. No new purchases are authorized unless they are approved by our CFO. Machines are kept in great condition after each use. We use a check list to maintain the optimal quality of each piece of equipment after every use. Cleaning and maintaining it will help to last longer and avoid buying new. From vacuum cleaners to containers, we ensure each are labeled properly that we have an inventory to keep using and reusing.   

Your commitment to reusing equipment, containers, and cleaning machines is impressive. Can you provide examples of how this approach has not only reduced waste but also improved the efficiency of your cleaning services?

Our commitment to reusing equipment has helped us to reduce operational costs. By not buying new and having a great maintenance policy for all our equipment, we are able to keep using our equipment over and over to make a difference and keep reducing costs. By keeping a culture of the “PAR mantra”, we encourage our crew to never give up and  maintain a culture where we can continue our efforts to spread the word on sustainability and share with friends, family and everyone that together we can make a difference in what we do and how we do it. Only together each grain of sand can make a bag. 

On Stage Cleaning is dedicated to reducing its carbon footprint. What measures have you implemented to achieve this goal, and how do these practices set an example for other businesses looking to become more sustainable in their operations?

We have reduced our carbon footprint by creating an alliance with a local factory of cleaning products and are able to obtain our cleaning products in recycled material and in large amounts. This has reduced, and almost eliminated, the single plastic use containers across our line of cleaning products. I am working closely with the CEO of Project Clean, which is a big manufacturer of eco-friendly cleaning products right here in the lower mainland. To obtain eco-friendly products that, not only don’t damage the environment, but also the containers are responsible packaging that supports circular economy and move towards zero waste. 

Eco-friendly products are a key focus for On Stage Cleaning. Could you highlight some of the environmentally friendly products you use and explain how they contribute to maintaining a healthier planet and conserving natural resources?  

Working with Project Clean will give us an extra edge in sustainability. All of their products are engaged in responsible chemistry, they formulate their products to manage risk to human health and the environment. Investing in bio-based renewable ingredients is at the forefront of their innovation program.  

You mentioned the “PAR Mantra” (Purpose – Action – Relentless) as a guiding philosophy. How do you see this mantra driving your company’s sustainability efforts and making a difference in your industry and for future generations? 

By maintaining our PAR Mantra culture, we are able to embed in every crew member the responsibility and the accountability to keep the fight against non-believers. It is important that everyone of us has a culture of sustainability in order to keep our planet safe and healthy. And the best part is that when a new crew member joins the company, everyone has that culture embedded to pass on to the next crew generation. 

For more information, visit  Onstage Cleaning’s website.  

There are over 30 Reel Green™ Vendors that offer a wide range of sustainable services or eco-products to help green our world. Let us know any Reel Green™ Vendors you would like to see in the spotlight next! If you are a Reel Green™ Vendor, and would like to be featured, send us an email at reelgreen@creativebc.com to set up an interview.      

Are you a vendor, but not on the Reel Green™ Vendor List yet? Check out the page linked below to find the vendor application form.       

Learn more about the Reel Green™ Vendors
Subscribe to the Reel Green™ Newsletter 

On November 9th , Reel Green™ presented THE MAGNITUDE OF ALL THINGS as part of our Reel Green™ Screening Series, where we feature Canadian filmmakers that are leading the way in telling climate stories. Focused on bringing community and industry together to learn and connect with filmmakers through climate stories, spanning both narrative and factual content formats, the Reel Green™ Screening Series aims to further conversations and progress surrounding climate change. 

Over 70 people attended the event hosted at Science World. The evening commenced with the screening of the short film GREEN CANVAS, skillfully directed by Shahla Islam.  

The feature film, THE MAGNITUDE OF ALL THINGS, brought attendees through an “exploration of the emotional and psychological dimensions of climate change,” as well as personal and planetary experiences of grief. Following the impactful screening, the event concluded with a Q&A featuring the director of the film, Jennifer Abbott, and moderated by Hans Dayal, Chair of the DGC-BC Sustainability Committee and Production Manager. 

Photos by: Jan van der Merwe 

This event was presented in partnership with Reel Green and Science World. A huge thank you to our sponsors: Canadian Media Producers Association, Directors Guild of Canada, Sharewares, and Earth Group, who all helped make this event possible. 

Keep up to date with Reel Green™ by subscribing to our newsletter and following us on social media. Be sure to stay tuned, as we have exciting plans to organize additional free community screenings centered around compelling climate stories. 

 

About the Film 

THE MAGNITUDE OF ALL THINGS (2020) (86 min) 

In Jennifer Abbott’s cinematic journey, the Sundance award-winning Director (The Corporation)draws intimate parallels between the experiences of grief—both personal and planetary. Stories from the frontlines of climate change merge with recollections from the filmmaker’s childhood on Ontario’s Georgian Bay. What do these stories have in common? The answer, surprisingly, is everything. The film takes us around the world to witness a planet in crisis: from Australia’s catastrophic fires and dying Great Barrier Reef, to the island nation of Kiribati, drowned by rising sea levels. In Nunatsiavut, melting ice permanently alters the landscape, while in the Amazon rainforest, Indigenous people fight a desperate battle against oil and mining extraction. 

Watch the Trailer  

 

Reel Green™ Vendor, The VECTAR Project, is aiming to bring sustainability, flexibility and affordability to the film industry through an innovative approach towards set creations. The zero waste designed business model is looking at a new way of the future by offering stunning and extensive set builds, with one catch: it’s all cardboard.  Based in the UK, with a Vancouver office on the horizon, Tom Henderson, Managing Director of The VECTAR Project, sits with Reel Green™ to talk about the vision and their journey.

The VECTAR Project constructs fully recyclable sets that are paper-based, rather than the conventional wood-based sets. These paper-based sets have been used in programs for ITC, BBC, Channel 4, STV and RTL, and even for commercials for SimpliSafe, Braun, Meta and Old Spice.  

1. What was the intention behind starting your business?
The VECTAR Project was created by me in Manchester 3 years ago aimed at providing net zero carbon film facilities. VECTAR Sets are sustainable sets made from engineered paper board.  

Now VECTAR Board ™ offers an amazing opportunity to deliver this globally. [We are] building partnerships across the globe, providing the raw materials, the training and the designs to allow everyone to realize the benefits: 

2. How are you partnering with the Film Industry to make it more sustainable?
We are building relationships with film companies and sustainability consultants who see the tangible benefits in using VECTAR sets rather than wood, metals and plastics.

3. What are the day-to-day operations like within your business? What do you enjoy most out of it?
[They are] very varied! [We enjoy seeing] the first reactions and looks of disbelief from our clients! 

4. What is a recent achievement / green win you’ve had? 
[We won] two international awards in the last 4 months.  

5. How do you partner / work with the Reel Green™ community?
I see a great future working with the Reel Green™ Community! Building on the experience of working with many leading sustainability organizations, such as albert and ADgreen in the UK, Greeneyes and Greenscreen in Europe, the universities who support us and the internal sustainability advisors and coordinators in the film and TV companies. We have the great privilege of working with them all.  

6. Where can people find more information on your company and services?
 It will be fully announced in the next few weeks, but in the meantime, you can visit our website for some more information on our sustainability plan and more on our fully paper-based sets.  

There are over 30 Reel Green™ Vendors that offer a wide range of sustainable services or eco-products to help green our world. Let us know any Reel Green™ Vendors you would like to see in the spotlight next! If you are a Reel Green™ Vendor, and would like to be featured, send us an email at reelgreen@creativebc.com to set up an interview.   

Are you a vendor, but not on the Reel Green™ Vendor List yet? Check out the page linked below to find the vendor application form.    

Learn more about the Reel Green™ Vendors
Subscribe to the Reel Green™ Newsletter 

Reel Green™ is pleased to start the new year by welcoming Earth Angel as a new partner of the Reel Green™ initiative. 

Earth Angel will be voting members on the Reel Green ™ Advisory Committee, as well as sit on the National Reel Green™ Committee, working towards our collective strategic goals to advance sustainable production in Canada. 

 

Being a leading sustainable production service provider in North America, Earth Angel is a sustainability agency dedicated to reducing the environmental impact of entertainment productions. Their collective of production and sustainability experts provide the strategy, skilled labor, supplies and analytics to help the entertainment industry reach its decarbonization goals. They are headquartered in New York City, and also have offices in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Toronto and Vancouver, as well as services being provided globally.  

Since 2011, Earth Angel has provided sustainability services to more than 150 sets ranging from independent productions to studio tent poles with every major studio and streamer, making them the most experienced on-set sustainability providers in the world. They have helped their clients avoid more than 10,000 metric tons of greenhouse gasses, diverted over 13 million pounds of waste, and donated over 135,000 meals to local communities. Their client roster includes Emmy-winner The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Amazing Spiderman 2, Black Panther, and the critically-acclaimed series Severance.  

 

“Earth Angel is honored to join forces with Reel Green™as an official Partner. We look forward to supporting their impactful work showcasing the importance of sustainable production in B.C. and throughout Canada.” Emellie O’Brien, CEO/Founder, Earth Angel

 

Visit the Earth Angel Website to learn more about their Production Services, Corporate Consulting Services, Eco Labs, Storage Clear Outs and Zero Waste Kits.  

 

 

The Reel Green™ initiative is now comprised of 26 industry partners whose support is invaluable. Spearheaded by Creative BC, and funded by industry partners, Reel Green™ helps Canada’s motion picture industry unite to improve production practices and reduce environmental impacts. 

Learn more about the initiative and discover ways to get involved on the Reel Green™ website.

Reel Green™ is pleased to announce Amazon Studios as a new partner of the Reel Green™ Advisory Committee.

Amazon Studios is the home for talent, creating and producing Original films and television series for a global audience. Original series premiere exclusively on Prime Video, which are available in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. Amazon Studios also produces and acquires Original movies for theatrical release and exclusively for Prime Video, in addition to producing Original content for Freevee, Amazon’s premium free streaming service. British Columbia is a key production market for Amazon Studios as the home for global originals including The Man in the High Castle and Upload.

As part of the Sustainable Production Alliance, they are focused on advancing change in the industry when it comes to sustainability and green production practices. Additionally, with Amazon’s Climate Pledge, their commitment is to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 — 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement.

Amazon co-founded The Climate Pledge in 2019 to build a cross-sector community of companies, organizations, individuals, and partners working together to address the climate crisis and solve the challenges of decarbonizing our economy. The commitments of the pledge are (1) regular reporting – measure and report greenhouse gas emissions on a regular basis; (2) carbon elimination – implement decarbonization strategies in line with the Paris Agreement through real business changes and innovations, including efficiency improvements, renewable energy, materials reductions, and other carbon-emission-elimination strategies; and (3) credible offsets – neutralize any remaining emissions with additional, quantifiable, real, permanent, and socially beneficial offsets to achieve net-zero annual carbon emissions by 2040.

The Reel Green™ initiative is now comprised of 24 industry partners whose support is invaluable. Spearheaded by Creative BC, and funded by industry partners, Reel Green™ helps Canada’s motion picture industry unite to improve production practices and reduce environmental impacts.

Learn more about the initiative and discover ways to get involved on the Reel Green™ website.

Can batteries really replace diesel on set? How do I know what batteries I need for a shoot? What do I do when a battery is running low? These questions were asked and answered at the Clean Energy Battery Workshop presented by Reel Green™, IATSE 891, and MBS Canada. 

 

“This is the future. Our entire industry is going electric. The more we know about what’s coming and how it all works the better off we’ll all be.”  

 

Dylan Kilgour, Location Manager – DGC BC

 
Clean energy champions and industry professionals helped guide the participants in trying out electric generators and battery powered sources for lighting and catering equipment, including Valid Power System Battery Packs and Urban Power Source Units. 
 
For more information on the Portable Electric VOLTstack 5K Generators that were used in the workshop, visit their website here.

“It was one of the most informative workshops I have attended on the subject because it moved beyond theory into demonstration of practical technical solutions that are available right now.  Furthermore, the right people are in the room with the technical knowledge and experience of actually working with clean energy technologies available in the field today.” 

 

Geoff Teoli, Vancouver Film Commissioner – Vancouver Economic Commission 

Workshop participants in action using electric generators and equipment

 

 

“For those of us working throughout the regions of B.C., this technology is groundbreaking. It is one thing to read about but quite another to experience first-hand clean energy being produced using clean renewable power sources.” 

 

Joan Miller, Film Commissioner, Vancouver Island North Film Commission 

 

Learn more about on-set environmental sustainability resources: 

The Sustainable Production Alliance recently released a report on fuel use in Canada and reducing carbon emissions on set. Read the report here. 

 

The Hollywood Reporter recently released an article on how NBC’s “La Brea” is using hybrid batteries to create a more sustainable set. Read the full article here. 

 

 

Discover Reel Green™ Resources:

Learn more about clean energy programs in BC


Clean Energy Resources

Sustainable Production Training 

Carbon Calculator Training 

 

 

Stay connected to attend future Clean Energy Battery Workshops. 

 

Just in case you missed the September General Meeting, you still have a chance to get all the Reel Green™ updates. The recording of the meeting is now available on the Creative BC YouTube Channel.  

Topics that were covered in the meeting include:  

 

About the Guest Speakers:

 

Melanie Windle – Sustainable Production Forum 2022  

Melanie gave a brief update on SPF22 about the program, speakers, partners and tickets. 

For more information on SPF22, and to buy tickets, visit their website here.  

  

Noah Rogers – Sustainability Coordinator  

Noah is currently a sustainability coordinator on the Disney+ Series “Career Opportunities In Murder And Mayhem”. He gives an update on the show he is working on, his sustainable practices and how they’re being sustainable on set.   

 

Chris Jenkins – NERV Productions  

Chris is a local Vancouver filmmaker and co-director of NERV Productions’ recent documentary, THE SOUL OF THE FRASER. Chris gave a synopsis of the film and information on their upcoming screening hosted by Reel Green™ and Birds Canada at Science World on October 19, 2022  

For information on the documentary and production company, visit their website here.   

 

Fraser Larock – Portable Electrics 

Portable Electric manufactures Voltstack® clean energy e-generators or portable power stations that provide silent, emission-free power. Fraser gives a brief overview of the company and what projects they’ve recently been working on.  

For more information on Portable Electric, visit their website here.  

 

The recording of the General Meeting is now available to watch here! 

 

 

The Leaders on Location Forum for Sustainability took place this year, on September 17th, and was presented by the Directors Guild BC, the Locations Managers Guild International, Reel Green™, and the MPPIA Motion Picture Community Initiative. With a series of panels and the MPCI awards, the forum also included a Green Vendor showcase.  

The Green Vendor Showcase included five Reel Green™ Vendors: Driving Force,The Reusables,Onstage Cleaning, The Hertz Corporation and The Earth Group, with recycling services for the event provided by Keep It Green Recycling. The Green Vendor fair allowed these leading businesses to showcase their eco-services and products, providing a chance for discussion on their sustainable practices. 

 

 

In addition to the Green Vendor Showcase, there were three amazing panel discussions during this event with industry professionals!

Panel 1: Engaging with our First Nations Partners
Moderator: Mike Fantasia (Supervising Location Manager: Top Gun: Maverick, Killers of the Flower Moon)
Panelists: Alison Taylor, Jason Nolan, Johanna Sparrow-Crawford, Joanelle Romero

Panel 2: De-carbonizing the Set
Moderator: Geoff Teoli (Vancouver Film Commissioner)
Panelists: Ryan Schaetzel, Gemma Martini, Lisa Scope, Colin McDougal, Mary Jo Beirnes, Eric Cerretani

Panel 3: Virtual-Production and Locations
Moderator: Zach Lipovsky (Director: Freaks, Kim Possible)
Panelists: John Rakich, Matt Middleton, Gladys Tong

View the event highlight video below:

 

Stay connected and subscribe to the Reel Green™ Newsletter.
Register for the upcoming Training Courses that Reel Green™ offers:
Sustainable Production Training – November 9th at 9:30AM PT
Carbon Calculator Training – November 24th at 9:30AM PT

The Sustainable Production Alliance (SPA) recently published two reports: The Soundstage Facility Survey Key Takeaways Report and the Regional Analysis of Film and TV Carbon Emissions Report.  

 

Soundstage Facility Survey Key Takeaways

The SPA Soundstage Facility Survey Key Takeaways Report is a result of the survey that SPA organized to collect data from June 2021 to October 2021. Over 50 facilities participated in this survey and gave information on their clean power availability, HVAC systems, energy efficient, production services and sustainability efforts. This report touches on the benefits and considerations on sustainable practices in the industry, including Clean Energy & power, HVAC Systems, LED Lighting, Clean Energy Rentals, Materials Reuse, Waste Management, and Carbon Emissions. The key takeaways in this report spotlight the best practices for facilities to help reduce their environmental impacts.

Read the full report here. 

 

Regional Analysis of Film and Television Carbon Emissions

The SPA Regional Analysis of Film and Television Carbon Emissions Report is a deeper dive into the Carbon Emissions of Film and Television Report that SPA released back in March 2021. It is an industry baseline using data collected from SPA’s member company productions between 2016-2019. The regional data report shows a few of the key takeaways from this data that can spark further conversations in the industry on how to reduce emissions and encourage sustainable production practices.

Data was collected from 75 film and 242 TV productions in the USA, and 22 film and 39 TV productions in Canada. These reports show total and percent average emissions sources by region based on the production type with the most data per region.

Read the full report here. 

The Fraser River forms the largest estuary along the Pacific Coast of North America, is home to over 400 species of vertebrates, thousands of plants and a myriad of small invertebrates.

In this documentary screening, follow an ensemble cast ranging from a former government fisheries biologist turned activist to a boat captain with an Indigenous family history long forgotten, as they search for a way to save what’s left of the Fraser Estuary.

Following the screening, we will have a special Q&A with river restoration expert Professor Ken Ashley, the cast, and the filmmakers. Step out of the bustle of Vancouver and reconnect with what’s left of the mysterious Fraser Estuary!

Date: Wednesday, October 19th, 2022
Time: Doors open at 6:30pm, screening starts at 7:00pm
Location: Science World – OMNIMAX Theatre | 1455 Quebec St, Vancouver, BC V6A 3Z7
Presented in partnership with: Reel Green™, Birds Canada, Science World, BCIT – Rivers Institute, NERV Productions, and Willow Grove.

Featuring a Special Q&A with:
Brendan Chu – Nerv Productions
Misty MacDuffee – Raincoast Conservation Foundation

Moderated by:
Professor Ken Ashley – BCIT

More Speakers to be confirmed soon.


About the Film

The Soul of The Fraser (2022) (80 min)

In beautiful British Columbia, Canada, follow an ensemble cast ranging from a former government fish habitat biologist turned activist to a boat captain with an Indigenous family history long forgotten, as they search for a way to save what’s left of the Fraser River Estuary. This documentary feature uses the estuary as a case study, proving a lack of environmental stewardship as a result of Indigenous suppression and bureaucratic mis-management.

Watch the trailer below: 

About the Filmmakers

The filmmakers at NERV Productions Inc. began producing feature length documentaries immediately after graduating from Capilano University. Over the past 5 years they have produced movies, shorts, PSAs, music videos, and commercials for a variety of clients. Particularly focusing on environmental stewardship, the filmmakers Brendan, Chris and Jakob believe in educating the public of the injustices on the local environment.

Read more about NERV Productions: https://www.nervproductions.com

Tickets are now available here!

The 2022 Vancouver International Film Festival takes place from September 29th – October 9th.  The annual Vancouver International Film Festival showcases exceptional cinema in one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Our spectacular roster includes some of the best cinema from around the globe, talks, conferences, live performances and other unique events that celebrate film and film culture. Join Reel Green™ at the 41st Vancouver International Film Festival in this Industry Talk: 

The Filmmaker’s Influence in the Time of Climate Change
Presented by Reel Green™ at Creative BC 

Canada’s motion picture industry is taking the lead on green initiatives through production practices and reducing carbon emissions. Meet filmmakers who are using their roles to cultivate and tell stories on screen with underlying themes of environmental sustainability. This panel takes you through implementing intersectional climate themes from the early stages of development and the influence subject matter has over audiences. 

Date: October 1, 2022 
Time: 11:30 am – 1:30 pm 
Venue: VIFF Centre – Vancity Theatre 

Moderator:  
Smiely Khurana 

Smiely Khurana is the Reel Green™ Sustainability Lead at Creative BC, supporting and connecting Reel Green’s expanding community of engagement through the implementation of Reel Green’s strategic plan, deepening industry’s expertise and use of the tools, further transforming production practices through the Clean Energy municipal collaboration, and work to help industry transition to a circular economy.  

With a background in Motion Picture Arts and Business Marketing from Capilano University, Smiely has worked on a number of productions in a wide range of positions, from producing, accounting, digital marketing, and most recently as a sustainability coordinator. Throughout the years, Smiely’s passion and involvement in environmental sustainability has allowed her to lead discussions and keynotes in universities, global conferences, and host a successful podcast The Sustainable Act with Smiely Khurana.  

Smiely also sits on the Board of Directors for Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Foundation, connecting her passion for parks and nature with community building and fundraising. 

Speakers:

Am Johal 

 

Am Johal is Director of SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement and Co-Director of SFU’s Community Engaged Research Initiative. He has additional affiliations with SFU departments including Graduate Liberal Studies, Centre for Dialogue, Labour Studies and the Institute for the Humanities. He has been on the boards of the Vancity Community Foundation, Bloom Group, Indian Summer Arts Society, 221A, the Or Gallery and the City of Vancouver’s Arts and Culture Committee. He is the co-author of ‘Global Warming and the Sweetness of Life: A Tar Sands Tale’ with Matt Hern and Joe Sacco.

 

Liz Marshall

An award-winning Canadian filmmaker who has written, directed, produced and filmed multiple impactful documentaries around the globe since the 1990s, Liz Marshall’s current documentary Meat The Future (2021), chronicles the birth of the “cultivated meat” industry through the eyes of a visionary CEO, Dr. Uma Valeti. Proposing a game-changing solution towards a sustainable climate future, Meat The Future is narrated by Dr. Jane Goodall, executive produced and with music by Moby.

Liz Marshall helped to open our eyes to the inhumanity of animals exploited for food, fashion, entertainment, and research with her 2013 critically acclaimed film The Ghosts in Our Machine, featuring the work of animal rights photojournalist Jo-Anne McArthur; Midian Farm (2018) unearths Liz’s formative family history about an Ontario-based 1970s back-to-land social experiment. Water on the Table (2010) chronicles the human right to water amidst a global water crisis following Maude Barlow’s appointment as U.N. Senior Advisor on Water to the President of the 63rd Session of the United Nations.

 

More speakers to be announced soon! 
Learn more about the VIFF Talk here
RSVP for the free VIFF Talk here
Buy VIFF 2022 tickets here
Learn more about Reel Green™ here
Discover Reel Green™ training and tools here

The 2022 Sustainable Production Forum, presented by Reel Green, Creative BC, and MPPIA, takes place from October 1-22, 2022. 

SPF22 is a global hybrid conference focused on accelerating sustainability in the motion picture industry. SPF22 will feature a wide-range of premium virtual and in-person programming; high profile keynotes, fireside chats, moderated panels, skill building, SPF Vendor Chats, and in-person networking.

Tickets and registration are now open! 

Get your tickets here: www.sustainableproductionforum.com

 

 

Featured Panel (Sponsored by Reel Green™, Creative BC and MPPIA)

LASTING IMPACT | How Climate Storytelling is Transforming our Industry

Come hear from changemakers who are using their platform for good. Producers, creators, stakeholders and funders from across our industry are jumping into the stream, collecting data, funding climate initiatives, and providing training for crews as they adopt new tools and processes. At the same time others are making waves transforming the narrative around climate change, social sustainability, and local stories. Join us for an intersectional approach as we dive into using our tools for social change.

Date & Time: Monday October 3rd, 12pm – 1pm PT
Location: Virtual (Date/Time subject to change)
Speakers

 

 

SPF22 in-person events:

Join the in-person events to be inspired by some boundary pushing fireside chats, followed by a cocktail reception, and more sustainable fun!

Vancouver Kick Off Reception – October 1st, 4pm PT

SFU | Segal Graduate School of Business | 500 Granville St, Vancouver, BC V6C
1W6

 

For more information, visit the SPF 2022 Website.

In the 2022 REEL Earth Day Challenge, the BC film industry came together and raised $108,860 to support the Metro Vancouver Regional Parks. Together, with the help of sponsors and production teams, we helped fund 7 transformational projects.

 

The Reel Earth Day Challenge Spring 2022 Report provides updates on the projects that have already begun. It also contains information for the projects that are starting later this year, providing photos, descriptions and schedules.

 

Read some highlights on a few of the projects below:

 

Connect Indigenous Youth with Ancestral Lands

Many from the Tsleil-Waututh Nation live across the water from Belcarra Regional Park. The Nation identified access to transit a major barrier to seeing young Tsleil-Wautt reconnect with their ancestral lands there. The REEL Earth Day Challenge will fund free transit to the park. Read more on this project here.

 

Restore Creekside Habitat

In the June 2022 Regional Parks Committee Meeting announced plans to protect sensitive breeding habitat and enhance biodiversity. They plan on deepening ditches to provide adequate water depth and add protective fencing around the sensitive ecological area. Read more on this project here.

 

Take Climate Action at Acadia Beach

In the June 2022 Regional Parks Committee Meeting announces plans of revelation of uplands and stabilization of slopes. This will make the area more resilient in the face of further climate change events. Read more on this project here.

 

For more information on the projects, the 2022 Challenger Teams and Winners, the 2022 Sponsors and the 2022 Donors, you can find the full Spring 2022 Report here.

 

Reel Green™ is pleased to announce Thunderbird Entertainment as a new partner of the Reel Green™ Advisory Committee.

 “Thunderbird is deeply committed to crafting and producing high-quality programming with integrity. And we are very proud to join other industry partners in supporting the important work of Reel Green™ to bring a sustainability lens to our current and future productions.”   – Jennifer Twiner McCarron, CEO, Thunderbird Entertainment

Thunderbird Entertainment is a global award-winning, full-service multiplatform production, distribution and rights management company, headquartered in Vancouver, with offices in Ottawa, Toronto and Los Angeles. Creating content across kids & family, unscripted and scripted genres, Thunderbird’s original production slate includes The Last Kids on Earth (Netflix), Molly of Denali (with GBH for PBS Kids), Highway Thru Hell (Discovery Canada), Kim’s Convenience and Strays (CBC) and the upcoming dramedy Reginald the Vampire (SYFY), among others. For more information on Thunderbird Entertainment and its award-winning productions, visit thunderbird.tv.

The Reel Green™ initiative is now comprised of 23 industry partners whose support is invaluable. Spearheaded by Creative BC, and funded by industry partners, Reel Green™ helps Canada’s motion picture industry unite to improve production practices and reduce environmental impacts.

Learn more about the initiative and discover ways to get involved on the Reel Green™ website.

On June 26th, 2022 at 11:00am the Planet Placement: Made in Canada session, presented by Reel Green™, at the 2022 Hollywood Climate Summit, is happening!

Hollywood sound stages in LA are always compared to Vancouver’s leading sustainable infrastructure… But what about storytelling? This session presented by Reel Green, Canada’s Motion Picture Climate Catalyst, housed at the provincial film commission at Creative BC, will feature several Canadian creatives depicting climate and intersectional narratives on their shows and films.

 

Featured Panelists:

 

Liz Cairns – Writer and Director

Liz Cairns is an award-winning writer and director from Vancouver, BC and a graduate of the Director’s Lab at the Canadian Film Centre. Her short films have played at festivals internationally, including TIFF, Festival du Nouveau Cinéma, Austin Film Festival, Interfilm Berlin, Female Eye Film Festival and VIFF, among others. Programmer Curtis Woloschuk commented on Liz’s ability to “elicit remarkable performances.” Liz is also an in-demand production designer, working on a wide range of projects. She was the production designer on Never Steady, Never Still (TIFF 2017) and The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open (Berlinale 2019). She has been nominated for a Canadian Screen Award and won a Leo Award in 2019.

 

 

Smiely Khurana – Reel Green™ Sustainability Lead, Creative BC and Podcast Host, The Sustainable Act

Smiely Khurana is the Reel Green™ Sustainability Lead at Creative BC, supporting and connecting Reel Green’s expanding community of engagement through the implementation of Reel Green’s strategic plan, deepening industry’s expertise and use of the tools, further transforming production practices through the Clean Energy municipal collaboration, and work to help industry transition to a circular economy. With a background in Motion Picture Arts and Business, Smiely has worked on a number of productions in several different positions such as producer assistant, accounting, digital marketing and film promotion, and most recently as a sustainability coordinator

 

Rekha Sharma – Actress

 

Rekha Shanti Sharma is a Canadian actress of Indo-Fijian descent, best known for her role as Tory Foster on Battlestar Galactica, and Ellen Landry on Star Trek: Discovery.

 

 

Tamo Campos – Environmentalist and Founder of Beyond Boarding

Tamo Campos is a filmmaker, impact practitioner, community organizer and extreme sports athlete. His films include The Klabona Keepers (2022), Ru-Tsu(2020), The Radicals (2018), A Last Stand For Lelu (2016), Northern Grease (2013) & over thirty shorts. Tamo embeds himself in the community wherever he goes, and is dedicated to combining social impact with his adventures in sport, activism, and filmmaking. His projects have had a strong outreach focus and collaborates deeply with participants within his films. His work has focused on Indigenous land defense, harm reduction, climate justice and anti-racism. He is the co-founder of the nonprofit collective Beyond Boarding, a board member of Rediscovery International, and is currently working on a Masters with York University with a focus on Canadian Impact Producing. Campos currently works for Story Money Impact, a small and creative Canadian charity growing the field of Impact Producing in Canada.

 

Register for the Planet Placement: Made in Canada session here!

 

Visit the Hollywood Climate Summit Website for more information on the Planet Placement: Made in Canada session and other events!

 

About the Summit:

The Hollywood Climate Summit is an annual gathering of the entertainment community to address the climate crisis. The 3rd summit will take place from June 22-26th both online and with in-person events in Los Angeles. This year’s theme is climate storytelling, with programming that highlights intersectional storytelling, narrative strategy, and sustainable production. All workshops will be digital and interactive, taught by experts and notable screenwriters with celebrity cameos throughout. Registrations are free and open to everyone.

Confirmed sponsors include Netflix, NBCUniversal, Paramount Global, CAA Foundation, Center for Cultural Power, Rare, EarthJustice, PGA Green, etc. 

Partner highlights: Buzzfeed, Intersectional Environmentalist, Hot Donnas Clubhouse, Climate Mental Health Network, Good Energy, NRDC, Extinction Rebellion Los Angeles, and many more! 

Check out our programming highlights, which includes our Eco Bash Pride Party on June 24th happening at SecondHome in Hollywood and the Writing Climate: Pitchfest for TV + Film on June 26th hosted at the NBCUniversal lot.

Diesel fuel is a leading contributor to overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by the motion picture industry.  As British Columbia works toward substantial GHG emissions reductions by 2030, the motion picture industry can support these goals by utilizing clean alternatives to diesel fuel where available.

 

The Benefits of Clean Energy

Clean energy incentives offered by industry partners encourage productions to consider environmentally conscious alternatives to diesel generators.  In addition to tangible benefits such as savings on the cost of fuel and labour, making the switch demonstrates the film industry’s commitment to environmentally friendly solutions.  The benefits to this include:

 

City of Vancouver | Clean Energy Incentive

City of Vancouver introduced their Clean Energy Incentive in 2020.  Productions that can demonstrate they eliminated at least one diesel generator with clean power can take advantage of a 50% discount on their daily permit fee.  The incentive has been well received by industry with a number of productions eligible for the discount.

To further support their incentive, the city is developing a power kiosk network that will expand access for industry to grid power tie-ins.  The first kiosks are expected to open in the second half of 2022, and the city aims to have a power kiosk within 10 minutes of any film location in the city over the next five years.

 

 

Metro Vancouver | Clean Energy Discount

Metro Vancouver launched their clean energy discount at the beginning of 2022.  The discount is available to crews filming in Metro Vancouver regional parks and properties.  Similar to City of Vancouver, productions must show they replaced at least one diesel generator with a clean power alternative.  Clean power alternatives include a grid power tie-in, battery technology, or other non-fossil-fuel sources of energy.  Eligible productions can access a $500 per day discount for up to two days for a total of up to $1,000 discount.

 

 

How to Source Clean Energy Alternatives

The Grid Power Access Map is an interactive tool designed to share the availability of grid power tie-in sources in the Lower Mainland.  Crew can search the map by address to find clean power options available near their filming and parking locations.  The map also identifies high priority locations for clean power infrastructure – sites that frequently support filming or circus parking.  The map is updated regularly with new properties sourced by industry.  Crew and location representatives can submit new tie-in locations directly through a form on the map to be vetted and added.

The Green Vendor List was developed to highlight businesses that demonstrate sustainable operations and practices.  The list includes several studio facilities and equipment vendors who offer green solutions.  Every business has been vetted by Reel Green™ and given a sustainability rating.

 

 

For more information about work being done in B.C. to support clean energy solutions, learn about the Clean Energy Committee.