The Power of Green: Advancing Sustainable Video Production in the Social Sector

In an era where every action is scrutinized, it's crucial for social sector organizations to ensure their operations reflect a deep commitment to societal and environmental goals. 

This is especially critical in video production, a medium both highly visible and impactful.

But why is sustainability in video production so crucial, and how can organizations effectively integrate these practices? Let’s start with the ‘Why’ first.

Why Is Sustainability in Video Production Crucial?

Visibility and Accountability: Video projects are public statements.

From location selection to waste management, every part of the production process is under scrutiny, making it essential for organizations to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability.

Environmental Impact: Traditional video production can have significant negative effects, including substantial carbon emissions from transportation and energy use, and waste from set constructions. 

By adopting sustainable practices, organizations can drastically reduce their ecological footprint, aligning operations with their eco-advocacy.

Influence and Leadership: As leaders in their communities, social sector organizations have the unique opportunity to set industry standards and encourage partners and stakeholders to adopt green practices.

Integrating Sustainability from Script to Screen

Sustainable Scriptwriting: When crafting scripts, make strategic decisions to minimize environmental impact. 

For instance, choosing nearby locations reduces travel, opting for drone rather than helicopter shots conserves fuel, and scripting fewer but more impactful scenes decreases resource use.

Some additional sustainable scriptwriting tips:

• Natural Lighting: Whenever possible, write scenes that utilize natural lighting, reducing the need for artificial lighting setups which consume significant amounts of energy.
• Virtual Sets: Consider the use of virtual sets or augmented reality to reduce the need for physical set builds and location travel.
• Reuse and Recycle: Incorporate elements into the script that allow for the reuse of sets, props, and costumes from previous productions or other sources.
• Seasonal Planning: Write scenes to be shot during seasons that offer favorable weather conditions. This reduces the need for artificial heating or cooling, saving energy.
• Digital Previsualization: Leveraging advanced digital tools to "previsualize" scenes can streamline the entire production process, ensuring efficiency and reducing the environmental footprint. 

For previsualization, we utilize Google Studio, which allows us to render fly-by videos from Google Earth. 

This technology lets us explore different locations virtually, including their environs, which is crucial for planning scenes with minimal environmental impact. We had to obtain special access for this feature and provided Google with a rationale, which was approved in Beta. 

This capability not only helps in minimizing physical scouting trips but also aids in visualizing the best use of each location to maximize shooting efficiency.

Eco-Friendly Pre-Production: Adopt digital workflows to eliminate paper waste and meticulously plan to consolidate shoot days, reducing the carbon footprint associated with travel and logistics.

Green Production Practices: Select shooting locations that support sustainability, like those with LEED certification or that offer renewable energy sources. 

Enforce a strict no-plastics rule on set, using only reusable containers and utensils, which significantly cuts down on plastic waste—a major issue in traditional production settings.

Energy-Efficient Post-Production: Utilize Energy Star-rated equipment and cloud-based editing software to minimize energy use, and focus on digital distribution methods to reduce the environmental impact associated with physical media.

The Financial and Strategic Considerations

Adopting sustainable technologies in video production presents both challenges and opportunities, particularly when considering the financial implications and the pace of technological adoption. 

Here’s a deeper look:

Slow Technological Upgrades: Video production equipment typically sees slow turnover. Substantial investments in new technologies, like solar-powered equipment, are often impractical, especially in regions where solar energy is less abundant.

Financial Realities and Strategic Vision: For social sector organizations, sustainability must align with financial realities. Instead of significant upfront investments, focus on making smaller, strategic decisions that collectively enhance sustainability. 

Choose vendors who prioritize eco-friendly practices, recognizing that efficiency and sustainability improve over time as relationships with vendors mature.

Mindset Shift and Top-Down Commitment: True sustainability in video production requires a fundamental shift in mindset—a zero-carbon attitude that permeates all levels of decision-making.

Future Trends and AI in Video Production: The integration of AI in video production holds promise but doesn't automatically guarantee sustainability. 

These technologies require careful planning and human oversight to truly benefit the environment.

A Call to Action

For social sector organizations, embracing sustainable video production is a reassertion of core values. 

It’s about being committed to a better, greener future.

By prioritizing environmental responsibility–healthcare organizations, public agencies, cultural institutions, and nonprofits enhance their credibility and leadership within their respective communities.

Ready to make your video productions a force for good—both socially and environmentally? Goodsides specializes in sustainable video production for social sector organizations. 

Contact us today to discover how we can help you tell your story while minimizing your environmental impact.