Sustainable clusters aren’t just a trend, and British Columbia has been a leader in this space. Alpha Select Production Services CEO Beverly Dundell is leading a $242 million studio project in partnership with the Malahat Nation. The initiative aims to create a zero-carbon, zero-waste production facility on Vancouver Island. Through a phased-build approach, the studio will integrate renewable energy, waste management and sustainable practices, with 51% ownership by the Malahat Nation.
The planned facility includes 10 acres, two production offices, a workshop, a warehouse, and a dual soundstage. Given the island’s lack of waste management options, Dondale partnered with a construction company to help dismantle the set in a way that salvaged materials and directed the recovered resources to local nonprofits. It also partners with groups to donate food and unused materials to the community.
“We have composting and recycling capabilities,” Dondell explains, emphasizing the need to make sustainability easier for production teams. She has partnered with companies that will provide tax receipts for donations, making it financially viable to share production.
Dundal says she's confident that if she builds it, production will come.
In Vancouver, major studios are also pursuing sustainability goals. Shannon Bart, Netflix’s senior director of sustainability and production, notes that industry studies show that fuel is the biggest source of emissions on set, with vehicles accounting for about 70% and diesel generators accounting for 30%. Since 2020, Netflix has been implementing a sustainability roadmap through 2030, focusing on energy efficiency, vehicle electrification, mobile clean energy and renewables. “So we’re really focused on those areas in terms of reducing fossil fuel use and transitioning to cleaner energy sources,” she says.
So these cleaner options are not only better for the communities used in the production, but they also give filmmakers a great deal of creative freedom and production flexibility.
For example, on “Virgin River,” which was shot in British Columbia, the production team was able to use small portable batteries instead of generators. This meant they were able to shoot in locations like boats or large suspension bridges that would otherwise be impossible, Bart explains. “You get access to these beautiful shots,” she says.
In June 2023, in partnership with Disney, Netflix launched the Clean Portable Power Initiative, which aims to find, test, pilot, and scale competitive zero-emission solutions to accelerate the industry’s transition away from diesel generators.
“When it comes to sustainability in production, we focus on developing long-term solutions that can be easily replicated and implemented around the world,” says Yilmaz Siddiqui, vice president of environmental sustainability at The Walt Disney Company. “We also recognize that every production is unique, and as such, we strive to engage the local community in unique ways to reduce emissions, waste and impact.”
“From the materials.”
Despite the downturn following the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, where fewer screenings were greenlit, “even with the market volatility, BC’s connections and reputation are so strong that it’s a resilient year in 2023,” says Marnie Gee, BC’s film commissioner.
During the 2023 strikes, British Columbia saw a surge in Canadian production and shares, with initial estimates suggesting local activity was down only 9 per cent, Gee says. In April, Creative BC and the province of British Columbia announced they would invest $15.9 million over three years to support local production.
“We are currently focused on workforce development, environmental sustainability resources and training for the industry, which will be supported by the historic investment from the province.”
G says.
Creative BC expects to deliver an additional 1.04 million square feet of production space across 50 new phases by 2025.
Meanwhile, Vancouver Island Film Commissioner Kathleen Gilbert has noticed an increase in applications over the past month. “It feels like we’re on our way to a full recovery,” she says, noting that as of August this year, they’ve held 16 screenings, with three more set to start in September.
