Sony: Ten years of green Screen Gems

Sony Pictures is celebrating a decade of environmental innovation at its Screen Gems film label. This commitment began in 2006 when the label built a semi-permanent set superstructure on Stage 23 of the Sony Pictures Studio Lot. This structure was used on seven feature films, and eliminated the need to build a new frame for each feature’s set. As a result, each production used fewer materials and spent less on set building costs. Screen Gems continues to pioneer new ways to film more sustainably and with less impact on the environment.

During the filming of the hit film Think Like a Man, Screen Gems became the first production to use only LED and energy efficient light-bulbs on set. While shooting About Last Night, Screen Gems continued its focus on reducing the energy consumption of its productions by not using set generators. Thanks to the use of LED lighting and the Sony F65 digital motion picture camera, which captures high quality picture in low light, the production was able to use the existing power grid in place of set generators. As Screen Gems enters its second decade of eco-friendly moviemaking, it continues to drive innovations that both lower environment impact and contribute to the cost efficiency of production budgets.

As part of its ongoing effort to empower its employees to be sustainable both at work and at home, Sony Pictures recently installed 60 220V electric vehicle charging stations around its Culver City lot and offices, the largest installation project of any workplace in Southern California. This benefit complements the financial incentives the studio has offered since 2008 to employees who choose to purchase a qualifying hybrid, plug-in hybrid electric or electric vehicle.

Sony Pictures’ Columbia and Screen Gems film labels require each of their features to complete a legacy project, typically planting one tree for every day of shooting. For example, Columbia’s The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was filmed on location in East River Park in New York City. The studio helped restore benches and plant trees that had been devastated by Superstorm Sandy and also donated an additional 50 trees to East River Park after the film wrapped.

According to the sustainability report of Eco-Supervisor Emellie O’Brien, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 saved 5% of its total waste hauling expenses, or $4,732 through its recycling and composting efforts. Additionally, 49.7 tons worth of construction and set decoration materials were sold to other shows or donated to non-profits at wrap. With one ton dumpsters costing an average of $950 each, that’s a whopping savings of $47,215.
Further Sony Pictures productions that were produced in a sustainable way include David Koepp’s action thriller Premium Rush with Joseph Gordon-Levitt as bicycle messenger in New York City. The executive producer was Mari Jo Winkler, one of the pioneers of the green production movement with her sustainability efforts on films such as Away We Go by Sam Mendes.

Sony Pictures Entertainment Studio Lot is certified under ISO-14000, which is the environmental management standard defined by the International Organization for Standardization. The ISO 14000 help organizations (a) minimize how their operations (processes, etc.) negatively affect the environment; (b) comply with applicable laws, regulations, and other environmentally oriented requirements, and (c) have system for continuous improvement. Sony Pictures Entertainment is expanding the Environmental Management System to global corporate facilities and regional offices with four certified sites worldwide. The scope will cover all activities associated with SPE’s operations, facility structure, property, products, and their potential impact on the environment.