HOT TAKES
Season 3 Episode 1
Sustainability In Production: On and Off-Set
For the past few years, there have been industry wide calls for change in production. From 2014’s tragedy Sarah Jones, to the most recent threat of IATSE’s strike, show business has come to realize, or rather can no longer ignore, just how harmful it can be to working in film and television. In addition to the cries for better working hours, more diversity, and better treatment for crews, there has also come a desperate cry for sustainable alternatives to the damaging practices that occur during content creation.
The dominant narrative behind the call for immediate, and aggressive climate change policies relies on global statistics that our planet has a limited amount of time, often quoted as less than 10 years, before irreversible damage is done to our climate from a combination of water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and more ailments that the media industry heavily contribute to in the production of our commercials, movies and shows.
According to a study conducted by UCLA, a single soundstage can lead to up to 4,000 hectares of deforestation. The Pirates of The Caribbean franchise were criticized heavily after the production was accused of spilling chemical waste into an Australian creek. The effects of production on the environment are indisputable, but with years of precedent, coupled with the argument that these practices are unavoidable or necessary, how is change possible?
In our premiere episode of season 3 of Hot Takes, we speak with Becky Morrison, CEO + Founder of The Light, an innovative production company committed to four ethos, inclusion, equity, and sustainability. Between The Light’s commitment to sustainable practices as well as their dedication to prioritizing their crew, Becky’s company flips the entire precedent of production on its head. What does production look like when it’s grounded in sustainability? Does this only refer to environmental practices or can the definition expand to include lifestyle changes for crews as well? Whether you belong to the show business industry or you contribute from afar, the way forward based on the old ways of production is no longer acceptable. In this interview, Becky Morrison provides an alternative view for consideration.
Watch the episode below!
Becky Morrison is an award-winning film and TV producer and an advocate for production innovation.
Becky kicked-off her career on the Hollywood blockbuster I AM LEGEND, dabbled in the world of animation on Disney’s THE WILD, then entered the world of rock n’ roll producing the visual content for U2’s world tour. In the span of her career, Becky has produced over 500 spots for clients such as Netflix, Apple, NBC, A&E, Hulu, Disney and many more as well the Emmy-nominated open for NBC’S Sunday Night Football.
In 2015, Becky founded The Light, the premier production company for those looking to create systemic change in the film industry. She has spent years studying the history of Hollywood production and uses her research to inform a new framework for production that is grounded in inclusion, equity and sustainability.
In addition to her production work, Becky is the founder of the non-profit organization Globetops which connects people who have laptops they don’t use anymore with someone around the world who can use one.
