Hollywood is Progressively Greener

I have had this article in my favorites for ages now (Nov 30th is when it was written). I have been meaning to cover it on the blog ever since. With the New Year, it seems as good a time as any to mention one way the Studios have been trying to clean up there act. Variety's Web Exclusive: Hollywood Goes Carbon Neutral states that the entertainment biz in LA is second only to the petroleum industry in terms of pollution (no that is not a dig at the people that work for the networks). Basically, Office work, Shoots, Travel, Distribution, Post etc. causes mother earth more grief than nearly everything else in LA. Not so hard to believe if you have ever lived there. Everything in LA is Film and TV. You cant walk(sorry, drive) around town without bumping into a shoot of some description. It always makes me smile when i hear London wanting to become a 'Film City'. The implications of such a move are vast. I lived for six months just off Hollywood Blvd. and during that time the city closed the main bit of Hollywood Blvd. 3 times, plus often had numerous traffic diversions for shoots. I can't really imagine this happening on Oxford Street and riots not ensuing... So, it doesn't surprise me that the largest industry in LA with the most money flying around and the most power should cause so much environmental harm. But, what are they doing about it?

Well, Celebs are notorious for being pro this and that and the environment is a hot topic. Star power leads the way with Clooney, DiCaprio, Ford and Blanchett. Funnily enough the ones that follow closest behind are the Talent Agencies who will sacrifice babes for a nod of approval from their clients. If we are too believe they are anything like Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven) in Entourage. Ultimately, studios are about making money and the pros and cons add up on this one. Good PR, keeping favor with stars, save planet vs save a few short term bucks. When I say a few, I really don't know how much it costs to offset the carbon footprint of a studio film. The only example the Variety aritcle gives is the $15,000, "The Nativity Story's" producer Marty Bowen and director Catherine Hardwicke paid out of pocket for that film. But what about "The Day After Tomorrow" or Syriana, or any others that are offsetting their carbon. £15K is the cost of a one pager add in Variety, this way the money can generate multiple articles. Well spent I say. In the end, Hollywood is noticing the benefits of going greener. I think more companies and industries will happily follow if they can spin the move to generate positive PR.