News Archive
LMGA GREEN EVENT REPORT
Added June 10, 2009 by P Orth
LMGA FACILITATES ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS
By Richard McMillan
The Location Managers Guild of America (LMGA) joined with leading film industry corporations, organizations, government agencies and businesses in taking a leadership role to explore issues relating to environmental concerns within the entertainment industry.
The LMGA took the initiative to sponsor a symposium "Greening Hollywood: Set by Set". The objective of this event was to focus on cost effective strategies and solutions in accomplishing environmental goals in the film and television community.
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| L to R: Amy Lemisch, Josh Mark, Mike Posey, Lisa Day, Mike Fantasia, Matt Cooper, Dave Beck, Phil Conserva. (Photo: Terrilee Huff) |
This series of presentations and panel discussions involving industry luminaries was held on Sunday, March 22, 2009 at the newly remodeled The London West Hollywood hotel. Location Managers Bonnie Sills and J.J. Levine served as directors of this event on behalf of the LMGA.
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| J.J. Levine and Bonnie SIlls (photo by Jack Guberman) | The Audience (photo by Jack Guberman) |
Guest speakers included environmental specialist Gretchen Lewotsky, Vice-President of State and Local Public Affairs and Environmental Operations for the Fox Entertainment Group. In January 2007 Ms. Lewotsky was chosen by Al Gore's "The Climate Project" to be one of the 1000 persons selected worldwide to be trained by Gore to give his "An Inconvenient Truth" slide show, which she presented at the symposium. Joining her was Steven John, Director of the Southern California Field Office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Amy Lemisch, Director of the California Film Commission (CFC), moderated the interactive panel discussion which covered a broad spectrum of useful and budget friendly information of interest to the production industry operating in today's world of environmental issues.
Commenting on the relevance of this green event Lemisch said, "More and more production companies are looking for ways to minimize their effect on the environment and many have already adopted environmental practices in their day-to-day production activities. The biggest challenge is for productions on location, which is why sharing information at events like this one is so important."
A distinguished line-up of panelists and special guests experienced with environmental issues shared with an audience, within an interactive format, educated opinions and ideas regarding practical strategies applicable to the real world of production.
The panel included Lisa Day, Energy Initiative Manager at 20th Century Fox, Mike Posey, Manager of Production at Twentieth Century Television and Joshua Mark who is the Executive Director of Special Events for the Fox Broadcasting Company. Also participating on the panel was Phil Conserva, Co-Producer of the TV series "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation", as well as veteran location manager Mike Fantasia. Fantasia has led the location departments of such major feature films as "Memoirs of a Geisha", "Seabiscuit", "Indiana Jones the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull", “Catch Me if You Can” and "3:10 to Yuma".
Rounding out the group of panelists were David Beck and Matthew Cooper, principal consultants for CTP Media Consulting which serves the environmental requirements of the entertainment industry. CTP is in the position of being able to offer expert guidance to studios and film producers seeking more ecologically compatible production practices.
Of the issues explored, one topic of interest in today's economic climate and production budget considerations is real world solutions to environmental concerns that can have positive benefits to a production's budget.
A practical example as to how rethinking production practices can benefit a company's bottom-line was offered by location manager Mike Fantasia whose creative initiative saved two productions thousands of dollars. Fantasia initiated a system of donating excess catering meals to local food banks. He discovered that taxing authorities allow bottom-line write-offs of $8.00 per meal donated to certain charitable organizations.
Through Fantasia's efforts the producers of "Girl, Interrupted", a Columbia Pictures release, realized a financial benefit of $5200.00 with the donation of 650 meals to a food bank in Pennsylvania. Dreamworks SKG enjoyed an $8000.00 tax write-off from meals donated from their film "The Terminal".
Speaking prior to this environmentally focused event location manager David Berthiaume observed, "This is an opportunity for industry professionals to brainstorm and incubate ideas for the future as well as exchange information on new and existing technologies we can use on the set day-to-day." Berthiaume, a past president and one of the founding members of the LMGA, is currently the location manager on the TV series "The Unit", a very location intensive show.
Location scout and LMGA President, Lori Balton commented, "The LMGA Green Event provided the industry with an opportunity to consider our impact on the planet. Bonnie Sills and JJ Levine did a stellar job putting together a top-notch symposium followed by a lovely reception." Balton added, "It's yet another step location professionals are taking toward community and industry outreach as we move into a challenging future." Balton has developed an illustrious career as a location professional having scouted locations for such feature films as "There Will Be Blood," "The Aviator," "Pearl Harbor," "Heat", "Seabiscuit" and "Memoirs of a Geisha".
In summary the message of "Greening Hollywood: Set by Set" is that the carbon economy is real and it is here. In today's economy the cost of doing nothing will be far greater than implementing cost-effective, real world solutions that mitigate environmental impact. "Going green" does not have to mean seeing red. Properly and effectively managed creative positive environmental strategies can lead to lower operating costs enhancing a production's bottom-line serving as a producer's best friend.
The standing room only symposium was followed at 5 PM by a reception hosted by The London West Hollywood, a venue at which the management is ready to accommodate location filming. Attendees were treated to culinary samples from Chef Gordon Ramsay's new restaurant, "Gordon Ramsay at The London". Beverages were provided by Bonterra Vineyards and VeeV Cocktails. The London West Hollywood has been named one of the “hottest” new hotels in the world by Conde Nast Traveler magazine. Julie Lawrence, Filming Liaison and Director of Private Events for The London West Hollywood arranged tours of the hotel for location scouts and managers during the reception.
Environmentally conscious entertainment industry related businesses that came forward to sponsor the symposium, "Greening Hollywood: Set by Set", and made this timely event possible include Cast Locations, Exxtreme Layout, Green Power Solutions, Image Locations, JCL Barricades, NorthStar Moving Company, On-Location, Pacific Production Services and P3 Media, publishers of the monthly magazine "P3 Update" as well as Studio Air, a provider of location air conditioning and heating systems.
All printed promotional materials and design services were provided by sheBang! Design and Color West.
For filming information for The London West Hollywood, contact Julie Lawrence, Director of Private Events 310-358-7757