We’ve all heard of product placement, but UK-based sustainable film initiative albert coined the phrase Planet Placement to promote climate storytelling as a force for change.

We in the screen-based industries have a two-fold opportunity to create a more sustainable future. Obviously, we can all make efforts to reduce our industry’s environmental footprint by using less fuel and moving to a more circular economy – but we also have a gigantic advantage in that collectively, the content we create is seen by millions of people!

Don’t underestimate the power of entertainment to change hearts and minds by normalizing sustainable behaviour. Imagine putting our creative power to tackling climate storytelling – from featuring storylines and subplots that reference or discuss the climate emergency, to reinforcing basic sustainability messages, or simply featuring characters whose actions, jobs or passions (and cars and props!) reflect our changing reality (check out this cool chart by the Green Production Guide to inspire greener character and story ideas!).

When appropriate to the context, we can begin to normalize sustainable behaviour with some very simple choices, like incorporating on-screen use of EV’s, plant-based food choices and props like reusable shopping bags and travel mugs instead of that ubiquitous standard BG prop: the empty disposable coffee cup (that’s like, sooo early 2000’s!).

The Climate Content Pledge is a historic agreement signed at COP26 in 2021 by 12 major broadcasters from the UK and Ireland who commit to displaying more climate content on screen. In North America the Sustainable Production Alliance has a host of resources on climate storytelling here and just last week the DGC’s own National Directors Division spoke about it in a Zoom panel on Sustainability From A Director’s Perspective.

As DGC creative and logistical personnel, our members have the power to help shape the on-screen narrative in the right direction. Let’s change our medium’s message and help inspire a revolution in behaviour both as individuals and as a society. Change is coming to a screen near you!

For more ideas on ways to effect change, check out DGC National’s DGC Green site as well as Creative BC’s Reel Green website for new industry initiatives, green vendors, events and courses you can take.

Tell me what your show is doing to be more sustainable! Do you have a green tip or success story you'd like us to share in a future Ebulletin? Send me an email at awilczur@dgcbc.com.

Annabelle Wilczur
Assistant Business Agent