Ready, set, climate action: Hollywood North goes green
BC Hydro helps power film and television industry with clean electricity
VANCOUVER: Powering film and television production traditionally comes with a carbon footprint, but the industry is making changes in B.C. to become the greenest in North America, ditching diesel for clean electricity.
Powering film sets with diesel generators is the norm worldwide. While they are portable and flexible when it comes to power output, the average big budget film produces 2,840 tonnes of carbon dioxide – the equivalent of driving a gas-powered vehicle nearly 12 million kilometres. They can also be noisy and contribute to poor air quality. But there is strong desire in the film industry to move away from fossil fuels.
BC Hydro is supporting the electrification of the film industry and has been helping communities, from Maple Ridge to the City of Vancouver, introduce clean power kiosks to a planned 20 locations across the Lower Mainland. But there is one studio in Langley that is setting the gold standard when it comes to sustainability on-set – Martini Film Studios.
Martini Studios’ ‘Martini Town’ is a 16-acre backlot set up that until recently, relied on four diesel generators emitting up to one ton of carbon each per day to power production’s fleet of trailers, lighting, and sets. This includes buildings designed with a New York theme, a movie theatre, a coffee shop, small town, city hall and diner. Martini Town has hosted more than 30 productions since it was built in 2021, including a dozen movies of the week and other large-scale productions including Schmigadoon, Kung Fu, and other yet-to-be released television series and feature films.
Beginning earlier this year, all Martini Film Studios properties became diesel generator-free zones after CleanBC and BC Hydro’s Low Carbon Electrification Program provided $280,000 in funding for energy-efficient upgrades, including replacing four diesel generators with film kiosks powered by BC Hydro’s 98 per cent renewable electricity.
Martini Studios commitment to sustainability does not stop there. Its facilities – from its stages to studios – are designed around energy efficiency, including motion-activated LED lighting, zoned heating and cooling, insulated soundstages, water efficient fixtures and waste diversion. The studio also boasts 22 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and solar panels, which were the final step in becoming a net zero carbon studio.
Beyond clean power and net zero carbon, part of Martini Film Studios commitment to sustainability is rescuing sets from completed productions. The diner and coffee shop facades at Martini Town along with a Boeing 767 interior have been repurposed and have a new life for other productions.
Martini Studios is now planning a major expansion, but this one will be built with sustainability in mind from the ground up. The goal is to make operations carbon net zero and for the expansion, Martini Studios plan to use CleanBC Commercial New Construction Energy Study funding with the hope of landing up to 50 per cent of the capital costs funding. The expansion will not only be powered by renewable electricity, but it will also expand the number of EV charging units on site to 80. The company owns and operates five EVs today, and a recent production on their site used 20 EVs – one of a series of steps towards climate action.
Because of its commitment to sustainability, BC Hydro has awarded Martini Studios a Clean Energy Champion. BC Hydro is accepting nominations from B.C. residents, businesses, municipalities, or Indigenous and community groups that have taken steps to lower their carbon footprint and adopt new clean energy technologies. If you or someone you know is a Clean Energy Champion, nominate them at bchydro.com/cleanenergychampions.
Quotes:
Josie Osborne, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation:
“We’re working to make the film and television industry in B.C. one of the greenest in North America and electrification is the script that will help get us there. Martini Film Studios is a part of an important sustainability movement across all sectors of the economy that will help us meet ambitious emissions reduction targets set out in our CleanBC plan.”
Chris O’Riley, President and CEO, BC Hydro:
“The film industry plays an important role in many lives, providing entertainment, sharing important stories and helping to broaden our horizons – and we recognize the significant role it plays in B.C.’s economy employing thousands of British Columbians. We are excited to help the industry transition to a more sustainable future, powered by clean electricity. Martini Film Studios is taking vital steps to reach net zero, and we admire their commitment to our shared goals. That’s why we have named them a Clean Energy Champion.”
Gemma Martini, Founder and CEO, Martini Film Studios:
“We built Martini Town two years ago, but up until recently, production would use up to four diesel generators to power their set lighting and fleet of trailers because we didn’t have sufficient power. Every generator produces up to one ton of carbon per day, and knowing we could do better, I started working with BC Hydro to fully electrify the site using funding from their Low Carbon Electrification Program. We are proud Martini Town is fully energized using clean power.”
Contact:
BC Hydro Media Relations
e. media@bchydro.com
p. 604 928 6468