Producing for the Planet Announces New Canadian Climate Change Coalition for Independent Media Producers
February 2, 2024
Over 40 producers countrywide join forces and commit to act on climate change
VANCOUVER, BC, February 2, 2024 – Producing for the Planet, a first-of-its-kind Canadian climate change initiative for the motion picture and screen-based industries, was announced today at the CMPA’s Prime Time conference. A coalition of Canadian independent media producers, this new industry initiative will empower producers in taking measurable action against climate change through collaboration, resource and knowledge sharing, formal commitments, and annual reporting.
As producers face a tidal wave of growing pressure to be sustainable, Producing for the Planet unites producers from across the country, including some of the industry’s most influential companies, in their mission to make the Canadian media industry a leading force for positive environmental change. The producer-led coalition will focus on accelerating the adoption of sustainable production practices as well as the production of sustainability-focused content that inspires action and informs audiences.
“Producers face many barriers to changing business-as-usual practices, yet change we must. We believe that by working together and making formal commitments to act, we can accelerate the pace at which our industry adopts green practices on screen and off,” said Marsha Newbery, Founder and Executive Director, Producing for the Planet and VP, Sustainability & Business Affairs, Thunderbird Entertainment. “It’s every producer’s responsibility to operate sustainably, and we invite producers of all sizes and genres, from across the country, to join us in our mission to drive the decarbonization of our industry.”
Producers joining the coalition make a formal commitment to take action against climate change in four priority areas and to report on outcomes that will be shared in an annual impact report. Key areas include:
- Action on Screen – Placing an emphasis on the creation of sustainability-related stories with the goal of helping audiences worldwide gain a stronger understanding of the current climate crisis.
- Action on Emissions – Committing to seizing opportunities to adopt best practices for emissions reductions in production and corporate operations.
- Action on Waste – Committing to a reduction in the use of materials and landfill waste.
- Collective Action - Collaboration, shared learning and a collective commitment among producers and industry stakeholders.
The full list of committed producers who have joined Producing for the Planet as of today’s announcement include: 9 Story Media Group, Amaze Films, Attraction, Banger Films, Blink49 Studios, Blue Ant Media, Boat Rocker Media, Cedar Island Films, Cineflix Media, Conquering Lion Pictures, Cream Productions, Eagle Vision, eOne Canada, Frantic Films, Good Measure Productions, Great Pacific Media, Idéacom International, IOM Media, Iylond Entertainment, Kickstart Entertainment, KOTV, Lark Productions, Muse Entertainment, New Metric Media, Nomadic Pictures, Omnifilm Entertainment, Panoramic Pictures, Pier 21 Films, Prairie Dog Film + Television, Quadrant Motion Pictures, Remembrance Pictures, Screen Siren Pictures, Seven 24 Films, Shaftesbury, Shut Up & Colour Pictures, Sphere Media, Thunderbird Entertainment, Wango Films, Wildbrain and Wind Sun Sky.
"Being sustainable is part of how we remain a world-class and resilient industry and Blue Ant could not be more proud to lend its voice to the need for urgent action on climate change,” said Mark Bishop, Co-President, Blue Ant Studios.
"Leading on climate action is both an opportunity and a responsibility. At Thunderbird, we want to be part of the solution and inspire others to join us in creating a sustainable production industry," said Sarah Nathanson, COO & GC, Thunderbird Entertainment.
“There is nothing greater facing humanity than the challenge of climate change,” said Christina Jennings, Chairman and President, Shaftesbury. “As leaders in the industry, we can force change. For the last two years, Shaftesbury has pushed this agenda at Murdoch Mysteries and are starting to see positive results. In 2024, we are committing to extend this initiative across all of our productions – whether on screen examples or behind the scenes efficiencies. We look to our fellow industry partners to join us in this urgent initiative.”
“Joining this strong coalition of producers across Canada to take real and critically needed action against climate change is a priority for Cineflix Media. Together, we can make meaningful contributions towards a more sustainable future for our industry and the planet,” said Dina Appleton, EVP, Global Business and Legal Affairs, Cineflix Media.
”By joining the Producing for the Planet coalition, Sphere, one of the leading production companies in Canada, aims to commit to working in the same direction as around forty other producers to contribute to the decarbonization of our industry. We are confident that together, we can make a real difference.” Said Bruno Dube, CEO and Executive Producer, Sphere Media.
"We've joined Producing for the Planet because we want our productions and stories to do their part to protect the environment we all depend on," said Damon D'Oliviera, President, Conquering Lion Pictures.
“We, at Muse, are excited about this initiative and the prospect of learning and sharing, actionable, sustainable changes in the way we produce our content. Changes that will positively impact our planet and its inhabitants,” said Aren Prupas, CEO, Muse Entertainment.
Producing for the Planet’s first project, launching in the spring, will be a digital interactive Climate Action Producer Toolkit that will provide resources, tools, templates and best practices for producers to provide leadership on climate action at both the production and corporate level.
Producing for the Planet is grateful for the generous support of the Canada Media Fund, the CMPA, Thunderbird Entertainment, Great Pacific Media, and Creative BC.
About Producing for the Planet
A Canadian coalition of independent media producers, Producing for the Planet’s mission is to meet the needs of the climate crisis through peer-to-peer collaboration, resource and knowledge sharing, formal commitments, and annual reporting within the motion picture and screen-based industries. They are led by the organization’s Board of Directors including Marsha Newbery, VP, Sustainability & Business Affairs, Thunderbird Entertainment, Lori Massini, SVP, Business & Legal Affairs, Thunderbird Entertainment, Dina Appleton, EVP, Global Business & Legal Affairs, Cineflix Media, and Andrew Williamson, Co-President, Cedar Island Films. Producing for the Planet’s work is guided by a Producer Steering Committee representing a spectrum of decision makers and sustainability leaders at some of Canada’s most influential companies in film, television, documentary and animation.
Media contact:
Julia Wilkinson
604-842-4945
julia@julialynnpr.com