Ripple Effect
By Zena Harris, Founder & President, Green Spark Group
One of the things we joke about is that we have our fingers in many aspects of the entertainment industry. Reflecting on our 10 years in business, we see how our work has touched many people and companies and inspired action. It is genuinely humbling to see how our small company has influenced the film and TV industry in one way or another.
The Green Spark Group team at our 2024 Fall Retreat.
Our journey started by working directly with productions in Vancouver, BC, and realizing that sustainability in the industry wouldn’t take hold unless multiple stakeholders were involved – we needed a coordinated effort, and to work together. I cannot express how thrilling it was to work closely with the team at Creative BC and local industry companies and revamp Reel Green from an online website to a full-fledged industry program. So much has rippled out of those early days of industry engagement, from training and general meetings for all in the industry, to the cumulative celebration of these efforts at the Sustainable Production Forum each year.
Zena speaking on the “Idea Boost” panel at SPF24. Photo Credit: Geoff George | SPF24 Toronto
This groundbreaking work in BC has since served as a model for other Canadian provinces and territories and US states. In the last 10 years, GSG has become a force multiplier by helping others start their programs and creating pathways for engagement with their local industry around sustainability.
The wonderful thing about consulting is that we have the opportunity to work with many different types of companies and on various projects. We work on micro and mega projects with small companies and giant corporations and draw on all this experience to serve our clients.
As we gained more experience and understanding of the film and TV industry over the years, it became clear that strengthening sustainability knowledge across the value chain was significant. Over the years, we have led master classes with film students, spoken on panels, engaged suppliers, created courses and certifications, and developed corporate strategies, which have moved the needle closer to industry sustainability.
The Amazon MGM Studios Ascend SPEC cohort on their last day of training at SPF24. Photo Credit: Geoff George | SPF24 Toronto
Our team is part of many stories and projects – some exciting progressive projects, some challenging and frustrating. We worked with the most amazing champions for sustainability and folks who hindered progress. We focused on changing the narrative over the years from the idea that sustainability is sorting waste to one where sustainability is all-encompassing, awesome, and inspiring, where everyone is engaged and approaches their work through a sustainable lens. And we’re not finished. We’re only scratching the surface, there’s so much more to do.
When thinking about the last decade and how the industry has evolved, we see the ripple effect of our work. We witness inspired actions, dramatic change, and the evolution of those we work with throughout the industry, succeeding in their new roles and responsibilities. It’s motivating and keeps our mission in focus. It’s all doable in any market. Changing the climate of entertainment is possible, and we’re working on it every day.
The next decade of our work includes creating more ripples by working in other entertainment segments, in more markets, and with more partners. It is realizing our growth strategy and challenging ourselves as an organization.
Have you engaged with GSG over the years or been inspired by the work we’ve contributed to? Let us know your story. We love hearing from people who are out there doing great work and if we’ve inspired you in some way.
