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Emerging Producer's Guide

Climate Action for Emerging Producers and Low-Budget Productions


Proudly supported by TELUS Local Content, Reel Green at Creative BC, Ontario Green Screen at Ontario Creates, and the Independent Production Fund.

Climate change connects everything we care about, and if you’re reading this guide, we’re betting you agree.

We are proud to bring you this guide specifically made for emerging and pre-emerging content creators and producers working on micro- and low-budget content. You may be taking your first steps into content creation or on your 10th film. Whether this is a future career for you or your storytelling supports other work that you do, the information in this guide has been created to help you green the screen.

Every action you take contributes to the future viability of our shared creative industry and our planet. Let’s make sustainable production the new normal of how we make content in Canada.


How to Use This Guide

This guide can be navigated and explored through the chapters on the left, which can be read in any order. Helpful templates, articles and case studies can be found in our Knowledge Hub, and additional resources and tips can be found in our guide "Greening the Screen".

Our video "The Future of Filmmaking" features independent producers Smiely Khurana, Alyssa Kostello, Jaime Leigh Gianopolous and Chris Spencer, who give their unique perspectives on being a sustainable emerging filmmaker.


Honouring Indigenous Wisdom

As we embark on our journey toward sustainable content creation, we acknowledge and honour the profound wisdom and knowledge of Indigenous peoples. For millennia, the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples of Turtle Island have lived in deep connection with the land, understanding the intricate balance of ecosystems and the importance of reciprocity with nature. Their traditional knowledge - rooted in generations of observation, stories, and cultural practices - holds invaluable wisdom for protecting our planet. This wisdom is not just historical; it is living, dynamic, and essential for forging a path forward together, walking side by side, in our industry and for Canada as a whole.

The western frameworks often used in discussions of sustainability have not always adequately acknowledged or respected Indigenous perspectives, which are about balance, communication, and relationship building. We are committed taking the time needed to rectify this and to building genuine relationships with Indigenous communities. Therefore, we approach this guide with humility and a sincere desire to work with and learn from Indigenous voices to ensure their perspectives are integrated into our practices.

As you explore this guide, we invite you to seek out and learn from Indigenous teachings on sustainability and to stay up to date on the industry best practices set forward by the Indigenous Screen Office in the On-Screen Protocols and Pathways. By honoring and incorporating this wisdom, we can create a more just, equitable, and sustainable future for all.

Acknowledgments

Proudly supported by TELUS Local Content
Supported by:
Reel Green at Creative BCOntario Green ScreenIndependent Production Fund
Greening the Screen: The Future of Filmmaking”  is made possible with funding from TELUS and is available for free on TELUS Optik TV and Youtube.

This guide was written by Marsha Newbery and Angelica Siegel. 

Thank you to T Bannister, Jennifer Park, Cameron Zinger, Amanda Wong, Katharine Pavoni, Justin Barnes, Mark Shapland, Jessica Jennings, Justin Cutler, Cynthia Lynch, Smiely Khurana, Alyssa Kostello, Christopher Spencer, Jaime Gianopoulos, Ursula Galvao, Gail Starr and Lucy Crow for your generous contributions.

Download the guide