Greenlit (2010)

This documentary shows a real-life attempt at making a film set more environmentally friendly. It is very realistic, showing that making anything more green is challenging. Producer Miranda Bailey faces uncooperative crew members and challenges that show how negatively film production impacts the environment and how hard it is to fix that. I came away surprised at how negatively production impacts the environment and surprised that members of the production team weren't more caring. Unlike most environmental documentaries that are often accusatory, demanding that people do more, this film really shows how difficult that is in reality, while at the same time makes you want to do more for the environment.

With the huge trend of "going green" among individual members of the entertainment industry and in Hollywood, Miranda Bailey goes one step further in trying to apply this environmentally- friendly mentality to a film production. Though the steps to accomplishing a green film seem feasible, actually imposing them turn out to be more difficult than expected. In the hectic fast-paced environment of on-set production, the crew seemed frustrated to take the conservational measures agreed upon. They saw them more as a hindrance than a help, which shows how most people think about taking these steps. However, the fact that the crew did make more of an effort and did decrease their environmental waste was inspiring and encouraging. After seeing this movie, you will be convinced that being a little more attentive and making little changes in everyday habits will end up making a difference.

In an ever-present debate regarding the impact humans have on the environment; 'Greenlit' puts the previously overlooked film industry under an eco-friendly microscope. Director Miranda Bailey sets forth on a journey to turn a film production into a green, environmentally friendly operation, attempting to answer the question of what it means to be "green" on a film set and if it a feasible goal for Hollywood to trade in the old ways for the new. Bailey is a quirky, entertaining host who guides the documentary through a crew who is less-than-enthusiastic about the additional steps it requires to stay environmentally friendly in the eyes of the eco-warrior Lauren Selman, the sets environmental consultant. Facing internal sabotage and self-doubt, Selman and Bailey make a valiant effort to create a more aware crew and confront the looming low-budget woes which cause film crews to disregard their environment impact. The documentary sheds light on an issue previously not discussed and uses interviews with cast, crew and members of the community to illustrate an inconvenient truth; it's not easy being green. The film is thoughtful, unique and a must-see for any filmmakers attempting to minimize their carbon footprint.

Greenlit is a solid documentary that not only illustrates the hypocrisy of the film industry when it comes to being environmentally conscious, but also does an excellent job of illustrating the challenges of creating a green set. By interviewing members of the cast and crew, the doc shows how they want to be green, but don't really want to alter their own habits to do it. Despite the great content, Greenlit struggled to find it's voice. At times the film dragged a lot and some elements of comedy fell flat. The narrative was a bit inconsistent and it wasn't entirely clear how successful they were at making a green film. Overall, however, this was a worthy documentary that did a fine job of presenting a problem and the hypocrisy that surrounds it.