As part of NBC Universal’s Green Week, FilmInFocus presents a special Five in Focus in which filmmakers offers greener ways to make movies.
Use Natural Light
Turn off the lights and work with natural light. Digital cameras are extremely light sensitive; you can reduce energy and chemical consumption by shooting digitally and using lights economically. Digitization of production implies a reduction of the crew, which impacts every other aspect of the film production (catering, transportation, etc.). Died Young Stayed Pretty was shot with existing and natural light only. I love Terrence Malick's films for this.
Solar Lighting
Make the large studio structures (i.e. production /VFX post-houses) greener, by creating green and solar roofs, passive solar lighting, efficient thermal systems, and hydro power (i.e. this model is used in computing, a lot of datacenters [collection of servers] are being located near dams, the combination of using hydro power, cooling from rivers and not having to stretch out power lines.)
Use Existing Locations
Use established locations wherever possible and minimize set construction---recycle demolition waste from set after end of production, possibly put back into some sort of material for the Art Department and/or the Special Effects Department.
Digitize Distribution
Digitize the distribution process, promote virally, and use new technologies to distribute online. Use alternate spaces for public screenings and directly target your audience-reducing P&A materials. Distribute films digitally to targeted theaters, eliminating print duplication and shipping. I worked with specific audiences and organizations to spread the word about upcoming screenings for Died Young Stayed Pretty 's theatrical.
Robots
Finally, have Robots as the executives programmed to run "Green" productions.
Iranian-born Canadian filmmaker Eileen Yaghoobian has spent the past four years shooting her first, full-length documentary film Died Young, Stayed Pretty, a candid look at the underground poster culture in North America. Yaghoobian's formal training in filmmaking, 3D animation, theatre, and photography provided a foundation for her diverse career as a director, production designer, and set decorator for numerous independent productions in Canada and the United States. Yaghoobian's short films and videos have screened at national and international festivals as well as art exhibitions. Her still photography can be found in the permanent collections at the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film; the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris; and Art Bank: Canada Council for the Arts, Ottawa. She recently directed Tennesse Williams' play The Night of the Iguana in Boston. Yaghoobian has just completed the prestigious Lincoln Center Director's Lab 2008 and is in the midst of developing a feature narrative for her next feature film.
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Pariah
Being Flynn
ParaNorman
The Debt
The Broken Tower
Flashback Feb 13, 2010 
Inside Our Movies 
