084: Sustainable Filmmaking & Production with Emellie O'Brien of Earth Angel Sets

084: Sustainable Filmmaking & Production with Emellie O'Brien of Earth Angel Sets

Author: Marjorie Alexander March 19, 2021 Duration: 53:49

Since Emellie O'Brien's first days in production, she knew there was a way for the role of sustainability on-set to go beyond basic waste management and recycling. She got her start at the NYU Tisch Film program and not long after graduation she landed her first job as a "Green Steward" with Big Beach Films in 2011. Her early years of dedication to green practices and passion for the environment on-set is what earned her the nickname "Earth Angel" from fellow crew members over the walkie, and to this day is still what production colleagues call her whenever she is on set. By 2013 EOB founded Earth Angel and turned it into a scalable model that has since inspired the entertainment industry and significantly reduced its environmental impact.

Earth Angel has helped films and series avoid 8,500 metric tons of greenhouse gases, divert over 4,800 tons of waste, and donate over 125,000 meals to the local communities. Their client roster includes The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Spielberg's The Post, Emmy-winner The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and Lin Manuel Miranda's In the Heights. Earth Angel is headquartered in New York with offices in Los Angeles and Atlanta.

 

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In this episode Marjorie and Emellie discuss:

  • What it's like to work on and run a film production with and without sustainability in mind
  • The type of research, stats, and projections that are considered when EA works with a production and what numbers are presented to the client at the end of a project
  • What happens to the materials that are not used up at the end of the production
  • What you should keep in mind when working with a company like Earth Angel and how you can make your production more sustainable on your own
  • How Covid has impacted the film industry and the way EA works with productions

Resources mentioned in today's episode:

 
 
Connect with Emellie and the Earth Angel Team:
 
 
Connect with Marjorie Alexander:

 

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Marjorie Alexander hosts A Sustainable Mind, a weekly conversation with people who are actively reshaping our relationship with the planet. This isn't a series of abstract lectures; it's built on the real-world experiences of environmental changemakers, from scientists and grassroots organizers to entrepreneurs and artists who put their values into practice. The discussions naturally weave through topics of science, culture, and society, reflecting the interconnected nature of sustainability itself. You’ll hear stories about the challenges and triumphs of creating change, whether that's launching an ethical business, advocating for policy, or rethinking daily consumption. The aim is to move beyond inspiration alone and into practical understanding, offering listeners a genuine sense of how action unfolds in different forms. Tuning into this podcast feels like joining a thoughtful, committed community where ideas are translated into tangible steps, all through the voices of those doing the work. It’s for anyone who has ever felt that curiosity about how to live and act more thoughtfully on the Earth and is looking for a grounded, human-centered place to start.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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