The unseen environmental cost of a fleeting film set

As you pass the popcorn or settle in to binge a new series, the carbon footprint of the on-screen world is unlikely to be at the front of your mind. But the reality is that, like many industries, film and television production can be startlingly resource-hungry. Part army, part circus, freelance film crews mobilize to set up base after little more than a few phone calls. They swiftly begin sourcing and building everything they need to realize the script—be it camera rigs, prosthetic noses, virtual environments or, increasingly, AI assets.