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On Monday 12 December 2022, we were delighted to have sustainable production experts Steve Smith and Ellie Ashton join us for our sixth live broadcast in partnership with Speakers for Schools. It was free to attend, available for all UK secondary schools and was aimed specifically at KS3-5/S1-6.
Both guests shared their experiences of sustainble filmmaking, discussed how to tell stories about climate change, and gave an insight into new green job opportunities for young people wanting to work in the film and TV industry. They also explored the new Into Film resource Our Generation vs Climate Change, which is linked to Steve's documentary, The People vs Climate Change (available to watch for free* on Into Film+). Plus, the audience of young people were able to send their own questions to Steve and Ellie at the end of the Q&A.
The event was a huge success, with 18 schools registering and 392 young people attending from across the UK. Discover more about it below and watch a full recording over on the Speakers for Schools website.
It was such a pleasure being able to inspire the next generation by talking about some of the new green job opportunities becoming available within the film and TV industry. We believe the screen industries offer the best opportunity to tackle the climate crisis.
Steve Smith, Executive Producer and Sustainable Production Consultant at Picture Zero Productions
Steve Smith is the Executive Producer and Sustainable Production Consultant at Picture Zero Productions, and created and produced The People vs Climate Change, which was first broadcast on BBC 2 in November 2021. Steve is also a BAFTA award winning television director with over 30 years production experience in which he's directed, produced and executive produced shows, working on a wide range of programmes across a number of genres. He is best known for his work on The Graham Norton Show, which he directed for 22 years.
Ellie Ashton is a Production Sustainability Advisor based in Cardiff, Wales. Ellie implements the vision and resources of Welsh sustainability initiatives within the context of a large-scale tentpole production, working with the crew to develop sustainable practices that will generate long-lasting change within the industry.
Steve commented on the event and his hopes for a more green industry; "Imagine an optimistic, transformative TV industry at a time of climate and environmental crisis. That's what we were trying to do in our recent Speakers for Schools broadcast talk. It was such a pleasure being able to inspire the next generation by talking about some of the new green job opportunities becoming available within the film and TV industry. We believe the screen industries offer the best opportunity to tackle the climate crisis. We can reach audiences with content that helps everyone understand and navigate the path to net zero, and inspires them to make greener choices. That's what I think is going to so exciting and we need new entrants to the industry to commit to do just that".
In the meantime, can you make some pledges. Can you lead with a personal climate action? Can you build environmental considerations into decision making? Can you champion climate action at your school?
To watch our other Speakers for Schools sessions and discover more about Into Film's careers-focused activity, head to our Careers in Film and Screen Industries page.
* Screenings for an entertainment or extra-curricular purpose require a PVS (Public Video Screening) Licence from Filmbankmedia. State-funded schools in England are covered by the PVS Licence.
Into Film and the Into Film+ streaming service is supported by the UK film industry through Cinema First and the BFI through National Lottery Funding, thanks to National Lottery players.
