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Saving the Earth, One Film Shoot at a Time

by Zoe Strimpel
Tue, 5 Feb 2008 at 1:11 PM

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Emma Thompson this morning joined fellow actor Alistair McGowan, Mayor Ken Livingstone, and the head of the Film London agency, Adrian Wootton, to launch a campaign, titled Green Screen London, to make filming in London greener.

There was much guff about "cutting climate change emissions in the capital" and how film production companies have an "important role to play in helping address the challenge of climate change." But the proposals on the table could be described as, at best, helping to make the tiniest of drops in the vastest of oceans. And, in this blogger's opinion, they were typical of the showy environmental sanctimoniousness that actors and other glamorous types have been embracing lately.

Ms. Thompson — though it was a pleasure to see her so close and personal — is, sadly, not exempt. She got up there next to Mayor Livingstone, in front of the crush of journalists and photographers, and vowed not to use Winnebagos anymore ("we're hardly ever in them"); not to drink so much bottled water; to use a personal mug instead of Styrofoam cups, and to car-share to set, which she said ought to be possible, since she lives next door to Imelda Staunton. "I feel saintly," she added. Mr. McGowan noted that the only borough in London without a recycling scheme is Walford, the fictional locale in the popular TV drama "EastEnders." He thought introducing one would be a good way to reach the show's 11 million viewers.

As for funding, the mayor admitted to putting only £25,000 behind Green Screen London. And what is he most looking forward to changing through the campaign? "Lighting." Looks like the Earth might have to be saved some other way, then.

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