ECOLAB HELSINKI

Ecolab Helsinki wrapped up its first three day run last Wednesday. EcoLab Helsinki was an intensive 3-day training course for producers, line producers and production assistants, and was held in Helsinki from 17 to 19 February 2020. EcoLab Helsinki offered an opportunity for Finnish audiovisual professionals to learn how to make film and TV productions more sustainably. The participants were able to learn the basics of what green production means and how it got started, but also left with tangible tips and ideas on how they can integrate more sustainable practices on their own sets. Participants qualified for first-ever "Eco Crew" Certification, set their own targeted Sustainability goals, and built their respective Roadmaps on how to achieve their goals.

The course was led by Emellie O'Brien (Earthangel, US), an eco-consultant whose pioneering work can be seen in the sets of The Hunters, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel and Steven Spielberg's The Post. O'Brien is a pioneer in cutting edge sustainable production and an internationally renowned instructor whose mission is to share best sustainable practices with audiovisual professionals worldwide.  Her company's clients include HBO, Sony Pictures, Walt Disney and Netflix.

Kaisa Kaika Astikainen and Anne Puolanne, who wrote together Ekosetti, a practical guide to ecofriendly audiovisual production, were the local instructors on the course. Packed with hand on information Ekosetti was published last Autumn and is available free of charge for Finnish producers to download.  https://ekosetti.fi

Creative Export Innovations organized EcoLab Helsinki training as part of its Sustainable Production Models project. The main funder is the Ministry of Education and Culture Finland. More information about the project can be found in www.greenproduction.fi