Under the guidance of eco-entertainment organization Reality of Change and the environmental non-profit Rare, an advisory committee consisting of over 30 leading unscripted production companies announced a groundbreaking roadmap and pledge to support environmental sustainability both on-screen and behind the scenes.
Assembled in 2024 under the direction of Cyle Zezo, Reality of Change Founder, and Ellis Watamanuk, Senior Director of Rare’s Entertainment Lab, the advisory committee’s mission is to lead the unscripted industry by example to encourage positive environmental practices, respond to a changing business reality, and address the needs and demands of an increasingly engaged and informed audience.
Influential figures from across the unscripted community have pledged to evolve their practices in three key areas: production, programming and industry engagement. To address production needs, they will continue to evaluate and evolve their processes to reduce waste, minimize emissions and maximize efficiency. For programming, they will look for opportunities to incorporate entertaining sustainability themes and solutions on-screen that inspire positive behaviors and respond to the growing demands of audiences. By engaging with their peers and the industry at large, the producers will contribute to an overall culture of sustainability and support the health of the unscripted business sector in the U.S.
The advisory committee has identified key resources and outlined initiatives to be developed and rolled out to the unscripted sector by Reality of Change and Rare. These include shared written materials detailing guidelines and best practices for integrating sustainability into production and content; workshops and training programs; and avenues for on-going dialogue, collaboration and knowledge sharing to benefit the unscripted sector as a whole.
Members of the 2024 Advisory Committee who participated in this work include:
44 Blue Productions, Alfred Street Industries, APG Pictures, Back Roads Entertainment, Blind Nil, Boardwalk Pictures, Common Ground Studios, Critical Content, DAT’s Entertainment, Fremantle North America, Fulwell Entertainment, Intuitive Content, Jolly Octopus Entertainment, Lighthearted Entertainment, Magic Lemonade, Margot Station, MFP Inc, MGM Alternative, Evolution Media (an Amazon MGM Studios Company), Mission Control Media, MorningStar Entertainment, Range Studios, Scout Productions, Inc., Sony Pictures Television’s The Intellectual Property Corporation, Unger Media, Velvet Hammer Media (VHM), Village Roadshow Entertainment Group, Warner Bros. Unscripted Television, Wrigley Media Group, as well as key executives formerly of Participant.
The inaugural advisory committee members invite other production companies and creative professionals from across the wider unscripted sector to join them in meeting this critical moment. To learn more, go to: www.realityofchange.com/action
Here is a digital version of the tip sheet we shared for framing climate & sustainability within non-scripted television, including ROC’s ABCs of Climate Storytelling and advice from Rare on how to incorporate high-impact sustainability behaviors into new and existing shows: