Green Filmmaking and Studio Worm Farms

Visiting a country like New Zealand both reconnected me with nature and reminded me of all the beauty there is in the world. I'm a nature girl and not afraid to admit that I'm a passionate tree-hugger. In fact, I joked that I would need a separate photo album for all the TREES of New Zealand I've taken since I took more photos of trees than anything else.

For me, there's no greater pleasure than traipsing through nature's playground. When I was about twelve, I read and re-read a book called "50 Simple Things Kids Can Do To Save The World." I followed every tip and every guideline. I planted lettuce in my backyard, I recycled everything, and to my parent's chagrin, I even made my own recycled paper (utilizing the family blender.) From then on, smoothies made in that blender always had an extra boost of "pulp"-and we're not talking pulp of the fruit variety. Unfortunately, I didn't save the world, but I didn't fail either. I did my part, and I continue to investigate ways that I can increase my participation in saving the world.

Of course, An Inconvenient Truth showed all the naysayers that environmentalism isn't dead and tree huggers can, in fact, be cool. When I visited South Pacific Pictures http://www.spp.co.nz/ in Auckland, New Zealand, I was amazed to hear the Studio Manager there mention that they had a "worm farm" right there on the studio lot.

"A worm farm?", I thought in amazement. Imagine pitching that idea to Paramount or Universal or any of the major studio lots here in Los Angeles. They'd be more likely to greenlight Waterworld 2: Investigating Mars or something like that. Not only did South Pacific Pictures boast a worm farm, but they were ecologically-conscious every step of the way in their approach toward filmmaking and they are looking toward becoming a "zero carbon emissions" studio.