Beyond Greenwashed Protocols: The Reconversion of Existing Modes of Representation as a New Possible Approach to the Cutback of the Documentary Film’s Environmental Footprint

digital

Article

Magazine

Fascicle

COMUNICAZIONI SOCIALI - 2022 - 2. Sustainable Screenings: Economic, Touristic and Cultural Impact of Audiovisual Productions on the Host Locations in the Post-Lockdown Era

Title

Beyond Greenwashed Protocols: The Reconversion of Existing Modes of Representation as a New Possible Approach to the Cutback of the Documentary Film’s Environmental Footprint

Author

Cristina Formenti

Publisher

Vita e Pensiero

Format

Article |

Pdf

Online from

11-2022

Doi

10.26350/001200_000156

Issn

0392-8667 (print) | 1827-7969 (digital)

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In the last two decades, with climate change and its negative consequences becoming increasingly visible, we have witnessed a flourishing of documentary films focusing on environmental issues. Looking at these productions from an ecomaterialist perspective, the essay first underlines how, surprisingly, they have a substantial environmental footprint that is at odds with their contents. Indeed, for a documentary to be deemed sustainable it is often considered sufficient that it addresses environmental issues or encourages eco-friendly practices, even if, in order to do so, ecosystems and environments that are already in a condition of fragility are ‘invaded’. The essay then suggests that moving forward, for nonfiction films that do not harm their host location to start seeing the light, environmentally sustainable modes of documentary representation should start being identified. More precisely, it is argued that ‘reconverting’ practices that already are part of contemporary documentary filmmaking at an environmental end could be a first step in this direction. In particular, the essay underscores how archival and crowdsourced materials and animated segments could be employed to reduce the travel-related carbon emissions of documentary productions.