Mayor of Montréal underscores the initiative during trade mission to Los Angeles

To enhance the excellence of Québec’s audiovisual production industry, Quebecor, via its subsidiaries MELS and TVA, along with the Quebec Film and Television Council (QFTC), in conjunction with the Conseil québécois des événements environmentally responsible (CQEER), today launched Rolling Green, an action plan to accelerate the shift towards environmentally responsible audiovisual production in Québec. The unifying project has the support of all major industry players and will reinforce Québec’s positioning in international markets. Montréal Mayor Valérie Plante, currently in Los Angeles to promote Montréal’s movie industry, took the opportunity to inform American producers of the creation of Rolling Green.

The audiovisual production industry has a significant environmental impact, including the effects of soundstage operations, energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and waste. The environmental action plan will reduce the Québec film and television industry’s environmental footprint and make it a leader in green audiovisual production, joining the ranks of major studios in Western Canada, the U.S., France and Australia.

 Our industry will be able to meet the growing local demand for environmentally responsible productions and stand out internationally, as sustainability is becoming an important criterion for foreign producers when choosing locations. This competitive edge will complement our industry’s many internationally recognized advantages, such as our highly qualified labour force, our wide-ranging expertise, our facilities and the favourable economics of filming in Québec,  says Pierre Moreau, CEO of the QFTC.

As a major player in film and television production, through MELS and TVA, we are proud to launch Rolling Green, a project that will reduce our environmental footprint, motivate our employees and attract more foreign productions to our film stages. I am confident that, with the participation of all industry players, we will have a positive economic, environmental and social impact

 I’m very proud to see that Montréal’s film and television industry is so dynamic and proactive. The entire industry’s active support for the Rolling Green project launched by Quebecor and the QFTC will help position Montréal as a centre of environmentally responsible audiovisual production, which aligns with our commitment to make Montréal a green city driven by sustainable development. I fully support this exemplary initiative!  commented Montréal Mayor Valérie Plante.

The major industry players supporting Rolling Green include the Alliance québécoise des techniciens et techniciennes de l’image et du son (AQTIS), the Association québécoise de la production médiatique (AQPM), the Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) Québec, IATSE 514 and IATSE 667, and the Institut national de l’image et du son (INIS).

Transforming practices through green initiatives

The project’s purpose is to promote the adoption of environmentally responsible practices in all aspects of audiovisual production in Québec, starting in 2019.

Action priorities

• Equip the industry by developing resources, including a complete guide, to support environmentally responsible practices for productions filmed in Québec
• Engage the players in Québec's audiovisual industry by creating an advisory committee tasked with promoting environmental responsibility
• Educate industry players by providing training and workshops
• Communicate through, among other things, a microsite that brings together all Rolling Green resources, information and activities.

Primary areas of involvement

• Transportation of goods and personnel
• Catering
• Set design and reclamation
• Energy and natural resource use
• Waste management