This February, Show Your Love for Two Sustainable Rom-Coms

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, released in the U.S. on Peacock on February 13 and internationally in theaters by Universal Pictures on February 14, showed love for sustainability.

The production team prioritized using grid electricity where possible, and when filming on stage at Sky Studios Elstree and on location at Film London’s Victoria Park grid tie (funded in part by NBCUniversal) 100% of the electricity used was matched with renewables. When grid power was inaccessible, they relied on sixteen battery units and generators fueled by renewable diesel, a sustainable alternative to diesel fuel that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90%. 

^{Film London, Universal Production Services, and other representatives at the opening of the Victoria Park grid tie. Photo credit: Film London}

The crew used electric and hybrid vehicles to get around London and harnessed solar power for portable restrooms and a hybrid generator. All of these actions combined avoided approximately 44%* of the production’s Scope 1 & 2 emissions – cutting the carbon footprint nearly in half.

The production also reused props and brought back familiar wardrobe from previous films, embracing circular fashion and set design. Props and costumes that could be donated at the end of production were given to local charities and organizations including Sterts Theatre, Salvation Army, WRAP, and No Floor No More.  

Love Hurts

Love Hurts, released in theaters on February 7, follows Oscar® winner Ke Huy Quan as a seemingly mild-mannered realtor who is desperate to escape his past. 

The production team upgraded the electrical infrastructure at the stages in Winnipeg, allowing Love Hurts and future productions to utilize clean hydropower from the local electricity grid instead of large fuel-powered generators. When filming on location, the crew rented a hybrid generator to power the set, which cut associated fuel usage (and spend) in half. The crew held a training workshop on this new technology as it was the first unit to become available in Manitoba and has since been used on several other film & TV shows. 

^{Love Hurts crew members were the first to use a large hybrid generator in the Manitoba region}

The team also prioritized recycling, donations, buybacks, and reuse to keep as much waste as possible out of landfills. In the construction department, this resulted in a donation of over $15,000-worth of wood and other materials to Habitat for Humanity. Additional donations were made to Sunshine House, Oyate Tipi, Centre Falvie, Harvest Manitoba, and other local charities.

Both Love Hurts and Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy prove that sustainable choices can have a positive impact when making a film.

*Emission avoided based the production’s Scope 1+2 carbon footprint, including usage of clean electricity, fuel from renewable (HVO) sources, hybrid & electric vehicles, and battery-powered technology, compared to a pro-forma Scope 1+2 carbon footprint calculated with 100% grid electricity, no renewable fuels, standard vehicles, and fossil-fuel-powered technology.