Reusing Sets for Greener Productions
Watching an action movie, it's hard to imagine that part of a film's set was last seen in a light-hearted, comedic-romance. But that's exactly what Sony Pictures Entertainment is doing with its set reuse program – a program that's good for the earth and fairly unique in the entertainment industry.
Who would have thought that a Vatican meeting room in "Angels & Demons" could be recreated into a bar for Screen Gems upcoming "Priest"?
With over 15,000 set pieces in storage, Sony Pictures' productions and other studios can choose from among sets and props used in a variety of movies and television shows. The practice of storing and leasing sets allows smaller-budget television shows to take advantage of a movies' intricate set design.
Any combination of a new and old set is a viable option. "The motion picture group and the TV group cross utilize the scenery; no one else does that," says Michael Holt, senior VP at Beachwood Services, the production support organization that stores Sony Pictures' sets. In addition, a select group of studios and production companies outside the Sony group can also lease sets. For example, a beach house in the comedy "Something's Gotta Give" was transformed into the set of the TV drama "Huff."
Luckily for directors and set designers, they needn't go to the warehouse and browse in person, as the many thousands of set pieces are meticulously cataloged online by Beachwood Services. Using this system, repurposing old sets can be as simple as a new coat of paint, according to Holt.
The reuse of television sets began for SPE in 1990, and film sets joined the practice in 2001. In 2009, a total of 8,559 pieces were reused. The extensive set reuse resulted in an estimated savings of over one-million pounds of material when compared to building those sets from scratch. In addition to its environmental benefits, the set reuse program is also a cost-saving boon as it helps avoid additional construction and materials costs.
On the Sony Lot, one permanent set remains a symbol of reuse and is remarkable for its many transformations. Screen Gems constructed a structure on Stage 23 a few years ago which has been transformed into everything from funeral home in Death at a Funeral to a burlesque club in Burlesque. The core – a steel skeleton – stays in place while walls and decor are reconfigured around it. The Roommate, Quarantine, and Obsessed are examples of other movies filmed on this set.
Unfortunately, sets do not last forever. "We keep track of the history of each piece of scenery. If we have not used it in the last 18 months then we either donate it or recycle it, depending on the integrity of the piece," says Holt. Over the years, SPE has donated over a thousand tons of props and set material to Habitat for Humanity. A portion of those materials is sold in Habitat for Humanity Home Improvement Outlets or is used locally for building new homes.
By applying the fundamental green mantra – reduce, reuse, and recycle – it's a step in the right direction.
