How to guide for production design as an eco-cinematic tool

This toolkit is compiled and designed for user-friendly access for all industry members, in order to create environmentally friendly and sustainable awareness and promote sustainable perspectives.
​This eco-easter egg toolkit will follow the four key areas, namely 1 - set building and set-dressing, 2 - props, 3 - hair and make-up, 
4 - costume and wardrobe and 5 - production designs that are context-driven and character modelling behaviour.
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1. Set and set dressing  

  • Adding recycling bins and replacing regular bins with recycling bins.
  • Hang posters and signs with eco messages.
  • Add environmentally friendly barcodes/QR codes that audiences could scan and get redirected to green websites.
  • Use eco-product placement or green product placement. 
  • Put earth-friendly dishwashing soap and earth-friendly laundry soap on counters.
  • Show sustainable alternatives to objects found in the house, for instance, bamboo tissues, reusable water containers, etc. 
  • Show appliances with energy star labelling.
  • Show off eco-labels when applicable.
  • Use solar energy for outdoor fairy lights and patio lighting.
  • Have laundry drying on a clothesline.
  • Plants throughout the house: as decor and to reiterate air purification.
  • ​​Flowers and shrubs: use those that are indigenous to the show's fictional location.
  • Overall using sustainable, reusable or recyclable items as set dressing. 
  • Avoid using paper, plastic and polystyrene and other non-sustainable elements.
 
2. Props  

  • Characters using reusable grocery shopping canvas bags.
  • Driving electric cars, carpooling, using eco-conscious transport and riding bicycles. 
  • Characters putting food into reusable storage containers.
  • Characters using glass/metal straws.
  • Characters using reusable mugs and cutlery.
  • Having organic and vegetarian or vegan meals/produce.
  • Show labelled organic products on the kitchen counter, offices and school.
  • Reusable coffee cups, reusable food containers and reusable lunch bags.
  • Use eco-product or green product props. 
  • Same as above - overall, using organic, sustainable, reusable or recyclable items as props. 
  • Avoid using paper, plastic and polystyrene and other non-sustainable elements.
 
3. Hair and makeup  
  • Characters using vegan and cruelty-free brands.
  • Characters avoid non-sustainable hair and make-up tools and accessories. 
  • Characters having culture appropriate hairstyles - showing the natural texture of certain hair types. 

4. Wardrobe and costume  
  • Characters using vegan and cruelty-free brands.
  • Characters wearing t-shirts with green slogans.
  • Wearing sustainable and organic outfits.
  • Showing costumes that are inspired by nature.
 
5. Production designs that are context-driven and character modelling behaviour.  
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  • Turn off lights when leaving the room.
  • Donate to charities, shelters, schools etc.
  • Buy organic food and other products from farmer's markets or health food stores.
  • Turn off the water when brushing teeth, and washing dishes.
  • Volunteer for environmental and social causes.
  • Throwing away recyclables and sorting items into different trash bins.
  • Picking up trash/not throwing trash on the ground.
  • Not harming animals and promoting conservational practises - for instance, do not harm spiders.

By using this Eco-easter egg toolkit as a starting point for film productions, as well as incorporating creative zoomorphic- and solarpunk aesthetics, filmmakers, could create environmental agendas within their films, which have the possibility to create environmental awareness and promote the audience's sustainable behaviour and eco-conscious perspectives.