Greenlit (2010) User Reviews

Enjoyable, easy-to-watch and very inspiring documentary that will not only change the perspective of filmmakers, but also anyone with a pair of lungs.

[luisperozo19 · 9/10 · 20 November 2013]

Miranda Bailey presents a straightforward issue with a complex solution - yes, a solution. The film dives straight into the problem and immediately introduces a first step into finding a remedy for the pollution caused by the filmmaking industry.

The film delves into the complications of making the film industry 'green.' Without beating around the bush, the filmmaker, Miranda Bailey makes it clear that it is not very simple and easy to 'green-up' the industry, but, also, that giving it a try won't affect the execution and quality of any film production. The pacing of the film is adequate and does its job in conveying a message that is intended leave a mark on the spectator with a very subtle touch.

A Fun and Insightful Look at the Environmental Impact of the Film Industry.

[K_Billy · 8/10 · 21 August 2014]

Greenlit is a great little documentary about the impact the film industry has on the environment. The movie chronicles the filmmaker herself, Miranda Bailey, during the making of a movie called "The River Why". The filmmakers hire an outside company to come in and help make their movie "Green" which ends up being quite the process. The green consultant who comes in helps the cast and crew of the movie recycle and implement different techniques to make the set more eco-friendly. Through this narrative, the movie manages to be both engaging and informative at the same time. This is what's great about the movie; that it is both a well made film as well as being an educational documentary. The movie definitely stays with you, showing the negative impact that things as seemingly insignificant as discarded plastic bottles have on the environment. It definitely makes you think twice about some of your bad habits. For film enthusiasts and people in the industry, it strikes an even deeper chord, showing how much energy and material is wasted across film sets every day. Most of the techniques used by the green consultant for the film shoot aren't that difficult to do, most as simple as separating trash from recycling. However, the movie is keen to show that just one individual's mistake can ruin the entire process. The film does an excellent job at reminding us that the biggest impact on the environment comes from the smallest of personal habits.

Making the Film Industry Environmentally Responsible

[RodThompsonJr · 8/10 · 6 March 2014]

GreenLit turns the camera on the film industry to shed some light on the problems with productions trying to stay as environmentally friendly as possible.

Following film producer Miranda Bailey, this documentary visits the set of The River Why, as it attempts to film in an ecologically responsible way. Employing the help of environmental impact consultants, the cast and crew struggle to adhere to the policies set in place in order to be "green."

Miranda's willingness to learn and explore the avenues that a production company can utilize to reduce their impact on the environment is noteworthy. However, the overall sense of the crew seems to be that the "green" policies are more inconvenient than helpful.

The documentary turns to the waste management companies to get an inside look at the way our garbage is handled once it leaves our homes. Providing varying viewpoints throughout the film, we get a fairly wide representation of peoples' concerns about recycling.

Surprisingly, the results of the "green" efforts on set turn out to be rather impressive, as the final data is presented. The film highlights the exuberant and sometimes illogical waste in the industry, while also showing room for everyone to learn more about what they can do to make changes.

Overall, the message is clear. We can do better. We just need to start by making the small changes until we come to a point where we practice these habits naturally. GreenLit provides great examples, not only for filmmakers, but everyone to be more responsible with our environment.

Greening Hollywood

[MirandaBailey12 · 29 September 2011]

In an ever-present debate regarding the impact humans have on the environment; 'Greenlit' puts the previously overlooked film industry under an eco-friendly microscope. Director Miranda Bailey sets forth on a journey to turn a film production into a green, environmentally friendly operation, attempting to answer the question of what it means to be "green" on a film set and if it a feasible goal for Hollywood to trade in the old ways for the new. Bailey is a quirky, entertaining host who guides the documentary through a crew who is less-than-enthusiastic about the additional steps it requires to stay environmentally friendly in the eyes of the eco-warrior Lauren Selman, the sets environmental consultant. Facing internal sabotage and self-doubt, Selman and Bailey make a valiant effort to create a more aware crew and confront the looming low-budget woes which cause film crews to disregard their environment impact. The documentary sheds light on an issue previously not discussed and uses interviews with cast, crew and members of the community to illustrate an inconvenient truth; it's not easy being green. The film is thoughtful, unique and a must-see for any filmmakers attempting to minimize their carbon footprint.

Greenlit is a documentary about the process of making an independent film production "green"

[courtneyhardebeck · 9/10 · 11 April 2011]

Greenlit is an informative and eye-opening documentary. Despite its serious subject matter, the film is fun and entertaining. It points out how easy it is to make small life-style changes that will positively impact the environment, but it also brings attention to how challenging and overwhelming it can be to attempt to implement those changes on a lager scale. It is the first documentary that I have seen that attempts to show how the green movement affects the film industry and vise versa. It definitely made me think about my own recycling habits, and brought to light how much more I can do to help the environment. I would recommend it to a friend.

A Look Into The Film Industry's Impact on the Environment

[df-ambush · 8/10 · 6 March 2014]

Greenlit is an entertaining and enlightening look into the idea of going green, and the practicality of doing so. With so much focus nowadays on going green and keeping our planet clean, this is an excellent look into the possibilities of what would happen if everyone did their part in going green, and some of the realities and challenges faced when asked to do so. The movie follows the production of a feature film trying to maintain a green set. Through the course of the movie, director Miranda Bailey shows us why it is so important to do things like recycle, use re-usable water bottles, and make traveling as eco-friendly and efficient as possible. On the other hand, she shows us the realities of trying to implement these green goals on a film set, the effects it has on the crew, and the production itself. Presented in an entertaining and unbiased manner, there was never a moment that I felt that I was being preached to, yet made me want to take steps towards being a little greener. This is a movie anyone can enjoy and learn a lot from.

An honest and personal documentary about integrating "green" protocol in the filmmaking process

[jayjun1992 · 8/10 · 11 March 2014]

With the huge trend of "going green" among individual members of the entertainment industry and in Hollywood, Miranda Bailey goes one step further in trying to apply this environmentally- friendly mentality to a film production.

Though the steps to accomplishing a green film seem feasible, actually imposing them turn out to be more difficult than expected. In the hectic fast-paced environment of on-set production, the crew seemed frustrated to take the conservational measures agreed upon. They saw them more as a hindrance than a help, which shows how most people think about taking these steps.

However, the fact that the crew did make more of an effort and did decrease their environmental waste was inspiring and encouraging. After seeing this movie, you will be convinced that being a little more attentive and making little changes in everyday habits will end up making a difference.

Great doc

[mgndyer · 7/10 · 6 November 2012]

This was a really informative documentary that didn't take itself too seriously. I really enjoyed watching this movie. I had no idea the amount of waste that the film industry creates. It seems as if a lot of Hollywood stars are big supporters of creating a more green culture but that is not really practiced in their own industry. It was really interesting seeing the difficulty of making even one film more 'green'. But the film shows the complexities of creating a green set and how it can be more costly and make the jobs of the crew more difficult.

I would recommend to anyone who is interested in how films are made and those concerned with 'green' culture.

A very intelligent, informative and witty doc

[rockstarchi · 9/10 · 29 November 2010]

I saw Greenlit on VOD recently and I really appreciated the candid look at "greening" a film. Director, Miranda Bailey, follows the cast and crew of indie, The River Why, which she is also producing. The decision to green the set shows to be harder than it looks but every attempt is made to save the earth one film at a time. With the help of a green film consultant, we see their attempt to ditch water bottles for refillable ones, compost their garbage, and recycle everything. Miranda herself is a skeptic and her sense of humor shines through, making this doc a very real and relative tale of a widely ignored and important issue. Hopefully, more folks in Hollywood will see this than not and do their part to make a difference, no matter how small.

Thought-provoking

[a653694 · 7/10 · 14 August 2014]

This was recommended to me by a friend. I am a fairly well-known actor (username is fake obviously haha). On my last movie, I noticed how much trash was created by crafty and how much stuff really just goes to waste. i'm glad someone else also thought about this! Miranda approached it the right way but the green consultant girl did not. you have to understand that people on the set have jobs to do and those giant plastic water bottles are a HUGE pain in the ass, especially when you're shooting all day and no one wants to trust the jug water that's been sitting out since 6 a.m. there are BUGS in there. Other than that the producer's efforts to reduce trash seemed genuine, I just wish the green girl had been on another set previous to this one and could see how everything works before trying to change it and disrupt people's routines.

A documentary about an environmentally friendly film.

[erselya · 9/10 · 6 December 2013]

I thought this film posed a lot of great questions about how the film industry can be more green. I didn't realize what an impact the film industry has on pollution and this was very eyeopening. Overall, it was a really great look at the problems film industry professionals face when it comes to being environmentally friendly, especially low budget films. This documentary takes a unique approach since it follows the production of a low budget film, which poses the question: How can you be environmentally friendly with limited funds? It also discusses problems with some high profile films that were created and their impact on the environment. It's definitely worth watching and it will make you look at the process of filmmaking in a different way pertaining to environmental consciousness.

A Solid Doc

[bob020787 · 7/10 · 7 April 2011]

Greenlit is a solid documentary that not only illustrates the hypocrisy of the film industry when it comes to being environmentally conscious, but also does an excellent job of illustrating the challenges of creating a green set. By interviewing members of the cast and crew, the doc shows how they want to be green, but don't really want to alter their own habits to do it. Despite the great content, Greenlit struggled to find it's voice. At times the film dragged a lot and some elements of comedy fell flat. The narrative was a bit inconsistent and it wasn't entirely clear how successful they were at making a green film. Overall, however, this was a worthy documentary that did a fine job of presenting a problem and the hypocrisy that surrounds it.

Greenlit Review

[zfox2112 · 8/10 · 15 October 2014]

Greenlit subverts the eco-documentary by venturing into new territory: the film industry. Ever since An Inconvenient Truth, most films under the eco-documentary umbrella have focused on the devastating, yet broad focus of global warming and how we as humans are accelerating that devastation through our day-to-day lives. Greenlit is a microcosm of the genre, narrowing its gaze upon the environmental threat posed by the film and television business, far and away an unusual suspect when it comes to eco-docs.

Greenlit centers on the "green production" of an independent film, and the benefits and challenges that accompany this mode of production. Through the viewpoints of the cast and crew, a number of diversified opinions are delivered on the practicality, viability, and likelihood that Hollywood would adopt "green productions" as an industry standard. Altogether, the differing perspectives, as well as the insightful footage taken from the film set make for an objective analysis of the environmental impact of what is an otherwise overlooked institution of the contemporary environmental debate.

Been waiting for this for a while

[a654362 · 9/10 · 14 August 2014]

I usually hate Hollywood and everything it stands for so as you can imagine I was a little skeptical when my friend insisted I watch this movie. I was surprised to find that I loved it. It was objective and fair and even funny. Hollywood people usually congratulate themselves on being liberal and green when it's such a wasteful industry. I've been saying this for years and I'm glad they're finally looking to change their ways. Good on you. This documentary really raised awareness about how much waste the movie industry actually creates. Hopefully the old codgers like me who have been fighting for this since the 60s can share this movie with the younger kids and it will open their eyes to how much change we still have left to implement. Good for you, whoever thought of this movie, I think it will really help.

Indie Film Producer Miranda Bailey examines the issues and problems with keeping a film production "green"

[rod674 · 9/10 · 18 July 2012]

Very funny, original look at a topic that should be at the forefront of the green movement. As one of the largest producers of pollution in the environment, the film and TV industry has an obligation to open the doors to the production process and what effect it has on the environment. 'Greenlit' does just that, allowing the viewer to see the waste that results from a feature film's production (as well as the drama associated with trying to reduce that waste). This isn't the snooze fest that is An Inconvenient Truth. Rather, the problems associated with film production pollution are presented in a humorous yet educational manner. I didn't feel like I was learning something so much as I felt like I was taking in an entertaining movie

eye opening

[gfollari · 7/10 · 14 August 2014]

This documentary shows a real-life attempt at making a film set more environmentally friendly. It is very realistic, showing that making anything more green is challenging. Producer Miranda Bailey faces uncooperative crew members and challenges that show how negatively film production impacts the environment and how hard it is to fix that. I came away surprised at how negatively production impacts the environment and surprised that members of the production team weren't more caring. Unlike most environmental documentaries that are often accusatory, demanding that people do more, this film really shows how difficult that is in reality, while at the same time makes you want to do more for the environment.

Two Green Thumbs Up for Greenlit

[anicole-preston · 10/10 · 11 February 2013]

Greenlit is a documentary that opens your mind about waste and the film industry. Being one of the biggest moneymakers in the world, it also produces tons of waste. One might not realize the impact the film industry has on the public but it is absolutely enormous. It puts a lot in perspective seeing that watching films and television shows is something almost everyone does everyday. Greenlit is a funny and touching film that introduces the concept of the film industry going green. Miranda Bailey, the film's director, takes us on her journey to attempt making the film The River Why green. Bailey's voice-over is not only funny but also poignant. As the film goes on everyone realizes the it isn't easy being green, but if everyone just takes small steps it can make a big difference. This documentary is something everyone should see. It puts a lot of things in perspective. Greenlit is short, sweet, and to the point.

A Must See!!!

[annemail02 · 10/10 · 5 April 2011]

The film Greenlit illustrates very well how hard it is to be green on set. I find it very interesting that the film itself is not green, probably because they had a limited budget. Greenlit uses facts, interviews and B-Roll to drive home its main ideas. I thought the documentary did a very good job of showing both sides of the argument. The film also does an outstanding job of showing just how hard and expensive it is to make a smaller budget movie green. The movie follows it's director and star Miranda Bailey through the process of producing an independent feature as well as trying to make it green. Miranda is very likable and I enjoyed watching her go through the process. I could totally relate to her because she was learning as she went along. Miranda is obviously passionate about making the movie industry greener. All in all I learned a lot from this documentary and would recommend it highly to anyone that I know.

Super cool!!!

[a652328 · 8/10 · 14 August 2014]

I decided to watch this doc after dabbling in a little recycling program of my own. I'm a junior in high school. This year, my friends and I started the Greenzo Recycling Club (inspired by the character of Greenzo in 30 Rock). Our goal was to be so energetic and zealous that people just HAD to recycle whether they liked it or not and it WORKED!! I totally feel the struggle of getting people to use less bottles. Everyone at school was like "this fountain water is gross" and I was like "no dude you're saving the environment, suck it up," and they did. It probably helped that I wore a green man suit to school.

I give this an 8 instead of a 10 because I would have liked to see more of haters' bad vibes and then a strong counter-argument, but overall it's pretty cool. Def recommend watching.