Reality of Change and Non-Profit Rare Launch Initiative to Make Unscripted TV More Sustainable

Eco-entertainment organization Reality of Change and environmental non-profit Rare are teaming up to improve sustainability in unscripted television, both onscreen and behind the camera.

Spearheaded by Reality of Change founder (and former head of alternative programming at The CW) Cyle Zezo and senior director of Rare’s Entertainment Lab Ellis Watamanuk, the new partnership’s first priority is to assemble an advisory committee consisting of non-scripted production companies and creative professionals who will help establish a course of action for the industry.   

Last year, Rare’s Entertainment Lab found that seven in 10 Americans want to see more climate-friendly actions on screen. By combining both organizations’ expertise, the new initiative will compile an array of climate and sustainability-focused research and analysis about industry trends, audience impact and relevant scientific studies to serve as a resource for the community. The group will also discuss sustainable production practices specific to the unscripted industry, examine the efforts behind the camera versus what appears on screen and focus on how to implement changes that maximize the sector’s sustainability potential, both efficiently and cost-effectively.  

Because of unscripted’s wide range of forms — DIY, competition shows, documentaries, reality TV — and common settings in the food, fashion and home spaces, it is a particularly ripe area to make change, with education and entertainment woven together.

“Climate change is reality, and to shine a light on this global issue, we believe there is no entertainment sector better suited to showing climate solutions on screen than unscripted television. We want to answer the call of both the creative community and the audiences we serve who are looking for action to be taken, who want to become more engaged and are demanding more from their entertainment,” Zezo said in a statement. “Partnering with our friends at Rare’s Entertainment Lab, we are looking to reflect our rapidly changing world by charting a new, more sustainable course for our industry and the planet.”

“As we set out to establish our advisory coalition, the response has been overwhelming, with 24 production companies already committed, far exceeding our initial expectations, and several others ready to join,” he continued. “By expanding our resources and research, we want to ensure that we do it in a way that is efficient, supportive and specifically meaningful to the unscripted television industry as a whole.”

Added Watamanuk, “As the world grapples with a quickly, dangerously changing climate, and more Americans recognize that climate change is happening, it’s only natural to see these themes and solutions appearing in unscripted content. Over the past few years, we have seen climate and sustainability pop up in big and small ways on our screens — from cooking to home renovation, from fashion to dating. Rare is honored to partner with Reality of Change and the many great producers and creatives in our advisory cohort and to learn from them as we work to build a collective path forward towards a safe, healthy and just climate future.”

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