Helion SPS

(Smartphone Production System)

GREEN SOLUTIONs

The arrival of the streaming services means a significant increase in the amount of series of all kinds being produced. This is putting a strain not only on production services, but is also increasing the carbon footprint of the industry dramatically.

One-hour scripted dramas has an average carbon footprint of 77 metric tons per episode and half-hour scripted single-camera shows has 26 metric tons per episode. For reference, a typical U.S. household has a carbon footprint of 48 metric tons per year.

The SPS system can reduce carbon footprint up to 40%.

Television production, especially fiction, is based on a system created decades ago when film was the capture medium, equipment was heavy and cumbersome and production required shooting with extensive lighting and camera systems that needed large crews.

As digital technology has evolved, the technology was adapted to the system rather than adapting the system to the technology, resulting in a continuation of a system that is labor intensive, costly and creates an unnecessary amount of collateral pollution.

The challenge of climate change means that new ways of producing must be found to reduce the impact that production has on the environment. The SPS workflow is a new way of producing  — one based on the application of evolving technologies that results in high quality productions,  not only at a lower cost, but with a significant reduction in power consumption, production time and manpower.

Helion’s SPS workflow and production strategies can reduce the production carbon footprint by 15%-40%.

Basic Elements of the SPS Workflow:

Far less expensive film equipment.

Reduced lighting packages and smaller crews.

Smaller, lighter-weight cameras and accessories.

Much lower transport costs and drastically reduced fuel consumption.

Fewer set ups and takes yet more coverage through multi-cam set ups even on location.

Simpler & faster editing processes.

Overall, a shorter production schedule.

All of this and enhanced production values.

How is it achieved?

By using existing technologies, including iPhones, iPods, Macs & Final Cut Pro plus workflows developed by Helion that enable the following:

Multiple cameras on a shoot coordinated by proprietary apps on an iPad or MacBook.

Working as easily on location as in-studio.

Small cameras enabling virtually unlimited camera positioning.

Multiple cameras allowing many scenes to be shot in a single set up.

Individual mics and recording units for each actor improving sound quality.

Editing from multiple cameras is simpler than piecing together different takes with the inevitable continuity problems.

The result?

Much lower cost of production equipment.

Much smaller crews.

Substantially reduced transport cost.

Reduced filming time, smaller crews and shorter post-production schedules = reduced energy consumption, substantial labor savings and smaller carbon footprint