Studio Power

  • Ensure there is adequate power for all power needs (checklist below).
  • Explore options for supplemental power.

Prep/Construction

A significant amount of fuel is often used to support construction and prep crews.

  • Arrange for grid access to cover all prepping and wrapping periods to eliminate generators.
  • Discuss battery alternatives to reduce generator fuel.
  • Ensure that if a generator is required:
    • It is the most efficient generator possible.
    • It is right-sized for actual power needs.
    • It is refilled with renewable diesel wherever possible.

Set

Set power requirements can vary from location to location. Productions tend to use large generators that can power the largest lighting setups. This can result in wasted fuel and money.

  • Ask your Lighting team to discuss average power requirements, and carry on the show power that will work for most days.
  • If there is a large power requirement due to a large lighting setup, bring in additional power only as required.
  • Discuss accessing grid power at all locations.
  • Discuss battery alternatives to reduce generator fuel.
  • Ensure that if a generator is required:
    • It is the most efficient generator possible.
    • It is right-sized for actual power needs.
    • It is refilled with renewable diesel wherever possible.

Basecamp/Circus

Generators in these areas usually use the most fuel of all production.

  • Discuss accessing grid power at all locations.
  • Discuss hybrid and battery alternatives to reduce generator fuel.
  • Discuss the need for overnight power, establish a temperature where power will be required, and communicate that to the generator operators.
  • Solar equipment has proven to reduce generator fuel when:
    • Supplemented with batteries that can provide power during non-solar production hours.
    • The solar/battery combination is providing ALL power to the trailer.
    • There are enough solar trailers to avoid running a basecamp generator the majority of the time.

Catering/Craft Service

Caterers usually have their own generators. Both Catering and Craft Service require overnight/weekend power to keep the fridges cool.

  • Discuss accessing grid power at all locations for daytime and overnight power requirements.
  • Discuss hybrid and battery alternatives to reduce generator fuel.
  • Use an existing running generator to power Catering and/or Craft Service instead of using a standalone generator.

AC/Heating

Air conditioning units often come with their own generators.

  • Discuss accessing grid power at all locations.
  • Discuss hybrid and battery alternatives to reduce generator fuel.
  • Use an existing running generator to power air conditioners instead of using a standalone generator.

Equipment Trucks

Some regions use multiple small gasoline putt-putts to power trucks while others use a medium-sized generator.

  • Discuss powering all equipment trucks with one source of power to avoid multiple small generators.
  • Discuss accessing grid power at all locations for daytime and overnight power requirements.
  • Discuss hybrid and battery alternatives to reduce generator fuel.
  • Use an existing running generator to power equipment trucks instead of using a standalone generator or multiple small putt-putts.

Overnight and Weekend Power

Power usage is often weather-dependent, but a blanket decision made to address one specific condition can become standard operating procedure for the entirety of production, which could end up wasting fuel, money, and labor.

  • Discuss powering all trucks requiring overnight/weekend power with one source of power to avoid multiple small generators. This may require moving the trucks so that they are all within reach of one power source.
  • Discuss accessing grid power at all locations for daytime and overnight power requirements.
  • Discuss hybrid and battery alternatives to reduce diesel or gasoline generator fuel.

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