Leonardo DiCaprio Gives Solar Another Shot In The Arm

Posted by Joe Boyce on Aug 4, 2010 in Featured Visionaries, Visionaries | Comments Off

Leonardo DiCaprio is the green energy and sustainability industry’s best friend. He’s been using his global appeal to raise awareness on everything from climate change to poverty to endangered species. Moreover, he does it with an authenticity that we don’t get to see from the A-List crowd very often. It’s clear that he’s not supporting these causes because his Publicist thinks it’s a good idea.

Recently, DiCaprio has been letting his fans know about his latest movie “Inception” which is of course, another blockbuster hit. Still, in the midst of all the promotion, he makes his positions on green energy and sustainability part of the conversation. His interviews with the tabloids, late night and daytime talk show hosts, and all the most major of the majors in the entertainment business are never without a reference to his work on the environment and sustainability. Nobody gets out with just a soundbite about his latest project, love life, and what’s next. They hear about his causes, and the fans can’t get enough of it.

By integrating the topic of his philanthropic work into his exchanges with the entertainment media, “Leo” has started a trend that we could only dream about just a couple of years ago. . .  He’s making everything from electric cars, to solar power to supporting the preservation of endangered species “cool”.

The production of his latest movie, “Inception”, written by industry titan Christopher Nolan, was produced on sets powered by portable Solar PV provided by Pure Power Distribution. This is a growing trend among producers, the “Greening” of film production.

Yes, this is small-scale energy in the scheme of things, but more important is the influence the introduction of the solar power units are having on the industry as a whole.

Film production costs more than ever. If you want a blockbuster, you’d better be willing to shell out 9 or even 10 figures unless you’re one of those freakishly lucky indie producers . Energy, particularly for films shot in remote locations, can be extremely costly, and here is where we unlock an even more powerful solar story. That it’s about money.

Aside from the obvious environmental benefits (which as an industry I feel we’ve pretty much beaten to death at this point) it makes it a cost issue, magnifying the superior application characteristics and efficiency of PV to the bean counters, exaggerating their reliability in the often harsh conditions.

Let’s hope projects like “Inception” engage more people regardless of what’s driving their interest. For now, just raising the awareness of the general population benefits us all, and is something the solar industry hasn’t been able to achieve without this kind of star-power to get us on the front page.
Now go see the movie. . .

-joe

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