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Creating a film about environmental impact requires taking a hard look at how the production itself operates.
Nova Scotia gaffer and filmmaker Griffin O’Toole worked on Divert Nova Scotia’s Be Kind, Rewear short film that was released in October 2025. The film focused on thrifting and the environmental impact of fast fashion. To ensure the production aligned with the message of conscious consumption, the team decided to power the entire shoot with clean energy.
Here is how the strategic use of the Instagrid GO portable power station helped the crew overcome logistical hurdles in an active store and keep their environmental footprint small.
The Strategy: Aligning Values With Production
For a project centered on sustainability, relying on traditional grid power or gas generators felt counterproductive. The production team wanted the technical process to embody the same values the video promotes.
"It was really critical for me, I guess, to align the values of the video's message with our actual production."
By choosing clean energy, the crew avoided plugging into the traditional grid. It became a highly cohesive moment where a film about sustainability was literally powered by clean energy.
Overcoming Logistical Hurdles in a Live Retail Space
The production took place inside an open store where customers were constantly walking around. This live environment presented significant safety and logistical challenges for the camera and lighting teams.
- The store had a limited number of outlets available for the crew to use.
- Running long power cables throughout the store was not feasible because it posed a tripping hazard to the public.
- Relying on cables would have increased the amount of equipment the crew had to move with each location change in the store.
Using a gas generator was also out of the question due to indoor emissions. Placing a generator outside would have still required running long cords into the building, bringing the crew back to the exact same tripping hazards and mobility issues.
Small Footprint, Reliable Power: The Instagrid GO on Set
To solve these problems, the team brought in the Instagrid GO. The portable battery provided an easy solution, eliminating the need for heavy cables.
While initially skeptical of the unit’s power capacity, the crew quickly realized its potential on set. They were able to power an Aputure F22C light for the entire day. To maximize the battery life, the crew simply turned the unit off between actual shooting setups.
"If we didn't have the Instagrid GO, we would have had to run like 50-foot cables all over the store."
Avoiding those cable runs saved the production a significant amount of time. It removed the need to place warning signs for customers or assign staff to monitor tripping hazards, making their tight shooting schedule possible.
The Results: A Game Changer for Local Crews
Using the Instagrid GO proved that professional film crews can incorporate clean power without sacrificing performance. It successfully powered the equipment reliably despite its incredibly small size.
For a province like Nova Scotia, which relies heavily on location shooting, access to silent, clean energy is a major draw. By successfully integrating the Instagrid GO, Divert Nova Scotia’s production demonstrated that clean power is an upgrade, not a compromise, for modern filmmakers.
