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Industry Star of the Month
	Mari Jo Winkler, PGA Green By Leea Borst April 1, 2011 - Mari Jo Winkler gets two (green) thumbs up as she works to promote environmentally friendly practices when productions shoot on location. The long-time producer and unit production manager leads by example as she strives to help ‘green’ the local film industry. “I have been environmentally minded since childhood and always practiced a level of environmentalism at home,” she revealed, “but it wasn't until 2004 that I ramped up my efforts after hearing an environmentalist named Dick Roy from the Northwest Earth Institute speak. It was at that time that I consciously made a decision to bring my practice into the workplace. I had been making a lot of changes in my own life and was in early pre-production on a film. I woke up in the middle of the night and decided to go line by line through the budget by department and list efforts we could make to reduce our environmental impact.” “The rewards are many,” said Winkler. “It simply feels healthier, and I can sleep better at night knowing that I am doing my part to reduce our negative impact.” In addition to practicing eco-friendly habits on the sets of her own productions, Winkler raises awareness for the cause as Chair of the PGA Green National Committee, along with Lydia Dean Pilcher and Katie Carpenter. “PGA Green was established in 2008 as a means to actively encourage and support sustainability in the entertainment industry,” she explained. “PGA Green created and maintains a website for ‘greening’ productions – pgagreen.org – and has a very active Facebook page.” The organization also provides the production community with a database of ‘green’ vendors and a carbon calculator for productions looking to track and control their carbon footprints. Winkler’s decision to base her career in the Big Apple stems from her connection to the vast, yet intimate community that lies at the heart of the City's hustle-and-bustle. “I believe that New York City is one of the most vibrant, alive, interesting and diverse cities in the world,” she revealed. “I love the sense of community in our industry, and I am inspired by our collective experience of making films here.” As Winkler continues to support the greening of the entertainment industry, she advises other productions to also think about their impact on the environment and adopt new methods that will help minimize waste. Among her tips for productions, she suggests creating awareness about green goals from the very beginning. “In early pre-production, talk to the filmmakers and make them aware of your goals; put them into practice as soon as you open the production office,” she said. “If the cast and crew are conscious from the start, it makes it easier to implement.”