Planet Green Makes a Reel Impact

Laura Michalchyshyn, the president and general manager of Discovery’s Planet Green, talks to TV Real about expanding the channel with new programming, such as the Reel Impact movie block.

Reel Impact, a programming block dedicated to films about how humans are affecting the environment, kicked off Saturday on Planet Green with The Last Beekeper. The documentary follows the pilgrimage of the bees and beekeepers to the largest beekeeping event of the year—the mass pollination of California’s almonds—and focuses on how the bee population is steadily declining. The film series will continue to showcase innovative projects emerging from the green space every Saturday from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Reel Impact will also feature films such as No Impact Man by Laura Gabbert and Eden Wurmfeld, Barbara Ettinger’s film A Sea Change and Black Wave: The Legacy of the Exxon Valdez by Robert Cornellier. The strand will further present classic films like The 11th Hour, An Inconvenient Truth and Who Killed the Electric Car? Planet Green plans to acquire some 20 additional films to fill this slate as well.

Laura Michalchyshyn, the president and general manager of Planet Green who is also the architect of the new strand, says the block is an extension of what the channel has already been offering. "When I arrived at [at Planet Green]—it’s partially my background since I’ve worked in programming documentaries for a long time in my television career—we talked about how we could expand what we’re doing. There was a lot of information, how-to, DIY genres of programming when the channel launched. It got a lot of attention, a lot of critical acclaim and buzz, but we’re looking now at what is the next generation of sustainability stories."

There was a wealth of great projects and pitches crossing the desks of the programming and acquisitions team, but just not the space to slot them. So through a brainstorming session, the idea to expand Planet Green’s storytelling with a weekly film block was formed. "It’s not just stories around environmentalism and how-to, but these are stories of humans who are making change, people who are courageous and mavericks and renegades, people who are doing brave things that are going to impact the way we live in the future."

Michalchyshyn sees the strand as an opportunity to put a lighter spin on what can oftentimes be quite troubling topics: "I feel like the apocalyptic stories are done, we all know the Earth has been denigrated and there are not so great situations for the land, the sea and the sky. I really believe the strand is about people who are more empowered, from all walks of life…. Right now the strand is acquisition only, we’re buying finished docs, but I’m being pitched some interesting projects—not just from the U.S., and that’s where the co-pros come in. We have great relationships with producers both in the U.S. and outside who are bringing us ideas. It gives us an opportunity to expand the palette."

Reel Impact is one of several new programming additions for the channel. There are also growing numbers of pilots, acquisitions and specials heading to Planet Green. About 15 to 20 series are in development right now, among them Buffalo Warriors, Eco Crime Investigators, Bake & Destroy, Beekman Farm and Windcatchers. In the way of acquisitions there are Planet Mechanics, Cool Fuel, The 100 Mile Challenge, Nature, Inc. and World’s Greenest Homes. Meanwhile, specials on the roster include Toxic Files and Around the World in 90 Minutes.

Michalchyshyn says that the new programming extends the core "green" focus of the channel to encompass a wider spectrum. "One thing we’re saying about this channel is it’s really looking at issues of sustainability. That includes genres like fashion and food, but also science, innovation, technology, design, gadgets and organic farming. A couple of those are unexpected, and that’s what I’m really proud of is that we’ve pushed the subject areas and ideas."

Michalchyshyn continues: "The entry [point] for all of these series is through human stories. It’s great narratives, provocative storytelling, strong characters. The characters are real experts and are legitimately living, breathing and working day to day in these fields. They may not be TV celebrities, or TV stars now, but our belief is, like all great Discovery series, that we’re going to bring up some great characters through these series."

Continuing to add to Planet Green’s slate is a priority for Michalchyshyn. "We’re going to be at MIPCOM, we have a team of programmers and acquisitions executives and I’ll be there as well, scouring the stands and meeting with producers and directors and agents of sales companies to look for more programming."