Name: Lily Limmer
Organization: Warner Bros
Position: Sustainability Officer
Web: https://lilylimmer.co.uk/
Social media: https://www.instagram.com/lili.limmer/
Questions:
How would you define your life philosophy in 1 phrase?
LL: Oh, I was actually thinking about it the other day.. I don’t know how to put this eloquently, but I realized that one way I’ve always lived my life, and I’ve noticed other people don’t necessarily, is that when I see something I think is wrong, I feel compelled to try and change it. It could be in interaction with somebody, it could be something I see at work or in an institution. Whatever area that might be in, if it is not being done the right way, or is causing harm, I feel compelled to personally do my best to change it.
How would you describe the ideal world considering your activities?
LL: Ideal world? Hmm, to put it briefly. One where everything that is living is respected and regarded as a gift (that) we have been given (in terms of life, and the planet). As I get quite sickened of the attitude we seem to have developed of our kind of superiority to other life forms. I think if we had more respect for other life forms on this planet, we would all be in a much better place.
Which of your achievements are you most proud of?
LL: I’m not sure this is the sort of answer you’re looking for. But in general, I feel quite proud of where I am today. I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 16, and I struggled a lot when I was in my GCSEs, because I didn’t know I had ADHD. I’d found it so difficult to revise from textbooks, my brain just did not want to do that. Because I didn’t know what’s going on, it kind of translated into depression and anxiety. I remember having absolutely no intention to be an adult, to grow up. I had no plan, I didn’t feel excited about the future. And now I get up, make my bed, go to the gym, plant stuff in my garden and I just think: “Oh, look at me growing!”
What is your main professional goal for the future?
LL: Well, I mean what I want to do in the future is split into two paths. There’s obviously the work I’m doing at the moment. I would like to continue making waves in the existing film industry. But honestly, my main goal is to build a new and radical form of filmmaking. I feel like we’ve had so many aesthetic waves in the cinematography. You know, one day people in France were like: ‘Oh, what if we take the camera off the tripod!’ And we still make films the way we used to make them in the 1920s. There has been no inventiveness in the production process. And I think the filmmaking industry is rotten to its core. And whilst I’m happy to dig a bit of that out on the surface whilst I can, I think the only solution is for new filmmakers starting now, to reinvent everything they see and question everything they learn. Be sceptical, ask if it is the best way to do it, or just the way it’s being done. We need a new form of filmmaking. Not necessarily in a way of what we see on screen, but the way we produce our content. It just has to be built from the ground up by young people.
Is there someone in your sector who do you admire?
LL: There are loads of people I admire, but not in the film industry. Creatively yes, but that is not where my job is at the moment. But other than that, literally anyone who dedicates their life trying to improve the planet. How can you not admire them? I mean, it’s so difficult to do, and it’s so easy to be just like ‘I don’t care’. Everyone that makes the choice to care, even a little bit, is so admirable.
What inspires you in the environment/ country you work in?
LL: In terms of England, we have a really long history of activism, (that is) downplayed by everybody. There is this view of polite British who want to be subjugated, they’ve got the Queen, you know, etc. But we never think of how many successful demonstrations happened in this country. For instance, we have the Extinction Rebellion happening at the moment. The first anti road building protests happened here and reduced government road planning by 1/3. Entire roads were planned and supposed to be built, but thanks to people who cared, they never got built. We have a history of chasing fascists out of cities, we have a history of poll tax riots… We fail to notice the success stories out there, in the mass media. We’ve done a lot of successful campaigning throughout the times, that I’d consider something to be proud of about Britain.
What comes to your mind when you think of:
-
- Waste: do not
- Repairably: cool
- Plastic (as a material): ban, stop
- Circular economy: interesting way of looking at things; collaboration
- Smart phone: addictive
- Your favorite kitchen appliance: wooden toaster tongs
- Your grandmother’s favorite kitchen appliance: I don’t think she enjoys cooking that much, but she has this water jug shaped like fish and when you pour it and then put upside back it goes ‘glo, glo, glo’
- Best human invention: vaccines; mass education
- Best invention of this century: 3d cinema glasses