Navigating Hollywood’s Evolution: Balancing Film, Planet & Wellbeing.
Film tax credits, labor laws, and the relentless drive for ROI, at their best, they create creative brilliance and rewarding careers, and at their worst, they foster instability and personal sacrifice. Local crews often face unpredictable work and limited access to stable income or health insurance; while local businesses, from dry cleaners and boutiques to caterers, also feel the ripple effects of slowing productions.
Just before the 2023 Hollywood strikes, costume designer and Roboro founder Jillian Clark reached a pivotal moment. After a decade of demanding production schedules and developing an early model for Roboro, she recognized the toll that constant pace takes on creative professionals. Like many in film, she experienced the nervous-system fatigue that often goes unspoken behind the scenes.
During her move back to New England, she received a call for a feature shooting in Colorado, Welcome to the Fishbowl, a story about a woman reevaluating her career on a road trip. The serendipitous timing offered a fresh perspective and a chance to remain connected to the industry while exploring a more sustainable approach to filmmaking.
Necessity is often the mother of invention, and it is no surprise that two mothers founded By & Large MediaLabs, a production company committed to telling more balanced stories in a more balanced way. Sustainability in film, they recognize, isn’t just about carbon emissions. It’s about creating work that supports the people who keep the industry alive, allowing for sustained wellbeing over time, in a notoriously demanding and unsustainable field.
The New Wave: By & Large MediaLabs
Sheryl Glubok and Iana Dontecheva at the Green for Good Benefit, sponsored in part by By & Large MediaLabs to support the Entertainment Community Fund during the strikes. photo: Serena Duffin
Welcome to the Fishbowl, a film from By & Large MediaLabs exemplifies an intentional and human-centered approach to filmmaking. Founded by Sheryl Glubok (Writer/Director) and Iana Dontecheva (Producer), the company is committed to elevating women’s stories and ensuring female voices are represented in leadership roles across production. They bring compassion and humility to their work while prioritizing collaboration and inclusivity at every stage.
The film, a modern take on a classic screwball comedy exploring themes of midlife and identity, shows that human centered filmmaking is not only possible but thriving. The all star cast including Jeremy Swift (Ted Lasso), Natalie Gold (Succession), Marin Hinkle (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), and Sendhil Ramamurthy (Never Have I Ever) were as committed as Sheryl Glubok and her writing partner Donald Rae, lending their talent and generosity every step of the way to bring the story, over a decade in the making, to life.
Beyond designing the costumes, Sheryl and Iana were open to incorporating Roboro’s philosophy into how costumes were sourced and built. The department prioritized local Denver businesses, sourcing secondhand clothing and avoiding fast fashion and online orders whenever possible. This approach presented real challenges given the fast-paced and specific needs of production. Casting often happens at the last minute and costume teams cannot fully shop for a character until they have an actor’s sizes. Building relationships with local brands also requires time and coordination to meet production demands, making intentional sourcing both a creative and logistical feat. Hence, costume departments often rely on fast fashion and online orders because they are faster, cheaper, and easy to return.
A standout collaboration was with Midnight Oil, a female-owned, Denver-based company specializing in made-to-order suits. For the lead actress’s pivotal final scene, Midnight Oil generously lent a sample suit that carried the spirit of every woman who burns the midnight oil. Beyond perfectly capturing the transformation of the film’s leading lady, the suit helped keep the production on budget and elevated the brand’s reach. In that moment, Roboro’s mission came to life: honoring the hardworking women behind the scenes while celebrating all those striving to make the world a better place, and showing how sustainable, human-centered filmmaking can empower the industry itself to tell stories that uplift people, craft, and purpose.
Natalie Gold in Midnight Oil and Jeremy Swift in his personal suit styled with secondhand and sustainable pieces.
Midnight Oil founder, Rachel Lefort, and Jillian Clark on set for Welcome to the Fishbowl.
Leading Change in Film
Welcome to the Fishbowl shows how filmmakers can be catalysts for transformation. By prioritizing workers, creatives, and sustainable practices, productions can tell compelling stories while uplifting the people who bring those stories to life and reducing environmental impact.
Jillian explores this journey in more detail on The Tie In Podcast. Hosted by Zena Harris and Mark Rabin, The Tie In has become a leading voice for sustainable innovation in the entertainment industry, spotlighting trailblazers who are redefining not only how stories are told, but how they are made. In her episode, Jillian discusses the challenges of navigating film work while growing Roboro, the lessons learned, and how human-centered, sustainable filmmaking can reshape the industry from the inside out. Watch the episode below to hear her insights on turning purpose-driven practices into a foundation for resilience, creativity, and impact.
