In "Burn Up," an eco-thriller starring Neve Campbell, the former "Party of Five" and "Scream" star plays an environmentalist working for an oil company, who believes she's been brought on board to add some green to the company, but finds out they have ulterior motives.

Campbell says she doesn't always pick "message" films to work on but "it's always good when they do have something to say."

The character is a "green wash," explains Campbell, a term for companies who set up an environmental department just for show.

"The inner workings of the company are very strong and it's going to be very difficult for her to change things," she says.

Campbell, born and raised in Canada, also admitted that the environmental efforts in Calgary, where "Burn Up" was filmed did not meet her expectations, with no real priority for recycling. She noticed the contrast when she moved to Halifax to work on her next film and found her apartment there had separate chutes for recyclable items.

"I was kind of shocked coming from Canada," she says. "Growing up there, we already seemed very environmentally aware compared with the States."

"Burn Up," also starring Bradley Whitford, will air in Canada on Global on Tuesday, June 10 and Wednesday, June 11, as well as in the UK on BBC. No deal has yet been landed with an American network to air the two-part series.

» The Canadian Press