FEATURE | PRODUCT ION BOOM I n the shadow of Brexit, there is some good news for our industry. At the moment in the UK, there is a production boom in full flow, fuelled by the SVOD (Subscription Video On Demand) companies and their new services, which are themselves being enabled by the government’s tax relief for screen industries. But perhaps the bigger story is the swathe of industrial regeneration projects that are appearing to service this production torrent. Millions of pounds are being invested in redeveloping legacy industries such as railways, print works, military bases, even legacy mega-TV series – see the extension of Titanic Studios in Belfast, the old home of Game Of Thrones.. . ARE WE COPING? It isn’t all good news. The flip side of such a glut of production, is dealing with it. Not just on a production space level, but on a skills base or – more accurately – a lack of skills. There is a dire shortage of skills to populate the boom, so much so that a record £4.2 million of investment has been delivered to support new entrants and established crews in progressing their careers across the UK. This includes tackling skills gaps and shortages, including programmes to support in- demand roles such as accountants, location managers, production coordinators and script supervisors, and to improve leadership and management in the sector. Kaye Elliott, director of high-end television at ScreenSkills, commented on the investment: “This is the largest investment in skills and training since the establishment of the High-end TV Skills Fund, but it is a modest fraction of the £1.2 billion spent on production in the UK last year. We have to continue to
ABOVE Erin Doherty (left) as Princess Anne and Charles Dance (right) as Lord Mountbatten in The Crown
professionalise our workforce and ensure they are at the top of their game if we are to build on current success.” Skills Passport, the online tool designed in 2018 to help professionals navigate short training courses, has been further improved and is now offering even more industry-endorsed courses. As part of a pan-ScreenSkills review of endorsement of short courses, it will be taking on a new name shortly. Bursaries will continue to be available for courses not commissioned and funded by the High-end TV Skills Fund, but are regarded as useful training for those working in the sector. Film productions including Wonder Woman 1984 , Downton Abbey , Horrible
The UK film industry is thriving, and we need more people to come and play a part director at Pinewood Studios Group, said: “The UK film industry is thriving, and we need more people to come and play a part in its success. We firmly believe there Histories and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil contributed just over £700,000 towards supporting skills and training in 2018/2019, ScreenSkills announced last year. A total of £703,483 from 72 productions funded the Film Trainee Finder trainee placement programme, and training in shortage areas such as script supervisors, production accounts and grips. All training programmes have recruitment targets aimed at improving inclusion in the industry, alongside some training specifically commissioned to support groups currently under- represented in the industry. Studios such as Pinewood and Shepperton are also encouraging new trainees by operating open days. Last November, Pinewood Studios offered over 1,500 young people a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the careers available in the film and TV industry, in order to kick-start the national Discover! Creative Careers Week programme. Andrew Smith, corporate affairs
40 DEF I N I T ION | JANUARY 2020
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