Green, Belfast, more...

by Fi_Francombe on 14-May-09 12:27

It’s busy in the Locations department! The launch of the Green Filmmaking Guidelines at the end of last month went really well, although the low level of attendance was disappointing. We’re not dissuaded and are seeing it very much as the start of the journey to encourage productions to work in a more sustainable way in the region. The delivery of Film London’s Green Screen London paper next Monday in Cannes will also be a useful document to read.   

I’m now heavily ensconced with working on the Studio Feasibility Study we have been commissioned to write on behalf of the SWRDA and Bristol City Council, which is due for delivery at the end of June. The research process is fascinating, involved, tiring, but essential and I hope it will put a lot of things into perspective for a lot of people. I went to Belfast yesterday to look at their facility: The Paint Hall, which is impressive and in use, but with its own frustrations and limitations. My meeting with the Head of Production at Northern Ireland Screen was enlightening. If our office Lottery consortium ever wins the big one my vote is to set up a Production Fund – it is getting increasingly essential to have one to attract productions of all scales into the region and to remain competitive with the other UK regions and nations.

In amongst all this there’s a department to run and the day-to-day workload to look after too. We’ve had some nice project enquiries recently – which are just that, enquiries, so please don’t pick up the phone to ask us about them because we’ve been sworn to secrecy. The rest of the year is looking healthier for the region but we could always do with more. Next week we’re going to set up an ‘Expressions of Interest’ page on our website so that crew can post that they’re interested in being considered for roles on productions in the region. It’s a new thing, and I’m not sure how well it will work but we’d like to try it. Still no guarantee of work but a place for productions to go to when looking for possible crew. Your feedback would be great.

Tagged:locations, crew, Green Filmmaking Guidelines, studio

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