South West Screen

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Influencing Opinion

We know how important the creative media industries are both to the economy and the culture of the South West.

We want to make it easier for these industries to thrive in the region – and to shout about it to a wider audience.

That’s why we’re always campaigning on your behalf. We speak to everyone from lobby groups to politicians and journalists to make sure that no decision that affects you is taken without your input.

So if you’ve got a story, a campaign, a triumph or a problem, let us know and let us see how we can help - email us.

Where we’ve been working behind the scenes:

Campaign to Keep Casualty in Bristol

Casualty has been filmed in Bristol since the series started 22 years ago. The show brings £25 million to the local economy and employs around 80 local people on everything from production to catering, security to lighting. And having all those resources in place has attracted other productions: Skins, Mistresses and Lark Rise to Candleford have all utilised the Casualty crew-base.

When the BBC announced it was considering moving production to Cardiff as part of its Nations & Regions remit, we took immediate action.

We joined forces with SWRDA and Bristol City Council, and have petitioned the BBC to look at local alternative sites and to make a commitment to the future of drama production in the city. We’ve written to the press and MPs as well as key decision makers at the BBC and to local government.

Now that the BBC has confirmed the drama is moving to Cardiff, we are more determined than ever to secure the future of drama here in Bristol. Together with SWRDA and BCC, we are conducting a feasibility study on one of the sites rejected by the BBC to see if we can turn it into state of the art studio production facilities.

Influencing Opinion

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