Film & Media
Film & Media Film and television are powerful and universal media capturing the imagination, and stirring the heart. They can leave lasting impressions, create deep memories, present powerful true stories or beautifully told fiction, and in all its genres, it is the most enjoyed form of entertainment around the world. Scotland has a strong global reputation for film and a significant number of Scottish filmmakers and on screen talent are highly regarded and internationally recognised. This reputation is built on a long filmmaking history and Scotland s films across the decades have found national and international audiences, right up to the present. Recent successes Sunshine on Leith, Under the Skin, For those in Peril and Shell present innovative Scottish stories reflecting Scotland back to itself and promoting Scottish culture and the wonderful landscapes and cityscapes to a worldwide audience. As does the beautiful and touching Scottish animation, The Illusionist. In television, Scotland s production community have made great strides in recent years in securing commissions across a range of genres, through developing deeper working relationships with Scottish and UK wide broadcast commissioners, and capacity building, leading to more opportunities for longer-running series made by Scottish independents. As a location Scotland continues to attract international film and television productions, providing inward investment to boost indigenous growth and opportunities for new skills and experience to Scottish crews and creative talent. Film is a creative art form as well as a business and a range of filmmakers in Scotland create content aiming for critical, public and commercial success in forms encompassing commercially or socially-driven features as well as the experimental. This diversity should be encouraged, supported and developed, and artists and filmmakers should be empowered to take risks. The BFI Talent Net.Work in partnership with Creative Scotland is delivering a UK-wide connected talent development programme. We anticipate the Scottish hub will involve a range of partners across Scotland to develop the talent of the future. In collaboration with the TV Working Group and the broadcasters, Creative Skillset, SULF, and TRC Media, with support from Creative Scotland, Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government, the television community has invested in a range of skills and training initiatives specifically for television, developing a well-equipped pool of talent. Recently in response to Creative Skillset s Challenge Fund, filmmakers, animators and television producers have formed consortia to bid in for the opportunity to develop training programmes which invest 50:50 in specific industry skills needs and talent development. Stories told through film can also work across other platforms, to project Scotland internationally, to reflect contemporary and historic national culture, and promote talent in accessible and highly exportable forms. Film and television content is now predominantly digital from production to consumption, and the impact of technology continues to change and augment the way we engage with screen content. As technology has driven change, producers have responded. Equally audiences have sought to access content in different ways, creating and driving new market opportunities and means of distribution for television series and films. In recent years we have seen this shift in engagement affect on-screen talent choices too, as A-list film actors switch to high-end TV drama, raising the bar and audience demand.
However, although people can watch their favourite TV programmes and films on their smartphones, tablets, computers, TV, or on DVD, the traditional audience experience of watching a movie together in a darkened cinema continues to be popular. Cinema attendance has risen steadily over recent decades, and Scots have become some of the keenest cinema-goers in Europe. Cinema is now the most popular public cultural activity in Scotland. The range of film festivals across Scotland reaches a broad spectrum of audiences. In the internationally acclaimed Edinburgh International Film Festival and Glasgow Film Festival Scotland boasts the 2nd and 3rd largest film festivals in the UK. Edinburgh is also host to the industry s Guardian International Television Festival. Film education is also important. Into Film, an initiative backed by the BFI and Creative Scotland, and working in partnership with Education Scotland and the Scottish Film Consortium, provides essential grounding. The BFI Film Academy Network Programme continues to support organisations in Scotland to deliver hands-on courses for 16-18 year olds to develop knowledge and skills. Cashback for Creativity provides valuable first filmmaking opportunities for young people across Scotland. There is more work needed in order to reach a desirable position of strength and sustainability across film and television production and cinema exhibition. Despite critical success, the sector requires deeper and broader support to reach its true potential. We want to work in partnership with Scotland s filmmakers, independent production companies, independent cinema exhibitors, distributors, broadcasters, and public sector partners to grow and strengthen Scotland s film, television and broadcasting sector, and will continue working in collaborative ways to achieve this.
Opportunities for Film and Media and how it can contribute to Unlocking Potential, Embracing Ambition Excellence and experimentation across the arts, screen and creative industries is recognised and valued Scotland s filmmakers and their films continue to receive recognition at international film festivals and are nominated and winning national and international awards. TV producers, filmmakers and animators continue to strive for excellence - taking creative risks with their productions and how they bring them to market. These are principles we support in practice through the funding of production content. A dedicated film and high-end TV drama studio is established essential in order to support Scottish production and increase visiting productions. Filmmaking talent in Scotland is supported through each stage of development. Emerging filmmakers develop from making shorts (including animation and documentary) onto first features and feature documentaries which achieve international critical acclaim and win awards. More collaboration exists between professionals linking the various elements of the film and television drama production chain - from talent development, production, festivals, exhibition and distribution. Everyone can access and enjoy artistic and creative experiences Independent cinema exhibitors work together through networks, mobile cinema and support for developing community cinema to bring film to diverse audiences across Scotland with a wide variety of programming. Through advances in digital technology, festivals and cinemas work to make feature films available on demand, and develop a close network of cinemas using online platforms and broadband. Producers continue to aim to expand the audience for film narratives across multiple platforms: online, in games, or apps. Engagement with film begins at a young age and helps shape our view of the world. Film education in the classroom is recognised as a significant step in developing film literacy and filmmaking.
Places and quality of life are transformed through imagination, ambition and understanding of the potential of creativity Independent cinemas and multi-art form venues, deliver a range of activities within their localities. Cinemas play an important part in places across Scotland, providing audiences of all ages a place to enjoy films. They also offer a communal experience, and space for contemplation, inspiration and debate. They are hubs of expertise, not only of film knowledge but also for work with schools and local communities, and they provide wider cultural and skills-building opportunities in both formal and informal educational contexts. The Scottish Locations Network of regional film offices (supported by local authorities) works alongside Creative Scotland Locations to attract film and television production to Scotland and provides positive economic impact, including contributing to film, animation and television tourism. Ideas are brought to life by a diverse, skilled and connected leadership and workforce Film, animation and television production companies work with directors, writers, actors, crew, set and costume design, musicians, illustrators, animators and other skilled people to create hubs providing collaborative leadership to deliver a film, animation or TV projects from the page to the screen. Producers continue to be supported to attend international markets to broker relationships and secure finance, cast and distribution. The film and TV industry is international and must consequently draw on finance, talent, distribution and audiences from across the globe. Training and international market exchange programmes for television producers are easily accessed. A new sense of interconnectedness has emerged and alongside the TV Working Group and the Scottish Animation Network, new industry groups have been established in the last year - Film Hub Scotland, Screen Facilities Scotland, the Association of Film & TV Practitioners Scotland, and Independent Producers Scotland. Their collaboration helps serve the sector and recently has led to consortium working to assist in skills development. Scotland has the opportunity to become a hotspot for the establishment of big budget drama. More high-end television drama series production is encouraged through the introduction of the UK High-End TV tax relief. The capacity of Scottish production companies is strengthened through joint working on skills development and business advice between Creative Scotland and Scottish Enterprise. One benefit could be to deliver repeat network series, and thereby increase investment in all the talent and crew in the supply chain. These opportunities and more, are embraced in a film strategy for Scotland that is cohesive and collaborative across industry and public sector partners.
Scotland is a distinctive creative nation connected to the world Scottish producers, directors, animators, editors, actors and crew are active internationally and demonstrate Scotland s distinctiveness through the work, passion and commitment to the projects. Scotland continues to attract film and TV visiting productions both for Scotland s locations, and highly regarded crews and facilities companies. The UK Film, TV and Animation tax credits have significantly boosted enquiries and productions locating here have also increased.
June 2014 Creative Scotland No part of this publication may be reproduced in any format without prior written permission of Creative Scotland. Equal opportunities Creative Scotland operates an equal opportunities policy. Our offices have disabled access. Certain publications can be made available in Gaelic, in large print, Braille or audio format. Contact Enquiries on 0845 603 6000 Typetalk please prefix number with 18001 This publication is produced in electronic form by Creative Scotland please consider the environment and do not print unless you really need to Your feedback is important to us. Let us know what you think of this publication by emailing feedback@creativescotland.com Waverley Gate 2-4 Waterloo Place Edinburgh EH1 3EG Scotland UK F +44 (0) 131 523 0001 249 West George Street Glasgow G2 4QE Scotland UK F +44 (0) 141 302 1711 Reception +44 (0) 330 333 2000 Enquiries +44 (0) 845 603 6000 enquiries@creativescotland.com www.creativescotland.com @creativescots Cover: Under the Skin. Photo: courtesy of JW Films