Drama production
in London is up by
50% compared to 10
years ago - Film London
stats show
Despite varioushurdles,
Londonand theSouthEast
still create top productions
T
he worldwide reputation of the UK
as a filming destination has always
been strong, however, lately it
has been so popular that line producers
are worried the supply of great studios
and crew cannot match the increasing
demand.
At the same time, the recent closures
of Teddington, Wimbledon, Waterloo
and other studio spaces signify the
increasing attitude of landlords to turn
their land into real estate. The dramatic
increase in house prices in areas
associated with certain studios makes
it more feasible for land owners to cut
studios loose, thus capitalising on the
current revenue opportunities available.
Even with these closures, London and
the South East possibly have the most
versatile slate of studios in Europe. At a
recent industry event Adrian Wootton,
CEO of the British Film Commission
and Film London, said that drama
production in London is up by 50%
on ten years ago. A huge margin if you
consider the major studios around the
world which are readily available.
The thriving state of the industry also
throws a spanner into the works.
With the high increase in productions
filming, the demand for skilled crew has
increased. Line producers have been
hard pressed at times to fill certain
roles, as crew is frequently booked
on other projects. This is certainly
something the industry has to fix if
London and the South East are going
to be seen as continuing dominant
forces and as top locations for film and
television productions. The credits for
the area speak for themselves: Star
Wars: The Force Awakens; Avengers:
Age of Ultron; Bond 24; Pan; London
Has Fallen; Edge Of Tomorrow and
many others have shot here within the
last 12 months.
With its incredibly attractive tax
incentive that allow productions to claim
25% back as a cash payment, support
for film in the UK is growing, with tax
breaks now also in place for high-end
TV and animation, and rumours have it,
So though there are hurdles to
overcome, looking ahead we see
opportunity: for training, for creative use
of new locations, for the existing studios
and crew, and of course for audiences
worldwide.
Josh Wilson
Digital Content Editor, The Knowledge
Josh Wilson
Britain’s TV and film production industry is on the rise.
Recently the UK has seen a dramatic increase in the amount
of home-grown and international productions that have been
filming here, specifically at studios and locations in London
and the South East.
Filming In London and the South East
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