Scottish producer slams lack of studio
A leading Scottish film industry figure has slammed the lack of a dedicated film facility in Scotland, warning that the country could miss out on a lucrative purple patch in the industry as a result.
Renowned film producer Tommy Gormley, who has worked as first AD and co-producer on blockbusters such as Star Wars VII – The Force Awakens, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation and Star Trek Into Darkness, has penned an open letter to Scottish Parliament committee members urging them to back a purpose-built facility.
In an interview with news outlet the Daily Record, Gormley said: "It's boom time for filming in Britain at the moment; you can't get a studio in London because everything is full.
"It's a combination of a very attractive tax structure right now and world-class crews, which Scotland has many of. We have the personnel but Scotland is not taking advantage of it. Scotland is massively missing out."
He went on to stress that “a catastrophically low” three percent of all UK film and TV production takes place in Scotland and singled out the “palpable lack of ambition” from a recent meeting of the Scottish Parliament’s Economy, Energy and Tourism committee.
The strength of feeling surrounding the situation is perhaps best summed-up by these words from Gormley: “I truly believe, with all my experience and knowledge of this field, that a film studio would be a true hub for our industry, and would gather together the critical mass required, in terms of skills, crewing and ancillary support, to be a game-changer for filmmaking in Scotland.”
Also on The Knowledge
Steven Knight drama showcases West Midlands locations
Steven Knight’s new 1980s-set drama, This Town, filmed at Digbeth Loc. Studios and on locations around the West Midlands.
Blankety Blank wins two more series
Thames has greenlit two more series of revamped game show Blankety Blank for delivery to BBC One.
Peaky Blinders film to shoot in September
Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight has confirmed that the film version of the period drama is eyeing a September start.
Shepperton expansion opens as Amazon MGM and Netflix move in
The major new expansion of Shepperton Studios is now open with the third series of Prime Video’s The Devil’s Hour now filming.
New film and TV studio to open in Hertfordshire
A new, purpose-built film and TV studio is to open in Hertfordshire this spring, the first high-spec facility in the St Albans area.
Government reveals plans for north-east production powerhouse
Following the announcement during the recent budget that Crown Works Studios in Sunderland would receive up to £120m funding, the Government has released more on its plans for the north-east to become a production powerhouse.