Wales: Boom Time for Production

Sex Education © Sam Taylor & Netflix.

With the growing levels of highprofile work in Wales in recent years, its new film fund has just added fuel to the production fire. There are globally acclaimed projects filming there as well as accelerated studio development – so how is the nation keeping up momentum?

With Welsh-based success stories such as Doctor Who, Sex Education and His Dark Materials, the country’s production prowess is unquestionable. The local industry is now putting further structures in place to make sure this continues.

“Since Creative Wales was established in January 2020, GBP14.2 million of production funding has been successfully awarded to 22 film and television projects, generating over GBP155.6 million of production spend for the Welsh Economy,” commented Penny Skuse of Creative Wales. “Between 2020 and 2021, the screen sector had the highest annual increase in turnover across the creative industries subsectors at an increase of 36%.”

Creative Wales and Ffilm Cymru have also joined forces to create a new fund. Launched in July 2022, the Welsh Film Fund offers a total of GBP1 million per year for the first two years of the programme.

Up to GBP600,000 is available per project for eligible films. GBP400,000 is grant funding from Creative Wales and up to GBP200,000 comes via Ffilm Cymru lottery funds which they administer on behalf of the Arts Council of Wales.

This new approach to film will boost film production in Wales, stimulating growth in the number and variety of productions whilst also maximising the economic impact on the local economy. It will improve employment opportunities, further support the development of a skilled workforce, and demonstrate the excellence of Wales on screen through its world-class talent, crews, facilities and locations.

BBC One’s new drama Wolf will show just what the Welsh Film Fund can do. Supported by Creative Wales and BBC Wales’ MOU, the show’s global reach will undoubtedly showcase the country’s television industry.

“The crews, locations, talent and facilities are world class,” commented by Dan Cheesbrough, managing director of the series production home Hartswood. “We’re delighted to continue building on that with a show as significant and as exciting as Wolf. We are incredibly grateful for the support that the Creative Wales team continue to provide.”

Due for release in 2023, the six part-part series is set to deliver a strong Welsh identity to a global audience generating over GBP6 million in direct economic benefit.

A staple of the Welsh industry, Doctor Who, returned home for filming in November. Taking on the role of the 14th doctor, Ncuti Gatwa will take a turn in Tardis for the 2023 revival.

“2021 was one of the busiest periods of production activity on record in Wales, with a turnover of GBP575 million,” added Skuse. “Creative Wales supported a number of high profile productions during this period including Willow from Lucasfilm

“THIS NEW APPROACH TO FILM WILL BOOST FILM PRODUCTION IN WALES, STIMULATING GROWTH IN THE NUMBER AND VARIETY OF PRODUCTIONS.”

Doctor Who © Sarah Weal & BBC Studios.

BEYOND THE PICTURESQUE LANDSCAPES FOUND ACROSS WALES, THE DEVELOPMENT AND EQUIPPING OF STUDIOS ARE EXPANDING FILMING SPACE POSSIBILITIES TO MORE THAN JUST THE COUNTRY’S NATURAL OFFERINGS. for Disney +, Havoc, a Severn Screen production for Netflix and His Dark Materials season three from Bad Wolf for BBC and HBO. Other significant productions supported recently include Sex Education from Eleven Film for Netflix, plus a second series of The Pact, a Little Door production for BBC.”

Beyond the rugged coastlines of Barafundle Bay and Rhossili Beach, and mountainous national parks like Pembrokeshire and Snowdonia, Wales filming spaces expand to more than just natural offerings. South Wales based studio spaces including Great Point Seren Studios, Dragon Studios and Wolf Studios Wales have led the way in showing the location and production possibilities that filming in Wales can offer.

“Demand for studio space is at an all-time high and this facility will put the north of Wales on the map, providing much-needed space for local and incoming productions,” stated Wales’ deputy minister for arts and sport, Dawn Bowden.

Bad Wolf Studios’ 125,000 sqft of stage space continues to draw in globally renowned actors, producers and directors to its state of the art facilities. Contributing to productions from broadcasters including Sky, HBO, BBC and AMC, Bad Wolf champions Wales’ creative excellence and vibrant production industry. With the 2021 Sony Pictures Television acquisition of a major stake in Bad Wolf, the company has set a path for its international growth.

“The series we shoot here in Wales – His Dark Materials, Industry, A Discovery of Witches and now Doctor Who – all put Wales on the map in terms of the range of locations and the ambition of the creative talent to create incredible new worlds for the screen,” commented Hannah Raybould of Wolf Studios. “Due to the epic storylines these shows have garnered international interest and multiple awards for the cast and behind-the-scenes talent.”

As demand grows for space resulting from the production boom, Wales is well ahead of the curve. Opening the North Wales based Aria Studios, the country has opened in a way like never before, becoming hard to ignore in the global industry. With an investment of GBP1.6 million for development, the film and television studio the way in providing quality facilities for the demand of a global industry.

With the support of the Welsh Government through Creative Wales, the 20,000 sqft of filming and production space was established by Rondo Media and S4C’s commercial arm, S4C Digital Media Limited.

“This investment will be a major boost for the industry in North Wales,“ said Rondo Media’s chief executive Gareth Williams.

Wales’ goal to assert its international reputation is unachievable without the people who make it happen. With initiatives set up to support emerging talents in the industry and the film fund’s expectations for training to be provided by grant recipients, incoming productions form across the globe have the guarantee of a well-equipped creative workforce.

With more than 150 trainees benefitting from paid placements on Creative Wales supported productions in the past two years, the development of the local workforce is still a priority following the fund launch. The requirements for Creative Wales funding recipients ensures that local talent, crew, facilities and locations are invested in. In addition to a portion of the budget assigned to local spending, trainee opportunities are also required to be included in the form of paid placements.

“Our Economic Impact review for 2015 to 2020 showed that we added GBP114 million for the Welsh Economy and over GBP121 million was spent on crew and suppliers in Wales,” added Raynould. “We have had a significant involvement in developing a robust supply chain, in identifying and nurturing talent both internally in the company and through the amazing work of Screen Alliance Wales since 2017.”

Proving to be a well-structured force, the Welsh film industry shows no signs of faltering following its burst into 2022. From state of the art production hubs, an attentive approach to workforce training, and a perseverance towards bringing the local identity to the forefront of the global stage, Wales’ production boom is evidently just the beginning.

“PROVING TO BE A WELL-STRUCTURED FORCE, THE WELSH FILM INDUSTRY SHOWS NO SIGNS OF FALTERING FOLLOWING ITS BURST INTO 2022.