Filming generates £5.2 million for local economy

Filming generates £5.2 million for local economy Image

FifeScreen+TayScreen has released annual figures detailing the film, television and media industry's multi-million pound contribution to the economy of the Fife and Tay region.

The figures show a recovery for film and TV production in 2021-22. Inward investment of £5.2 million was generated from over 100 different productions made in Dundee, Fife and Perth and Kinross.

The sector supports jobs and livelihoods including freelance crew and services that are integral to production such as hospitality and accommodation. It plays a major part in promoting the region for economic and social development and attracting tourism.

Productions such as Star Wars: Andor, Disney’s Wedding Season and Outlander were some of the year’s biggest highlights, with TV dramas such as Karen Pirie and Traces series 2 and factual entertainment including Great Coastal Railway Journeys, Grand Tour Lochdown and House Hunters International bringing enhanced local focus.

Time-travel romantic drama Outlander, now in its sixth season, returned and is now heading for Season 7.

Star Wars: Andor created an other-worldly transformation in Perthshire. A prequel to the Star Wars franchise movie Rogue One, the TV series follows Cassian Andor, a thief turned rebel spy, during the five years prior years. It is due to launch on 21st September on Disney+.

Forensic crime drama Karen Pirie is brand new and currently airing on ITV/STV. With Fife settings, it is based on the works of massively popular crime writer Val McDermid, and is also due to begin airing in September. Meanwhile, Dundee saw a return of Traces for its second series. The city is home to world-leading forensic science research expertise that is an inspiration for the story.

The report arrives as the region continues to recover from the pandemic. The industry was at an all-time high when COVID hit. COVID saw production shut down or limited during much of 2020, however the industry has been coming back strongly with overall production getting towards pre-pandemic levels.

The FifeScreen+TayScreen office recorded a total of over 430 filming days at locations across the region. This was also an increase in the number of film days.

Dundee’s City Development convener Mark Flynn said: “Dundee and the surrounding area continues to show the attractiveness of its many and diverse locations, from the globally famous to the unexpectedly appealing. Added to this is the culture and ‘can do’ reception of a region with a thriving creative sector and collaborative spirit.

“We are confident that, with the support of our Tayscreen office, the region will continue to attract production of all types as the industry seeks to recover from the impacts of Covid-19 and responds to the economic challenges lying ahead.”

Gordon Mole, Head of Business and Employability, Fife Council, added: “2019/20 was a year of unprecedented success for Fife and the region, and I welcome the strong return of filming in the last year. The region benefits from its easy access to studio and production facilities, and the work of FifeScreen, working closely with the Council, and a skilled creative industries workforce helps bring our locations and hospitality to wide and diverse audiences. It is well known that ‘reel’ experiences provide a key motivator to experiencing places for real.”

Councillor Andrew Parrott, Convener of Perth & Kinross Council’s Environment, Infrastructure and Economic Development Committee, said: “The region combines amazing locations and a warm welcome that is highly attractive to productions and which contributes to raising the profile of Perthshire and the wider region for tourism, investment and to help secure jobs. At this highly challenging time for everyone and with special challenges for tourism, screen is a vital way to keep promoting places and experiences.”

VisitScotland Film and Creative Industries Manager Jenni Steele said: “Fife and Tayside continue to hold huge appeal for filmmakers as these figures show, hosting some of the world’s biggest film and television productions in the past year.

“Providing a welcome boost to the local economy, these productions have also helped to support the recovery of our industry providing bookings for accommodation and hospitality businesses and supporting local jobs. With more productions in the pipeline for the region, we hope to see this recovery effect continue.

“Providing a shop window for Fife and Tay’s incredible landscapes, heritage and culture to UK and international audiences, we hope these productions will inspire travel to the region over the coming months and long term. We know from our own research that many viewers continue to be inspired to travel to filming destinations long after the film or television show’s release.”

FifeScreen+TayScreen serves the councils of Dundee City, Fife and Perth & Kinross. The office promotes the region to attract production and supports development of the screen, digital and technology sectors in the region. Offering a free service to all media planning to film or work in the region, the office is a one-stop-shop to help make production go as smoothly and easily as possible on location.

TayScreen collaborates with Creative Scotland/Screen Scotland and other screen offices across Scotland like Edinburgh and Glasgow through the Scottish Locations Network and is also a member of Film Offices UK and the European Film Commissions Network.

Production in the region also means jobs and business opportunities for everyone from crew to accommodation and catering, not to mention the diverse activities, services and products that are featured like golf, windsurfing, food and drink. Production translates into hundreds of hours of free on-screen promotion through all the ways people interact with and enjoy content - broadcast, on demand, Amazon, Hulu, Netflix and now Britbox. The range of channels is ever growing.

The office always wants to hear from people who want to get involved in any way with production and also offers an online directory for promotion of regional locations and services and a Moviemap that shows what has filmed where. Just go to www.tayscreen.com

Union Street Design Proposals Exhibition

Union Street Design Proposals Exhibition

People are being encouraged to visit a new exhibition showing the proposed transformation of...

28/03/24

Family Voices at Forefront of Alcohol and Drug Services

Family Voices at Forefront of Alcohol and Drug Services

The voices of Dundee families are to help shape the way that local drug and alcohol services are...

28/03/24