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Glasgow plans local production grant as record filming spend is confirmed

Glasgow School of ArtA Glasgow City Council report on the progress of the Glasgow Film Office has found that local production spend reached £57.7m in 2022, an increase of more than £15m on the previous year. 
 

Overall, 156 productions filmed in Glasgow last year, making up the record-breaking revenue on local spend, which was up from £42.2m in 2021.


Although Warner Bros.’ Batgirl was shelved before release, it shot entirely on location in Glasgow, contributing hugely to the total generated for 2022. 
 

In the past decade leading up to 2022, film and television production activity on location in Glasgow is estimated to have delivered £209m into the city's economy.


High-profile films such as Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, The Flash, The Batman and Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw have all filmed in the city. Television dramas have included Shetland, Guilt, Crime (pictured below), Vigil, Annika, the yet to be broadcast dramas Rebus, Night Sleeper and Outlander. 

 

Glasgow's film office and production-friendly approach was praised by industry figures in the report too, with David O’Reilly, location manager on The Batman and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny saying: "I have always been a fan of the architecture and more importantly the people of Glasgow and over the years have been excited to offer it up as location for World War Z, Fast & Furious 6 and more recently The Batman and Indiana Jones.

 

"Jennifer, Hamish, Chris and all the team in Glasgow have always been accommodating and their help on The Batman was essential and invaluable with our filming in the Necropolis and the surrounding streets. Always there for us whatever the hour and whatever the question Glasgow Film Office are among the best location support offices in the UK and I can't wait to get back there."   

 

CrimeHowever, the council report also covers the plan to establish a regional Glasgow production grant, to ensure the city does not lose out to other locales already offering subsidies.


It states: “The introduction of regional production funds in both Liverpool and the North East Screen region (covering North East England) means that Glasgow can’t remain complacent in its success as a regional production centre.  

 

“GFO [Glasgow Film Office] aims to develop a grant for productions filming in the city that will subsidise the cost of hiring facilities and suppliers that offer sustainable filming practices.  The work with the BECTU Vision Screen Sustainability Manager will help to inform the development of this grant which will be drawn from existing budget funds.”
 

GFO was established in 1997, as was the Film Charter for the City of Glasgow, which stamped Glasgow’s aim to become a film-friendly city with the following five commitments to producers:  
 

• GCC inter-departmental and ALEO co-ordination
• facilitation of parking and traffic management
• facilitation of meetings with key external agencies
• a fee structure which seeks only to recoup costs
• a policy of non-interference regarding script content
 

Image credits: Crime via ITV and Buccaneer Media; Glasgow School of Art via Steve Cadman/Creative Commons

 

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