The UK’s new TV tax credit drove a huge increase in television location filming in its first full year, according to figures published by the British Film Institute (BFI). Designed to bring more high-end TV shoots to the UK, the tax credit attracted Veep, Elementary and 24: Live Another Day.
The National Trust has published a map of the UK filming locations used for the BBC’s historical drama Wolf Hall to help boost tourism. Some 40% of the series was filmed on National Trust properties and the organisation is expecting a 25% increase in visits.
The Scottish government has announced a new loan fund for film producers and money to boost the country’s crew pool. Scotland has enjoyed a profile boost by hosting the US historical romance Outlander, but is under pressure to develop better studio infrastructure.
The Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) and BAFTA have co-hosted a panel discussion in London on how UK producers can get the most out of Ireland’s boosted filming incentives. Major productions filmed in the Dublin area have included Ripper Street and Vikings.
Edinburgh hosted 361 separate productions in 2014, resulting in a local economic impact of nearly GBP 5 million, an increase of 53% on the previous year. Television drama Outlander filmed in the capital for 19 days.
Scotland will face stiff competition to host sci-fi story Seeker, which is set partly in the Scottish Highlands. The Young Adult novel will be published next month and Sony Pictures has already bought the movie rights as it eyes a new franchise in the vein of The Hunger Games.
A new online map launched by VisitScotland details Scottish filming locations used by Bollywood films and is intended to boost film tourism from India. Scotland got a profile boost with the US drama Outlander and has also hosted nearly two dozen Bollywood films.
The BBC is set to film TV drama The Dresser on location in London with Anthony Hopkins and Ian McKellen. Starz, the American network which recently screened the historical, Scottish-filmed drama Outlander, will co-produce the TV movie with the BBC.