SCREEN experts are to advise local businesses on how they can cash in on the Bradford district’s increasing popularity as a film and TV production location.
As part of the Bradford International Film Summit, lobbying group Bradford Breakthrough is organising an event for local companies entitled the Business of Film. It will explain how local firms can meet the needs of film and TV productions.
Speakers at the event on March 5 at the Midland Hotel, will include David Wilson, director of Bradford Unesco City of Film, Sally Joynson, chief executive of Screen Yorkshire, and Richard Knight, head of production for Screen Yorkshire and a former location manager.
David Wilson said: “Out of the 34 filming requests we had in 2014, 48 days of filming took place in the Bradford district including well-known TV shows and many big budget feature films.
“These productions include The One Show, Heston Blumenthal Great British Food, DCI Banks, US multi million dollar feature film Hunters Prayer, Miss You Already featuring Drew Barrymore, Hockney and Testament of Youth.
“Based on the success of 2014 we are confident that filming will continue to increase and we are now looking for businesses to join our City of Film supplier database so that we pass details on to film productions when they are based in the area.”
Richard Knight added “Bradford is an extremely cinematic city with grand buildings, sweeping views and a great sense of space. The ‘can do’ attitude of the local authorities, residents and businesses alike make it an attractive prospect for filming.
“There are numerous ways that local businesses can capitalise on the influx of film and television projects – the needs of a film crew are varied, usually urgent, and sometimes downright surreal – potentially putting the production into contact with a wide variety of suppliers.
“The film summit provides an ideal opportunity for local businesses to learn the scope and scale of the film production market, and how to tap into it.”
Colin Philpott, Bradford Breakthrough chief executive, said: “This provides a great opportunity for local businesses to benefit by providing a whole range of services to productions when they’re shooting in Bradford. The Business of Film Conference will showcase these exciting opportunities.”
James Kent’s film Testament of Youth, based on the memoirs of feminist writer and pacifist Vera Brittain which is currently on general release, was partly filmed in the Bradford district at locations such as Little Germany and the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway.
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