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UK’s leading film location services group with West Midlands depot, grows by 18%

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UK’s leading film location services group with West Midlands depot, grows by 18%

James Williams, CEO of Supply 2 Location Group, the UK’s leading supplier of location services and logistics to the film and HETV industry, with a regional depot in the West Midlands issued the following trading statement earlier this week:

“Following the conclusion of our management buy-out in June 2022, we are delighted to announce that our turnover for the year ending 31st May 2023 was £10.2m which is an 18.4% increase on last year and maintains our profile of sustained growth over the last four years. This increase is reflective of the success and continued growth of the UK’s film and HETV industry.

Over the past year, we have also made several strategic investments in our overall plan to complete our UK-wide network.

In December, we opened our Northern depot in Knowsleyquickly followed by our second Scottish depot at Pioneer Studios and our seventh depot serving the Midlands. These new depots will continue to contribute to our growth by providing a highly effective, seamless, integrated hub and spoke network across the UK.

As part of our strategy to reinvest in the latest equipment including environmentally friendly plant, Stage V generators and battery solutions, we have maintained our capital expenditure in line with the previous year at £1.5m.

We are currently in negotiations to establish our first international depot. Whilst at the feasibility stage, it is an exceptional opportunity and would represent a significant step forward in our business development plan.

The industry as a whole, including supply chain infrastructure and technical operations, continues to be affected by the ongoing screenwriters’ and actors’ strikes in America. This will have a far-reaching financial impact around the globe, and we can only hope that it is quickly resolved. Our Group’s exposure to this is mitigated by our broad UK customer base and our diversification into infrastructure support and maintenance including generator refurbishment for major UK blue-chip organisations, which continues to expand weekly.

Supply 2 Location Group continues to lead the way in offering innovative, cost-effective, and flexible solutions tailored to our clients’ budgets, time and location constraints. This depth of experience and determination to be the industry market leader in providing a quality service to the world’s leading TV and film production companies has seen us support this year Walt Disney ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’, Warner Bros ‘The Batman’, Paramount ‘Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning’, Amazon ‘The Rig’, Apple TV ‘Silo13’, Netflix ‘Bridgerton’ and ‘The Witcher‘ and Sony TV ‘Outlander.

Our goal is to continue to develop the S2L brand and growth of our Group, increasing employment opportunities, improving our levels of service and evolving our range of sustainable equipment.”

MIDLANDS: 5-6 Franchise Street, Wednesbury, WS10 9RG, Serving Midlands Region

Source: Supply 2 Location

Kudos Knight appoints Rem Conway to grow West Midlands scripted production pipeline

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Kudos Knight appoints Rem Conway to grow West Midlands scripted production pipeline

Kudos Knight, the creative partnership between leading scripted producer Kudos and Peaky Blinders, SAS Rogue Heroes and This Town creator Steven Knight, earlier this week announced the appointment of Sex Education Producer Rem Conway as their Development Producer to spearhead their ambitious plans to grow a world renowned scripted production hub in the West Midlands.

This new role will support the Kudos Knight management team in developing a vibrant drama slate to be produced in
Birmingham. Identifying and nurturing emerging local voices and proven writers from the area, Rem will work closely
with the Kudos creative team to bring these projects, which will be made in the West Midlands, to life. Particular
focus will be given to championing under-represented and previously unheard voices, to build the most creatively
diverse and exciting pool of talent possible.

The partnership also announced the opening of their new Kudos Knight office at the Minerva Works in Birmingham,
part of Steven Knight’s Digbeth Loc. Studios development, where Rem will be based.

A Birmingham native, Rem began his career in theatre production before making the transition to film and TV. A
writer, producer and director, his production credits include Netflix’s Sex Education, BBC’s My Name is Leon, ITV’s
Our House and ITV/Amazon’s Riches.

Passionate about bridging the gap between grassroots creatives and the wider industry, Rem will work closely with
local partners, cultural organisations, including theatres and screen agencies, to identify writing talent and broaden
the range of the Kudos Knight writer talent base.

Martin Haines, Joint MD of Kudos, said; “Rem is a fantastic addition to the team. He shares our drive to supercharge
scripted production in Birmingham and with him on board, a new Digbeth base, a growing pipeline of productions
and upcoming investment in local skills, there is real momentum behind the Kudos Knight partnership and the TV
industry in Birmingham.”

Rem Conway, Kudos Knight Development Producer, said; “Being a Brummie, this feels like a long-time coming and I
am honoured to be a part of the journey. Birmingham is rich with all the ingredients we need to create world-class
content and being rooted in Digbeth is the first big step for us. Now we’re rooted, I am focused on our reach. I want
to collaborate with trailblazing writers, discover the next generation of storytellers and work with partners that
share our determination to succeed. We’re open for business and ready to go!”

The Kudos Knight Partnership is committed to growing the TV and film industry in the West Midlands and set to
make substantial long-term financial investment in skills and training to grow the local workforce.

In the first initiative to be announced, Kudos Knight will work in partnership with the Birmingham Film Academy, a
boutique, specialist film and television training facility based at Digbeth Loc. Studios. Together they will create access
and pathways for local people into the screen industries, providing practical training courses embedded in industry
practice to ensure participants have the necessary skills needed to serve the growing production sector in the
region.

Steven Knight, said; “Our plan is to change the game in the West Midlands as regards creative industries and in
particular TV and film. We will be a globally important content making hub, hosting the world’s best story tellers and
producing world beating international productions. To take on the world we need the best of Birmingham on our
side. Our doors are open, our story has begun.”

Karen Wilson, Joint MD of Kudos, added; “Birmingham and the West Midlands are a thriving hub of incredibly
talented creative people – from writers and directors, to producers and actors. Working with the brilliant Steven
Knight we will tell stories inspired by the West Midlands to audiences across the globe. It’s an incredibly exciting
time and big things are set to come.”

The Kudos Knight partnership was established to support production and creative development in the region. Kudos
(part of Banijay UK), the production company behind Knight’s recent BBC One drama, SAS Rogue Heroes, as well as
high profile series including Then You Run, Deadwater Fell, Grantchester, Code 404 and International Emmy winning
Responsible Child, signed a deal with Peaky Blinders, SAS Rogue Heroes, Taboo and See creator Steven Knight to build
a scripted production pipeline in Birmingham. Kudos have a first look deal with Steven Knight for UK projects, which
will be made in Birmingham with Knight’s Digbeth Loc. Studios as its hub.

Production has already been completed on the first title from the Kudos Knight slate, This Town which was filmed on
location in Birmingham and Coventry and produced from Digbeth Loc. Studios. The new six-part drama which will air
on BBC One in the UK and explores the beginnings of the two tone music scene which grew from the grass roots of
Coventry and Birmingham in the late 70s and early 80s. Kudos Knight is also currently developing a new drama series
about the life of William Shakespeare, based on a concept by the BAFTA-winning Happy Valley star Sarah Lancashire
and has several high profile developments on its slate.

Source: Kudos Knight

Steven Knight teases the release of This Town on BBC Radio 4

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Steven Knight teases the release of This Town on BBC Radio 4

Peaky Blinders creator, Steven Knight, joined BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Wednesday 2nd August, discussing his major new six-part BBC One project This Town, which was filmed in Birmingham and the West Midlands earlier this year.

This Town is a Brum based 80s family saga, set against the backdrop of the Two-tone scene. To give a flavour of what to expect in This Town, Steven was introduced with a series of 80s songs including Ghost Town by The Specials, On My Radio by The Selecter, and Mirror In The Bathroom by The Beat.

Steven explained how he grew up with this music in the early 80s West Midlands. “The series is not just about the music, it’s about individuals who are in difficult situations for whom the music is a kind of salvation. So it’s a homage to the music, but also a homage to the West Midlands and the people of the West Midlands, who are always endlessly creative.

Steven reveals that This Town is the first of many productions to come out of his new studios in Birmingham, Digbeth Loc. “My ambition is to really increase the level of TV and film production. So we’re converting some derelict but beautiful Victorian warehouses and a waste disposal department and turning them into what will be state of the art studios. We’ve already attracted Master Chef, who will be coming there to have Digbeth as their base.

Really what we want to do is to not plant the industry or land the industry like a spaceship into Birmingham and then put barbed wire around it. We don’t see the point of that. What we want to do is attract and employ local people to train local people to get the skills levels up so that we can actually have people walking and cycling to work when they’re making international and national TV and movies.”

Finally, Steven teases his hopes for the release of This Town to be in the early part of next year. “I’ve watched the first four [episodes] cut together and I would say this, wouldn’t I? But it is quite remarkable.

To listen to the full interview with Steven Knight, click here and go to 02:23:00.

Source: BBC Radio 4 – Today

Film London PFM and NTS open for applications

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Production Finance Market 2023 and New Talent Strand open for applications!

PFM is Film London’s annual feature film market, taking place in October in association with BFI London Film Festival (this year the market runs from 10-11 Oct, at the Thistle Hotel in Marble Arch). Filmmakers can apply with feature projects, and successful applicants take part in an intensive series of one-to-one meetings with financiers (including broadcasters, investors, sales agents, distributors and public funders).

The New Talent strand welcomes applications from filmmaking teams embarking on making their first or second feature. (Note: this year, they’ve removed the €1million budget ceiling.) In addition to giving the selected teams a day of one-to-one meetings with financiers, they offer an intensive Prep Week full of valuable training on pitching, financing and the world of independent film.

For filmmakers interested in applying to the New Talent Strand, Film London are holding some Zoom roundtables in the coming weeks (June 8th, 22nd & 29th) at 4pm. Production & Development Executive Sanj Krishnan will be there to tell filmmakers more about the market and application process and answer any questions. You can register here.

There’s more information on Film London’s website about the PFM and New Talent strand.

And filmmakers can apply for the market here (deadline is Wednesday 6th July at 5pm)

The PFM and NTS Key Dates:

  • 6 July 2023: Application deadline
  • September 2023 (exact dates TBC): New Talent Strand PFM Prep Week
  • 10 October 2023: Production Finance Market Day 1
  • 10 October 2023: New Talent strand Final Prep Day
  • 11 October 2023: Production Finance Market Day 2
  • 11 October 2023: New Talent strand Market Day

Further Questions? Contact: pfm@filmlondon.org.uk

Clean Air Day

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Clean Air Day celebration event encourages small changes to make a big difference.

On Thursday 15 June, shoppers and commuters at Birmingham’s Grand Central had the opportunity to make a personal pledge to improve air quality at an event to mark the UK’s largest campaign on air pollution, Clean Air Day.

Birmingham residents attending the event were be able to talk to Birmingham City Council’s Brum Breathes team to find out more about the work they are doing to improve the city’s air.

Visitors to the event were able to make pledges to use more public transport, to walk more, or to stop idling their car engines, each of which have been identified as simple steps that can make a major impact on air quality.

The event follows the recent launch of the Brum Breathes Fund, which offers a total of £4million in funding to deliver projects that contribute to cleaner air in every ward of the city.

Councillor Liz Clements, Cabinet Member for Transport at Birmingham City Council, said: “Everybody can make positive changes when it comes to improving air quality in the city, and there’s no better time to underline this than Clean Air Day. Through events like this, we can share our message and help build understanding of how small actions can make a big difference“.

Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone

Birmingham City Council introduced a Clean Air Zone in the centre of Birmingham (within the A4540 Middleway) on Tuesday 1 June 2021. In March last year, Birmingham City Council said levels of nitrogen dioxide had dropped 13% since the Clean Air Zone was introduced.

The Clean Air Zone is in operation 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, which means film and tv productions must take this into consideration when looking to shoot in the centre of Birmingham.

No vehicle is banned in the zone, but vehicles that do not meet the emission standards for the zone are subject to a daily fee. The daily fee can be paid online or by phone and it is important to note that a charging day is from midnight to midnight. If you do need to pay the daily fee you can do so six days before your day of travel, the day of travel or six days after your day of travel.

People living inside Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone have now lost their exemption from paying charges, as of 1st June 2023. It means any resident driving a vehicle not compliant with the zone’s emission standards will have to pay £8 from now onwards. The city council said it has contacted the owners of 2,382 vehicles which still had the active exemption up to the 1st June.

There has been an extensive programme of communication to holders of this exemption and they are being reminded that, if they work in the Zone, they may be eligible for the Council’s vehicle scrappage grant,” the council said.

It is important to note that the end of the temporary residents’ exemption does not impact on the permanent exemptions that are in place, which include categories such as emergency vehicles, vehicles with disabled passenger tax class, community vehicles and recovery vehicles.”

To find out if you need to pay the daily fee, visit the GOV.UK website.

For more information about Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone, visit our website.

Sources: www.brumbreathes.co.uk & www.bbc.co.uk/news 

For more industry information, visit Film Birmingham’s news page. Or add us on InstagramTwitter or Facebook.

The Creative Industries Sector Vision

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This sector vision sets out how the government and industry will work together to unlock the growth potential of the creative industries.

The government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport confirmed their commitment to the creative industries as a high-growth priority sector. They announced their ambitious plans to grow the economy and boost creative industries, releasing the following statement:

Our creative industries are a true British success story. They drive economic growth at home – contributing £108 billion in 2021 to the UK economy – and are a brilliant global advert for our creativity and values.

This government is determined to build on their world class excellence and I am today publishing a Creative Industries Sector Vision that will make sure we do that. This Vision is about maximising growth, nurturing young people’s talent and delivering on the creative potential that exists right across the country. By 2030 – working with industry – we plan to grow these industries by £50 billion of gross value added and support a million extra jobs with a pipeline of talent and opportunity for young people.

This sector vision sets out our 2030 goals and objectives to deliver on this. It is a vision for the creative industries to become an even greater growth engine and where creative talent from all backgrounds, and creative businesses from all areas in the UK, can thrive.

One of the Prime Minister’s priority sectors for economic growth, the creative industries are a global British success story growing at more than 1.5 times the rate of the wider economy over the past decade and contributing £108 billion in gross value added (GVA) annually.

Employment in these industries has grown at five times the rate of the rest of the economy since 2011. Speaking at the London Tech Week conference on Monday 12th June, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that Britain’s creative industries were “going like gangbusters” and represent a “unique strength” for the country.

The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said:

“The creative industries are a true British success story, from global music stars like Adele and Ed Sheeran to world-class cultural institutions like the National Theatre.”

“These industries have a special place in our national life and make a unique contribution to how we feel about ourselves as a country.”

“We want to build on this incredible success to drive growth in our economy – one of my key priorities – and to ensure that UK creative industries continue to lead the world long into the future.”

“Backed up with significant new funding, this ambitious plan will help grow the sector by an extra £50 billion while creating one million extra jobs by 2030.”

Culture Secretary, Lucy Frazer, said:

“The imagination and ingenuity of British designers, producers, content creators, writers and artists are spearheading growth right across our economy.”

“The government is backing our creatives to maximise the potential of the creative industries. This Sector Vision is about driving innovation, attracting investment and building on the clusters of creativity across the country. And from first days at school to last days of work, we will nurture the skills needed to build a larger creative workforce to harness the talent needed for continued success.”

“Working with the industry this vision is helping the UK creative sectors go from strength to strength – providing jobs and opportunities, creating world leading content and supporting economic growth across the country.”

You can read the Creative Industries Council and DCMS’ full vision here:

For more industry information, visit Film Birmingham’s news page. Or add us on InstagramTwitter or Facebook.

Festivals on Festivals

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May was a month full of wonderful cinema screenings, workshops, and awards.

FLATPACK FESTIVAL

Flatpack Festival took place over 16th – 21st May across Birmingham, celebrating not only festival no. 17, but also twenty years as an organisation. The festival programme was split into 10 sections, ranging from their Colour Box films for children to their Time Machine archive films. The events were in over 13 locations through the city, including the iconic Moseley Road Baths and the beautiful Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

The festival’s 2023 winners were The Shimmering Extraordinary for the Screendance Award, Birdsong for the Optical Sound Short Film Award, Hardly Working for the WTF Award, Princess Aubergine for the Colour Box Award, and Green Space for the Short Film Award.

WOLVERHAMPTON FILM FESTIVAL

Wolverhampton Film Festival, co-founded by local talents Gurjant Singh and Arun Kapur, was 3 days of magic. From the 26th – 28th May there were fantastic screenings, panel discussions, and networking events in the Newhampton Arts Centre. The awards ceremony at the Molineux Stadium, home of the Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C, was a brilliant atmosphere, with many winners taking home their glass trophies.

BIRMINGHAM PRIDE FESTIVAL

Pride month has now begun, with Birmingham celebrating early with our Pride Festival kicking off on the 27th May. The celebrations continue through the city, with local community cinemas like Journey Film Club doing LGBT+ screenings. The BFIs new release Pretty Red Dress, debut feature from writer and director Dionne Edwards, will also be screening at The Mockingbird Cinema from 16th June.

UPCOMING FESTIVALS

There are many more festivals to come over June, with Fighting Spirit Film Festival staring off with their The Bruce Lee Marathon. The 7th Midlands Movies Awards red carpet ceremony will be on the 10th June at Y Theatre. The Windrush Caribbean Film Festival will continue celebrating the Windrush Generation at the Midlands Art Centre from 13th – 15th June.

Birmingham Indian Film Festival will also be at the MAC and The Electric from 23rd June – 2nd July, screening international festival successes alongside the ever-popular Too Desi Too Queer and new Brit-Asian Shorts programmes. The SAFAR Film Festival is the largest festival in the UK dedicated to cinema from the Arab world, which will be screening at the MAC from 5th – 9th July.

For more industry information, visit Film Birmingham’s news page. Or add us on InstagramTwitter or Facebook.

Lucky Birmingham

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Birmingham has been named the luckiest place to live in the UK by the National Lottery.

It said 205 millionaires had been created in the city since the lottery began in 1994, an equivalent of one every seven weeks.

There have been 35 millionaires made in the city in the past three years – lucky Birmingham.

Kathy Garrett, who hands over prizes to the winners, said the distribution across the nation was “quite even”, but Birmingham just came out on top.

One of the most recent Birmingham winners, Celeste Coles, said she had taken her family to Barbados after receiving £3.6m in the summer.

The National Lottery’s announcement took place at The Library of Birmingham, which had received a £675,200 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund in 2020 to revive the city’s almost-forgotten Birmingham Shakespeare Memorial Library.

The filming of The National Lottery’s announcement was facilitated by Film Birmingham, as The Library of Birmingham is one of Birmingham City Council’s many sites across the region. If you’re interesting in booking a Birmingham City Council location for your film shoot, then please enquire via our website.

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

For more industry information, visit Film Birmingham’s news page. Or add us on InstagramTwitter or Facebook.

West Midland Winners at British Soap Awards 2023

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The British Soap Awards highlighted the best and brightest in the soap industry.

The British Soap Awards returned last night as stars of the UK’s biggest soap operas took to the red carpet. The guest list included stars from Birmingham’s Doctors and many more.

The event is seen as one of, if not the, biggest night for British soaps and is highly-anticipated by fans and cast alike. The night gives fans a chance to relive the most exciting and emotional moments to happen throughout the past year.

The ceremony took place last night (June 4) at The Lowry in Salford. Viewers will be able to watch the proceedings on TV this Tuesday (June 6) at 8pm on ITV1 and stream on ITVX .

The Villain Of The Year award went to Wolverhampton-born and Birmingham-raised Aaron Thiara, for his role as Ravi in EastEnders. Amongst the nominees for Villain Of The Year was Laura White as Princess Buchanan from Doctors.

Chris Walker and Jan Pearson took home the award for Best On-Screen Partnership, for their roles as Rob and Karen Hollins in Birmingham’s BBC Doctors.

There were many nominations from the BBC soap Doctors, filmed in Birmingham. Their nominations were Best Soap, The Millars for Best Family, Chris Walker as Rob Hollins for Best Dramatic Performance, Ian Midlane as Al Haskey for Best Comedy Performance, Kia Pegg as Scarlett Kiernan for Best Newcomer, Hell Is Empty for Scene Of The Year, Valerie And The Forged Prescription for Best Storyline, and Anything But Magnolia and If Wishes Were Horses for Best Single Episode,

For more industry information, visit Film Birmingham’s news page. Or add us on InstagramTwitter or Facebook.

Man Like Mobeen Season 4 Premiere

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Man Like Mobeen S4 premiered at The Bond in Digbeth, on 23rd May.

Hit BBC Three comedy Man Like Mobeen welcomed season four at a glitzy green carpet preview event in Birmingham. The BAFTA nominated series starring comedian Guz Khan follows reformed drug-dealer Mobeen, as he attempts to live as a good Muslim providing for his little sister, whilst trying to escape his troubled past.

Despite Khan’s Coventry roots, filming for the series took place in locations around the West Midlands including Small Heath. Taking place at The Bond in Digbeth on 23rd May, Birmingham fans were able to grab tickets for the premiere event on the BBC Shows and Tours website.

Tanya Qureshi, BBC Head of Comedy said: “I’m delighted that after being busy making movies in Hollywood, Guz found time to return to Small Heath and deliver a truly fantastic new series for Mobeen fans on the BBC.”

Stuart Thomas, senior head of content production for the Midlands added: “It’s been three years since we’ve seen Man Like Mobeen on the screen and it’s brilliant that the show will be back on iPlayer and BBC Three. With Silent Witness and Masterchef coming to the West Midlands soon, our commitment to the region continues to grow”.

Cast members including Guz Khan, Dúaa Karim, Tolu Ogunmefun and co-creator Andy Milligan travelled to the exclusive red-carpet screening in Birmingham, with hundreds of fans attending to watch the first two episodes at The Bond in Digbeth. Other castmates who visited Digbeth included Mark Silcox, Hussina Raja, Salman Akhtar and Perry Fitzpatrick.

Speaking at the premiere, Guz Khan previously said: “What we love most is when people tell us they love the show because we do justice to the characters. Even if someone is a drug dealer or criminal on paper there is a humanity to them, for this season we did research themes of mental health in prison”.

Co-creator Andy Milligan discussed the season’s prison setting and tough talking points, saying “its not just about crime and punishment as you also have adult illiteracy, faith, class and sexuality under one roof. It is a great pressure cooker to explore those issues”.

At the fun-filled premiere in Digbeth, the cast announced that the comedy drama will return to screens on 8th June on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer following a shocking season three finale.

Source: birminghammail.co.uk

For more industry information, visit Film Birmingham’s news page. Or add us on InstagramTwitter or Facebook.