Edinburgh will be abandoned by film-makers if cuts to its movie locations team go ahead, leading producers have warned.
Thirty of Scotland's film and TV location managers have signed an open letter urging Marketing Edinburgh not to cut back on its movie agency staff.
Managers and producers who have worked on The Angels' Share, Rebus, Sweet Sixteen, Cloud Atlas, The Da Vinci Code, Bourne Ultimatum, and James Bond film Quantum of Solace, have aksed Marketing Edinburgh to reconsider its "misguided decision" to halve the number of dedicated staff at Edinburgh Film Focus (EFF).
They believe it sends the message that attracting TV and films to Edinburgh is no longer a priority.
The film office, which is estimated to bring in £5 million to the capital's economy, is being cut from two to one staff member in a restructuring plan.
The producers, including Rebecca O'Brien, Ken Loach's long-time producer for The Angels' Share and Sweet Sixteen, believe the changes are a false economy with the likely consequence of productions looking elsewhere.
The letter says: "We write to explain how Marketing Edinburgh's misguided decision will be viewed by the film and TV industry.
"Cutting staff from two to one person sends only one message – that attracting production to Edinburgh is no longer a priority."
It adds that Edinburgh had the first film office in Scotland and became the blueprint for all other film offices to aspire to.
Glasgow's film office has had success in recent years, and last year an estimated £20m was generated by filming for major productions such World War Z, Cloud Atlas and Under the Skin.
The letter adds: "If, as it appears, EFF sits uncomfortably within Marketing Edinburgh, perhaps it should again become the independent organisation it was, affiliated to and funded directly by the various councils whom they support."
A spokeswoman for Marketing Edinburgh said: "We have had to make some difficult decisions in order to make sure Marketing Edinburgh has the breadth of skills and resources it requires to meet the numerous opportunities to promote Scotland's capital.
"We will continue with this structure and review and measure performance as we go to make sure that the organisation as a whole thrives, whilst delivering significant economic return to the city of Edinburgh."
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