THE exasperation of the committee members was all too evident during the discussions on the lack of progress made by the Scottish Government's Film Studio Delivery Group this week.
Patrick Harvie and Johann Lamont in particular clearly expressed their frustrations with the time and effort that has been spent in deliberation thus far. No such matter of public policy or spend is deserving of a 20-month period of repeated consultation and hand wringing.
Yet again, the European Commission's state aid decision on the recovery of €265 million from the Ciudad de la Luz film studio complex in Valencia was used as a benchmark of misappropriation of public funds in the context of screen production developments.
We are fully aware of the General Block Exemption Regulation in respect of aid for film studio infrastructure, but there is the opportunity in Scotland to deliver a more ambitious proposal than a stand-alone film studio. How about a screen production facility framed around film, television, animation, digital, innovation, education, training and job creation? A £10m investment in a Scottish production facility would be less than four per cent of the level of investment in Valencia, and for a different purpose.
Have these options been fully explored under state aid rules? There are various models by which this could be developed, both operational and financial, but requires engagement with organisations like Film City Glasgow to develop such a proposal. However, the FSDG has been tasked with delivering a very one-dimensional solution, one that is restricted itself by European law.
One only has to consider visionary developments such as the Sharp Project in Manchester to understand what is achievable. With a fearless project champion in Sue Woodward, ex-head of ITV Granada and Creative Director of the 2002 Commonwealth Games, Manchester has delivered a cluster for screen, creative and digital talent, with production space attached. There is now a second iteration, The Space Project, providing five stages and ancillary space, with more than £20m of European and local authority funds now invested. Crucially, the ambition is for sustainability, future proofing and convergence of disciplines that will "not only create new jobs, but the jobs that haven't been invented yet."
We are not in any way advocating a carbon copy of such a facility, but for the FSDG and the Government to recognise that leadership, innovative thought, and political will are the key catalysts that will create an industry and the according infrastructure in Scotland.
Film City Glasgow makes no apology for its ambition to grow and be part of this process, and calls on the Government to recognise that the requirement for the FSDG has now expired, and there is now the opportunity for us to work collaboratively to deliver a 21st -century facility for Scotland.
Tiernan Kelly,
Director, Film City Glasgow, 401 Govan Road, Glasgow.
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