Scottish
Screen are to bring in changes to the way they operate
lottery funding for production and development, with a
future emphasis on backing talent with quality projects
rather than box office potential.
The agency have been discussing changes internally with
the Scottish Screen Board, staff and the Lottery Committee
and recently held a public consultation with the industry
in Scotland.
The discussion has been concerned with the way Lottery
Funding has been operated for development and production,
with the agency looking now at best strategy for the long-term
focusing on the talent plus quality project combination.
John Archer, Scottish Screen’s Chief executive, explaining
the new approach, says;"Talent in this context includes
production companies, since one of the aims is to build
the Scottish industry. Success should be judged against
a whole range of criteria – for example job creation,
production spend in local economies, and long-term development
of careers – rather than on the narrow focus of UK
box office."
John Archer says this may mean tracking careers over a
long period, since the work done on an early film with
public funding may bear real fruit two or three films
later. And Scottish Screen will be looking to fund a variety
of work of the right quality, as he explains; "We
are open to a broad range of projects from the populist
to the esoteric. As long as projects meet our criteria
and are of a high quality they will be considered for
funding."
A Scottish dimension remains as an essential part of any
proposal for Scottish Screen funding, but this is to be
kept as broad as possible. As John Archer puts it; "Eligible
projects might combine a robust and creative relationship
to Scottish cultural values with the appeal to be seen
as widely as possible out of Scotland: distinctly Scottish
but not merely so. The Scottish connection could also
be through the talent involved, rather than the story
or setting. Or provide jobs using Scottish talent and
skills, bringing financial benefits to the Scottish economy."
This could make production funding more of a location
incentive to bring new opportunities to Scotland, a lever
for other investors to bring in partnership funding.
Essentially though, the new approach is seen as a boost
for Scotland’s talent. "Through development
support for projects and companies," Archer says,
"We are developing a deeper and a wider talent base
in Scotland – more people capable of writing good
scripts, more directors, more actors and more producers."
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Scottish
Screen are to bring in changes to the way they operate
lottery funding for production and development, with a
future emphasis on backing talent with quality projects
rather than box office potential. 