A Bristol-based producer says the BBC suggested
to filmmaker Clara Glyn that she should approach
the Scottish Screen, the public-funded screen
agency run by her husband, for money towards
the cost of her short film Unscrew.
Jeremy Howe, executive producer of the film
for the BBC, admits in a letter to the Scotsman
newspaper, that the application for extra funding
for Unscrew went forward to Scottish
Screen at his suggestion.
The film was granted funding by Scottish Screen,
but subsequent press publicity stirred controversy
and charges of cronyism at the agency. Although
Clara Glynn’s husband John Archer was not
directly involved in considering the Unscrew
application, after differences of opinion with
his board, he resigned his post as Chief Executive
of the film agency.
The Howe Letter
Howe wrote to The Scotsman;
"I fear your readers may have been misled
by your report (7 July) about "cronyism" and
funding for the short film, Unscrew, of which
I am executive producer for the BBC.
"The film was directed by Clara Glynn,
wife of John Archer, and funded by Scottish
Screen, which has a solid reputation for supporting
new talent. The BBC agreed to part-fund the
film, and I suggested that she seek co-funding
from Scottish Screen, as efficient and straightforward
a film-funding partner as any in the United
Kingdom.
"It backed Unscrew because it was a good
script, and not because Clara Glynn is married
to Mr Archer. He took absolutely no part in
the decision.
"We are so delighted with Unscrew that
we have asked Clara Glynn to direct another
short for us. It has also been selected for
the Edinburgh International Film Festival."
The letter was signed by Jeremy Howe, styled
as Executive Producer, Short Films, BBC Whiteladies
Road, Bristol.
There’s a deep irony within all of this.
Glynn’s film Unscrew is about the
complications of ending relationships.
As one film wag remarked quite pointedly, with
respect to the happenings concerning Scottish
Screen’s chief executive, it is hard to
decide if John Archer was unscrewed or just
screwed, but the effect was just the same either
way; he has decided to go.
