South Tyneside Council is working to make the borough film friendly.
The Council recently signed the Film Friendly Charter with North East Screen to show its commitment to working in partnership to make the North East a filming friendly region.
The signing builds on the Council’s support for the region’s TV and Film production industry as part of the North East Screen Industries Partnership (NESIP).
Last year the BBC pledged to increase production and support for the creative sector, with a commitment to invest almost £25m in the region over the next five years to fund TV production and talent development. North East authorities agreed to provide a combined additional £11.4m over the same term.
The BBC has referred to the partnership with the region as its biggest investment in the North East of England for decades.
Cllr Tracey Dixon, Leader of South Tyneside Council said:
“We’ve already signed a memorandum of understanding designed to breathe new life into our regional film and television industry. Signing the Charter is the next step and renews our commitment.
“The Film Friendly Charter recognises the positive economic and cultural benefits hosting filming activity has on an area, bringing jobs and economic investment into the region.
“Being a filming friendly council is about maximising the benefits of bringing productions to the borough and making it a positive experience for everyone involved.
“We will provide a single point of contact for production companies, building a network of all council departments impacted by filming, facilitate the use of council property and work with North East Screen on publicity.
“We already have a wealth of filming taking place across the borough and wider North East region and we want to expand that even further, to raise our profile for other potential film and television productions, put the borough on the map and highlight our strengths on a national stage.”
The screen industry brings jobs and economic investment into the region. The council, as part of the NESIP, is working to deliver a new Screen Industries Development Programme. It aims to attract more inward investment and create “good-quality, well paid jobs” within the industry while developing, attracting, and retaining talent in the sector.
The scheme includes the scaling-up of the region’s screen agency, North East Screen to deliver increased activity, alongside a production development and support fund, with further opportunities to develop businesses and skills that the sector needs to thrive.
Alison Gwynn, Chief Executive of North East Screen said:
“We are working closely with the North East Screen Industries Partnership and the BBC to encourage and promote filming across the North East. We want all parts of our region to benefit. It is important that each local authority area is committed to welcome production crews and make the process of filming as smooth as can be. North East Screen will support them to do this.
“The economic and tourism benefits of a production filming in our area and the jobs it can create for local crew, as well as local businesses across the supply chain, is something we don’t want any part of the North East to miss out on.
“We are delighted that South Tyneside Council has signed up to the charter and look forward to working with them to encourage more filming in the borough.”
Alison Gwynn, Chief Executive of North East Screen joined Ian Farrar for a South Tyneside Business Talk earlier this year. Watch the Alison Gwynn Business Talk.
