Finding the right location in Scotland starts with a free, confidential service. The Screen Commission, part of Screen Scotland, offers a fast, free and fully confidential locations service to help incoming productions make the most of the country. Screen Scotland itself sits within Creative Scotland and is funded by the Scottish Government and the National Lottery.
From there, the support builds step by step. For example, the Commission manages a database of location images, tells productions which location managers and scouts are available, and provides information on local crews, talent and facilities. It also works with regional film offices and national partners such as the National Trust for Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland and Transport Scotland. In some cases, it can even help with recce funding and accommodation deals.
When it comes to money, productions in Scotland can claim the UK-wide Audio-Visual Expenditure Credit, at 34% for film and high-end TV, 39% for animation and children’s TV, and 53% for independent films. On top of that, Screen Scotland runs its own funds. The Production Growth Fund targets large-scale film and TV projects with a minimum Scottish spend of £2 million. In addition, the Project Post Fund offers grants of £5,000 to £100,000 for post-production and VFX completed in Scotland.
Studio space is growing too, from FirstStage Studios in Leith and Wardpark in Cumbernauld to Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall and The Pyramids in Bathgate. Meanwhile, recent returning series include The Traitors, Vigil, Shetland, Outlander: Blood of My Blood and Netflix’s Dept. Q.
Looking ahead, Screen Scotland aims for the sector to contribute £1 billion to the Scottish economy by 2030/31.
Read more: Cinema & Video International Issue #209
