Powerful new screen industry body puts region in the picture
Peaky Blinders writer on board for launch of film and games sector champion
ANEW body to boost the West Midlands’ screen industries has been officially launched. Peaky Blinders writer Steven Knight is playing a central role in creating a powerful new body to “turbo-charge” the region’s filmmaking industry.
Knight, with Nativity film franchise founder Debbie Isitt and other leading lights from the region’s TV, film and games industries, joined West Midlands mayor Andy Street to launch Create Central – Home of Original Story Telling.
It has been developed to build on the region’s existing creative talent, drive investment and create thousands of new jobs.
Its four aims are:
To develop a single delivery plan; Secure and deliver public and private funds;
Commission
a
variety
programmes of activity;
Lobby and promote
Midlands screen industry.
Speaking at the launch event in Digbeth, Mr Knight – who is planning to build his own production studios in the region – said: “The West Midlands will be the big new ‘everything’ in European film and television production.
“It will be bigger and better and the people who make the region what it is will be nurtured and inspired to make great moving image content.”
Mr Street added: “There has never been a better time to invest in and support our creative sector in the West Midlands.
“This is a boom time for production in the industry with the likes of Amazon, Apple, Disney and Netflix all investing hundreds of millions of pounds in original UK content.
“As the home of original storytelling, our region has the tradition and talent to capitalise on this in a
the
West big way. Create Central will harness the talent of the brightest and best people within the industry so we can turbo charge our creative sector and lead the way once again.”
West Midlands Combined Authority will work with Create Central to deliver a scheme aimed at training more people for jobs in the film, TV and games sectors.
The authority will make up to £500,000 available to launch a series of “bootcamps” in collaboration with industry bodies ScreenSkills and Ukie and local colleges by the end of 2019.
The combined authority is hoping to see 29,000 new, high-skilled jobs in the digital and creative industries created by 2030.
Create Central’s board contains a host industry figures including Mr Knight and Citizen Khan creator Adil Ray and is chaired by Ed Shedd, a founder member of production company Monkey.
Cllr Ian Brookfield, WMCA portfolio holder for economy and innovation and leader of City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “This new body is a key part of our industrial strategy which maps out how we will grow our economy in a way that benefits all our communities.
“Expanding our creative sector will support that growth and bring exciting new jobs and opportunities for local people.
“We will help equip them with the skills jobs.
“By putting the industry in the driving seat we can create an agile and responsive body that can make the most of the region’s existing opportunities and generate new ones.
“But Create Central cannot do this alone, it’s only going to be possible in real partnership with the many fantastic public initiatives in this region and nationally.”
Create Central also aims to capitalise on the region’s status as the UK’s only city-wide 5G testbed – a technology it believes will be invaluable to digital and creative innovators including Leamington Spa’s internationally-recognised games companies.
The area around the town has been dubbed “Silicon Spa” due to the concentration of games companies producing console blockbusters such as F1, Forza Horizon and Tom Clancy’s The Division.
they The launch of the new body follows the 18-month long West Midlands Screen Bureau Project, which was funded by the BFI through National Lottery funding from the Creative Clusters Growth Fund.
The project ended with the publication of the Clusters Development Plan, which sets out a number of recommendations including the setting up of:
A screen industry body such as Create Central;
A strategic approach to new infrastructure such as studios, hubs and flexible spaces;
Screen skills training and development;
Networks to help the industry work together on joint projects and other initiatives.
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The West Midlands will be the big new ‘everything’ in European film and television production Peaky Blinders creator
Steven Knight