Film shoots deliver £19m boost for Glasgow
GLASGOW’S status as an attractive location for film shoots boosted the city’s economy by more than £19million last year.
New figures released by Glasgow Film Office reveal the impact film, broadcast and advertising productions have on the city.
The £19.1m injection, a 26 per cent increase on 2017, makes up part of over £320m generated in Glasgow since the launch of the film office in 1997.
In that time, a raft of top films and TV shows have been shot in the city.
These include Outlaw King, The Wife, Still Game, Outlander, The Replacement, Shetland, Trainspotting 2, Churchill, Wild Rose and Fast & Furious 6.
Last year, Hobbs & Shaw, a Fast & Furious spin-off, was filmed in the city centre.
David McDonald, Depute Leader at Glasgow City Council, said: “These latest figures confirm Glasgow’s status as a go-to destination for the film and broadcast industry and both show the importance of filming to the city’s economy.
“The work of the council’s film office continues to bear fruit, and the latest figures underline the importance of not only attracting productions but supporting local companies in the industry.
“Glasgow Film Office is in continuous discussion with production representatives and location managers, and, as a result, more major films and broadcast programmes and features can be expected to be coming to the city soon.”
Glasgow City Council’s film office works to promote Glasgow as a ‘film-friendly’ city.
It works with production companies looking to film in the city, helping them to meet with public bodies and location owners.
Working with partners through the Glasgow Film Partnership, the office aims to make filming as simple as possible.
It also claims one of its key aims is ensuring minimum possible impact on daily life in Glasgow.
Claire Mundell, producer at Glasgow-based Synchronicity Films, said: “The support we received from Glasgow Film Office – in return for a commitment to use Glasgow-based facilities companies – was extremely important to the production of our BBC1 show The Cry.
“The Glasgow Film Office fund is easy to access and encourages local spend, incentivising Glasgow-based production companies like us at Synchronicity to work with other local businesses, thereby growing the industry on the ground here together.
“We are very grateful for the support we have received on The Cry, and also the two films we brought to shoot in Glasgow over the last two year – Only You and The Party’s Just Beginning.”
Partners in the film partnership, which has over 60 members, include Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, the University of Glasgow, Glasgow Science Centre, Glasgow Airport and Network Rail.
In October last year, Idris Elba was spotted roaming the streets of Glasgow as scenes were shot for Hobbs & Shaw.
Universal Pictures production used a number of locations around Glasgow for the film, which stars Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham. Theses included George Square, Ingram Street and St Vincent Street.