Plea to Sturgeon over studio saga
● First Minister urged to intervene to rescue troubled green belt project
Almost 250 film and television producers, directors and leading behind-the-scenes workers in Scotland have urged Nicola Sturgeon to intervene to ensure a controversial studio complex on the outskirts of Edinburgh goes ahead.
Leading figures who have worked on Outlander, Star Wars Trainspotting 2, The BFG, Whisky Galore and Sunset Song have warned the First Minister that Scotland risks lagging further behind the rest of the UK if the Pentland Studios project is rejected.
They say the lack of a studio facility means “very little” is able to be filmed over the winter months due to poor weather and limited daylight.
They are also warning that Scotland’s “highly-skilled” freelance workforce is finding it increasingly difficult to make a permanent career in their home country and are being forced to either move away or spend long periods away from home.
Plans to create a studio complex on green belt land in Midlothian have been stalled amid claims the privately-financed project is totally unsuited for the site. If given the go-ahead by ministers it would become Scotland’s first purpose-built facilityformajorproductions.
The letter to Ms Sturgeon, compiled by the Association of Film and Television Producers
0 Developers announced plans to create Scotland’s first purpose-built film studio two years ago Scotland, has also been sent to culture secretary Fiona Hyslop, education secretary Angela Constance and local government minister Kevin Stewart.
Among the signatories are Whisky Galore producer Alan Wands, Michael Wilson, production manager on Outlander, Tommy Gormley, first assistant director on Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and location managers David Taylor and Miglet Crichton, whose credits include Whisky Galore, Sunset Song and Under The Skin.
The letter states: “The screen sector in Scotland is failing badly and the public sector is failing its screen sector. Our share of the current UK production activity for feature films is currently around three per cent of the national total and we receive a smaller percentage of the BBC licence fee.
“Every week there is a ‘good news story’ from other parts of the UK: new studios, more production activity, more deals being struck and increased spend figures and employment as production activity remains at a record high. Meanwhile the industry in Scotland falls even further behind.
“What is urgently needed is a facility that allows for yearround activity, which can be heated and cooled with maximum efficiency, and can house a number of productions simultaneously, both incoming and indigenous.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: “We have made clear our determination to deliver permanent film studio infrastructure so that our screen industry continues to strengthen and grow. In relation to the Pentland Studios proposals, all those who have an interest have had an opportunity to put their case to the reporter so it would be inappropriate for ministers to offer any comment.”