Economy Secretary In London Promoting Wales As A Premier Filming Location

Economy Secretary, Ken Skates will be in London today, meeting major TV and film producers and promoting Wales as a premier location in which to film. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As part of Wales Week in London the Economy Secretary will be showcasing Wales’ significant success in attracting productions such as Will, The Collection and Sherlock to an audience of influential TV and film producers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He will also launch a new promotional showreel (external link), introduced by Hollywood A-lister, Michael Sheen, that features clips from the some of the latest major productions filmed in Wales and promotes everything that the country has to offer as a filming location. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The showreel features footage from The Bastard Executioner (Fox), The Collection (Lookout Point), Doctor Who (BBC) and Sherlock (Hartswood Films) and highlights other productions filmed in Wales in recent years including Criminal, Me Before You, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, Transformers: The Last Knight and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It contains interviews with producers Steven Moffat (Doctor Who; Sherlock); Jane Tranter co-founder of Bad Wolf and Oliver Goldstick (The Collection) who extol the benefits of filming in Wales including superb locations, experienced crews, great facilities, accommodation and the general film-friendliness and support available. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Locations also play a major part in the showreel, showcasing the versatility and beauty that exists in Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The showreel reflects what was an extremely busy and successful 2016 for Wales Screen – part of the Welsh Government’s Creative Industries team – which handled 386 production enquiries and recorded more than £41m spent in Wales by productions supported by the Welsh Government. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Economy Secretary Ken Skates said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I am delighted to be in London as part of Wales in London Week promoting Wales as the premier filming location that it genuinely is. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Creative Industry is a huge growth area for our economy and 2016 was a stellar year for TV and film production in Wales – but we are determined to keep building on our success . ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The showreel is an excellent promotional tool to help us achieve this, focusing on everything that Wales has to offer film makers. It will be used extensively at specialist events throughout the year to target key UK and international players in the creative sector ” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Michael Sheen said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Wales can offer the best of everything for film-makers. I believe the successes of 2016 are only the beginning. The future for the creative industries in Wales is massively exciting.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​