Member Article

Tees Valley to entice more filming to the North East

The Tees Valley moves a step closer to securing more film production for the region as all five local authorities from the area sign up to a filming partnership.

Redcar and Cleveland Council, Darlington Borough Council, Hartlepool Borough Council, Middlesbrough Council and Stockton Council will each sign up to Northern Film & Media’s Filming Friendly Partnership Charter - the Regional Screen Agency’s strategy for bringing more film and TV to the North East.

Seven local authorities across the North East have already signed up to the partnership, though this is the first time that more than one local authority has signed at one time. The specially arranged event is to take place today in the Regent Cinema in Redcar - a prime location used by the Golden Globe and BAFTA winning film Atonement; a film also nominated for seven Oscars.

Tom Harvey, Northern Film & Media chief executive, said: “The North East already has the world class locations, but we need to make it quicker and easier - more attractive - for production companies to shoot here. “£7m is brought into the region every year by production companies shooting in the region. This translates to £20,000 a day spent in our restaurants, hotels, and shops; on crew, facilities and services. This is a good start, but through this charter and these key partnerships we aim to encourage more films, TV programmes and advertisement to shoot here.”

Redcar and Cleveland Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism Councillor Sheelagh Clarke said: “We have already seen the great benefits of partnership working through the success of Atonement. We have also drawn up our own filming policy and this new partnership can only help to build on this.”

The Filming Friendly Partnership was launched on the set of Atonement in the summer of 2006. The charter equips local authorities with the knowledge to deal with production effectively when filming takes place in their region and also reap the many benefits.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .