Irish Film Industry

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/republic-of-ireland/film-industry-could-boost-economy-14959227.html

Film industry 'could boost economy'

Sunday, 26 September 2010

The Irish economy is expected to get a 200 million euro boost from the film and television industry, it emerged.

Culture Minister Mary Hanafin visited the set of a feature film in Killiney, where she said the country was more competitive than ever as a destination for international film makers.

Neverland, which stars Bafta winner Rhys Ifans, Oscar nominee Bob Hoskins and Golden Globe nominee Anna Friel, is filming for 11 weeks around Blessington Lakes and in and around the Dublin area.

About 180 crew and hundreds of extras will be employed during the filming of the two-part prequel to the Peter Pan story.

Ms Hanafin said: "Major international productions such as Neverland provide an economic boost to Ireland, with significant employment across a huge variety of sectors, with creative input from actors and production crew right through to electrical, make up and transport. Having such skilled crews for these productions helps keep Ireland very much in the forefront of global film-makers' decision making."

Despite the economic downturn production activity has continued to grow throughout 2010, including US feature film Knockout, starring Ewan McGregor and Michael Fassbender, popular TV series Primeval and the multi million US drama Camelot.

The Irish Film Board said the works are estimated to bring 200 million euro in to the country through spending on local goods, employment and services.

Ms Hanafin said incoming productions translate into increased international investment, employment and promote Ireland as a tourist destination.

"Film and television production in Ireland enables us to showcase the talented people that we have in our creative industries as well as the natural beauty of the varied scenery throughout the country, including the magical scenery being filmed here in Killiney," said Ms Hanafin.

"Added to that all international productions will feel the warmth of the Irish welcome from people throughout the country, while they go about their hectic work schedule."

http://movies.broadwayworld.com/article/Film_and_Television_Industry_Expected_to_Boost_Irish_Economy_by_200_Million_This_Year_20100926

Film and Television Industry Expected to Boost Irish Economy by €200 Million

Sunday, September 26, 2010; Posted: 11:09 AM - by BWW News Desk

Mary Hanafin TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport visited the set of the feature film ‘Neverland' currently in production in Ireland. ‘Neverland' is one of many film and TV productions filming in Ireland this year which will be exported to audiences around the globe. It is estimated that, despite the global financial downturn, the entire film and television industry will contribute an estimated €200 million to the Irish economy in 2010 in terms of spend on local goods, employment and services.

Produced by Alan Moloney and Redmond Morris, ‘Neverland' is the first original mini-series commission for Sky Movies HD, and is written and directed by Nick Willing (Alice, Tin Man). The film stars BAFTA winner Rhys Ifans (Not Only but Always, Notting Hill), Golden Globe nominee Anna Friel (Pushing Daisies, Bathory) Oscar® nominee Bob Hoskins (Hook, Made in Dagenhamand, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?).

Award winning Irish crew working on the project include cinematographer Seamus Deasy (A Film With Me In It) and Emmy nominee Emer Ni Mhaoldomhnaigh (David Copperfield, Brideshead Revisited) as costume designer. The production is filming for eleven weeks in Ireland around locations in Killiney, Blessington Lakes and in and around the Dublin area. The production is currently employing 180 crew and 1000 extra days.

After meeting cast and crew on the set in Killiney, Minister Hanafin said "major international productions such as Neverland provide an economic boost to Ireland, with significant employment across a huge variety of sectors, with creative input from actors and production crew right through to electrical, make up and transport. Having such skilled crews for these productions helps keep Ireland very much in the forefront of global film-makers decision making. And the improvements to Section 481 introduced last year have increased Ireland's competitive position as an international film and television destination."

Levels of production activity has continued to increase throughout 2010 which kicked off with the filming of the major US feature film ‘Knockout', directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Ewan McGregor and Michael Fassbender. The popular ITV series ‘Primeval' also filmed in Ireland for 30 weeks this year and the multi million US drama ‘Camelot' is currently in production in Ardmore studios, following in the footsteps of ‘The Tudors' which filmed on location in Ireland for the last four years.

Minister Hanafin went on to say "these incoming productions translate into increased international investment in the Irish economy, increased employment and positive spin-off effects for promoting Ireland as a tourist destination. Film and television production in Ireland enables us to showcase the talented people that we have in our creative industries as well as the natural beauty of the varied scenery throughout the country, including the magical scenery being filmed here in Killiney. Added to that all international productions will feel the warmth of the Irish welcome from people throughout the country, while they go about their hectic work schedule."

‘Neverland' is a two-part prequel to the Peter Pan story produced by Parallel Films (The Clinic, Perrier's Bounty) and is a new take on the original mythology of JM Barrie's famous story that looks to provide an intriguing history of many of the beloved characters including The Lost Boys, Captain Hook, The Indians, Croc and Neverland itself.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/film-industry-gets-indian-summer-with-euro200m-boost-2354083.html

Film industry gets Indian summer with €200m boost

By Grainne Cunningham

Monday September 27 2010

LIGHTS, camera, and a larger slice of the action.

The Irish economy is to reap the benefits of a €200m bonanza in film and television this year, Tourism and Culture Minister Mary Hanafin said yesterday.

She was speaking on the set of 'Neverland' in Killiney, Co Dublin.

'Neverland', a two-part prequel to the Peter Pan story, is just one of a bumper number of feature films and TV dramas being filmed here this year.

Ms Hanafin said major international productions were more likely to choose Ireland as their film location as a result of changes to the tax incentive Section 481 last year.

A spokeswoman for the Irish Film Board (IFB) confirmed that the impact of changes to Section 481 was only being felt this year, since film projects had a lengthy lead-in period.

The changes mean that overseas film production companies reap tax benefits on a larger proportion of their budget -- up to 28pc -- with both film and TV productions qualifying.

"It's an incredibly competitive industry and nearly every country in the world is chasing these mobile units, but Ireland has a competitive edge for high-end TV drama and feature films," the IFB spokeswoman said.

Ireland has increasingly been losing out on TV and film productions to locations in Eastern Europe in recent years. This year started with the filming of Steven Soderbergh's 'Knockout', starring Ewan McGregor and Michael Fassbender. In August, red carpet stars such as Sean Penn and Frances McDormand flew in for the filming of 'This Must Be the Place', while Rhys Ifans, Anna Friel and Bob Hoskins are currently here for 'Neverland'.

The ITV series 'Primeval' and the multimillion-dollar US drama 'Camelot' also chose Ireland for their productions. More than 6,000 workers are employed in the sector in Ireland but their employment has been threatened in recent years by the appeal of their lower-cost rivals in Eastern Europe.

- Grainne Cunningham

Irish Independent

http://movies.broadwayworld.com/article/Film_and_Television_Industry_Expected_to_Boost_Irish_Economy_by_200_Million_This_Year_20100926

Film and Television Industry Expected to Boost Irish Economy by €200 Million This Year

Sunday, September 26, 2010; Posted: 11:09 AM - by BWW News Desk

Mary Hanafin TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport visited the set of the feature film ‘Neverland' currently in production in Ireland. ‘Neverland' is one of many film and TV productions filming in Ireland this year which will be exported to audiences around the globe. It is estimated that, despite the global financial downturn, the entire film and television industry will contribute an estimated €200 million to the Irish economy in 2010 in terms of spend on local goods, employment and services.

Produced by Alan Moloney and Redmond Morris, ‘Neverland' is the first original mini-series commission for Sky Movies HD, and is written and directed by Nick Willing (Alice, Tin Man). The film stars BAFTA winner Rhys Ifans (Not Only but Always, Notting Hill), Golden Globe nominee Anna Friel (Pushing Daisies, Bathory) Oscar® nominee Bob Hoskins (Hook, Made in Dagenhamand, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?).

Award winning Irish crew working on the project include cinematographer Seamus Deasy (A Film With Me In It) and Emmy nominee Emer Ni Mhaoldomhnaigh (David Copperfield, Brideshead Revisited) as costume designer. The production is filming for eleven weeks in Ireland around locations in Killiney, Blessington Lakes and in and around the Dublin area. The production is currently employing 180 crew and 1000 extra days.

After meeting cast and crew on the set in Killiney, Minister Hanafin said "major international productions such as Neverland provide an economic boost to Ireland, with significant employment across a huge variety of sectors, with creative input from actors and production crew right through to electrical, make up and transport. Having such skilled crews for these productions helps keep Ireland very much in the forefront of global film-makers decision making. And the improvements to Section 481 introduced last year have increased Ireland's competitive position as an international film and television destination."

Levels of production activity has continued to increase throughout 2010 which kicked off with the filming of the major US feature film ‘Knockout', directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Ewan McGregor and Michael Fassbender. The popular ITV series ‘Primeval' also filmed in Ireland for 30 weeks this year and the multi million US drama ‘Camelot' is currently in production in Ardmore studios, following in the footsteps of ‘The Tudors' which filmed on location in Ireland for the last four years.

Minister Hanafin went on to say "these incoming productions translate into increased international investment in the Irish economy, increased employment and positive spin-off effects for promoting Ireland as a tourist destination. Film and television production in Ireland enables us to showcase the talented people that we have in our creative industries as well as the natural beauty of the varied scenery throughout the country, including the magical scenery being filmed here in Killiney. Added to that all international productions will feel the warmth of the Irish welcome from people throughout the country, while they go about their hectic work schedule."

‘Neverland' is a two-part prequel to the Peter Pan story produced by Parallel Films (The Clinic, Perrier's Bounty) and is a new take on the original mythology of JM Barrie's famous story that looks to provide an intriguing history of many of the beloved characters including The Lost Boys, Captain Hook, The Indians, Croc and Neverland itself.

http://www.universitytimes.ie/?p=2598

The importance of the Irish film industry

Fionn Fitzpatrick-

The success of Tom Hooper’s ‘The King’s Speech’ has been an amazing story. Produced by an independent British production company, See-Saw Films, it was released quietly last September to several festivals where claims of Oscar-worthiness began almost immediately. What followed was a rolling snowball of hype and acclaim, resulting in box office figures to rival ‘Toy Story 3’. By the end of last month, without a moment to catch the breath, ‘The King’s Speech’ had claimed four Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director for Hooper, and Best Actor for Colin Firth. Critics spoke of how Britain had made a statement to Hollywood; the British film industry was positively beaming with pride.

Mere weeks later and the same industry is coming down from its collective high. The reality of ‘The King’s Speech’ is it could stand alone, not as a benchmark for future projects, but a reminder of what could have been. Last July, the decision was made by the British government to abolish the UK Film Council. The UKFC was set up in 2000 to help promote, develop and invest in British film. Their influence has been massive, not least because of the lottery money allocated to them that helped significantly support commercially-driven British films; commercially-driven British films such as ‘The King’s Speech’. The UKFC invested about £1 million in Tom Hooper’s film. Without the UKFC, ‘The King’s Speech’ would never have been made.

'The Wind That Shakes The Barley' which the UK Film Council invested €500,000 in

British film is hugely important for Irish filmmakers, scriptwriters, actors etc. and naturally they will be supporting anti-abolishment campaigners for the UKFC. The body has been massively important for the Irish film industry in the past, investing over €500,000 towards ‘The Wind That Shakes The Barley’ starring Cillian Murphy, and €300,000 towards ‘Hunger’ starring Michael Fassbender; the former winning the Palme D’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2006. It can’t be understated how important British film is for our best acting talent, from Aiden Gillen and Cillian Murphy to Michael Fassbender and Brendan Gleeson.

The UKFC will be taken over by the British Film Institute (BFI), a charitable organisation that will immediately have its resources slashed by 15%. It remains to be seen whether they can carry on the good work of the UKFC in promoting, developing and, most importantly, investing in British film. However, one sure positive to have come from the success of ‘The King’s Speech’ is the decision by major studio giants Pinewood Shepperton to work with four British films every year, investing a 20% stake in films that have a budget of about £2 million. These films will have access to the many ancillary services provided by the major studio, home to the James Bond and Harry Potter franchises. Perhaps the support of major studios is the way forward for independently financed British films.

Whatever happens with the British film industry over the next few months and years, the Irish film industry should be paying very close attention. Britain have obviously decided in times of economic crisis and the need for cuts, culture and the arts are the most disposable aspects of public life. Should Fine Gael and Labour decide the same is true of Ireland, the effects would be even more damaging.

'Reign Of Fire' shot in Co.Wicklow

The Irish Film Board is a body that has supported the indigenous industry of Irish filmmaking since 1993, helping produce such films as the aforementioned ‘The Wind That Shakes The Barley’, ‘Intermission’ and ‘Man About Dog.’ These films and more have helped Ireland’s best on-screen talent break through to the international stage. Were it not for the IFB, who knows where Colin Farrell would be today. As well as assisting indigenous projects, the IFB also looks after international producers and directors who need information on filming in Ireland, tax incentives, crews, equipment etc. Their influence has seen the likes of ‘Braveheart’, ‘King Arthur’, and ‘Reign of Fire’ filmed in Ireland. Economically, this is all hugely significant. In 2008, the Irish audio-visual sector was valued at €557.3 million by PWC and responsible for over 6,000 employed. It was estimated the same year that 18% of all tourists visited Ireland as a result of Irish film. The support of indigenous filmmaking is important for Irish culture and Irish identity, and this should not be ignored, but its effect economically is interesting. This is a positive growth industry with real talent and firm infrastructure.

This month, US Irish Film Festivals will be taking place all across America. Unsurprisingly, the biggest of these will be the Irish Film Festival Boston which is in its 12th year. An Bord Snip Nua proposed in 2009 that the IRB be abolished and their enterprising efforts be moved to Enterprise Ireland. This would not just be a disappointment, it would be a tragedy. Irish film is growing all the time and the talent this tiny island has consistently produced over the years is staggering.

Let’s hope our filmmaking is not the victim of short-sighted, ignorant government cuts.

We’re just too damn good for that.