The Guild of Location Managers
News Archive
Regional Screen Agencies Response to Minister's Speech on Film Funding - 2 December 2010
From our Affiliate Members
Northern Film + Media - Creative England launch marks a new dawn for North East. Please link here
Statement from Screen West Midlands in response to Ed Vaizey's announcement here
Statement from Screen England and South West Screen on plans to form Creative England. Please link here
Screen Yorkshire Response to DCMS Creative England Announcement. Please link here
from the other regions -
EM Media, the Regional Screen Agency for the East Midlands comment
Vision + Media for the north-west region. See their home page for comment
and some comment from other media -
Screen Daily - our thanks to Sarah Cooper for permission to reproduce her article, which you can read here
Statement from the UK Film Council - 29 November 2010
From Tim Cagney, Managing Director of the UK Film Council - This morning Ed Vaizey, the Minister for Culture, announced his department’s plans for where public funding for UK film will sit in light of the Government’s decision back in July to abolish the UK Film Council. The Government has decided to make the British Film Institute the Lottery distributor for film in the UK. All Lottery-funded activity, together with some Grant-in-Aid activity, that has until now resided in the UK Film Council will transfer to the BFI. Read the full statement here
Film London will lead the UK wide Inward Investment Strategy - read their press release
From our Affiliate Members
Northern Film + Media - Creative England launch marks a new dawn for North East. Please link here
Statement from Screen West Midlands in response to Ed Vaizey's announcement here
Statement from Screen England and South West Screen on plans to form Creative England. Please link here
Screen Yorkshire Response to DCMS Creative England Announcement. Please link here
from the other regions -
EM Media, the Regional Screen Agency for the East Midlands comment
Vision + Media for the north-west region. See their home page for comment
and some comment from other media -
Screen Daily - our thanks to Sarah Cooper for permission to reproduce her article, which you can read here
Statement from the UK Film Council - 29 November 2010
From Tim Cagney, Managing Director of the UK Film Council - This morning Ed Vaizey, the Minister for Culture, announced his department’s plans for where public funding for UK film will sit in light of the Government’s decision back in July to abolish the UK Film Council. The Government has decided to make the British Film Institute the Lottery distributor for film in the UK. All Lottery-funded activity, together with some Grant-in-Aid activity, that has until now resided in the UK Film Council will transfer to the BFI. Read the full statement here
Film London will lead the UK wide Inward Investment Strategy - read their press release
Seville International Locations Expo 2010
 |
This show is in its second year and will be held at Casino de la Exposición on 11-13 November. The show is being held in conjunction with the Seville European Film Festival. Over the three days there will be a variety of seminars and including one on Location filming, Permissions, Permits and how this process can be improved. The GLM will be in attendance and contributing to this seminar. See the website for more |
See our International page for all the show details |
|
Shoot South Glos !
South Gloucestershire Council recently acquired 'Film Friendly' status. A Locations Database is part of a series of changes to make it easier for people to register properties and spaces as available for filming and to make the area more attractive to film-makers through the wide range of locations available. Read their Welcome Letter to see a selection of great locations.
For more information go to their website |
UK Film Council chairman condems closure - 20 October 2010
Read the latest article
What is the future of the UK without the UK Film Council ? - 16 September 2010
Four parties have been asked by the Government to consider taking on the responsibilities of the UKFC. Channel 4, the British Film Institute and Film London along with BBC are said to have been approached. More on the story here
John Woodward announced his resignation on Monday 13th September. Read his statement.
Press release from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport as Ed Vaizey meets key figures from the UK film industry.
Screen East folds - 9 September 2010
According to news released today, Screen East has folded and one of its managers has been arrested over claims of financial irregularities. Read the story on BBC NEWS.
Affiliate Update - July 2010
Scottish Screen is now Creative Scotland. Creative Scotland is the new body to support and develop Scotland’s creative and cultural excellence.
See the Filming in Scotland page of their website for a list of recent productions and location information.
South West Screen's Response to Proposed Abolition of UK Film Council - 27 July 2010
South West Screen have posted a response to the Government's proposal. Read it here.
Kent - the only authority in the UK outside London to close roads for filming - July 2010
Kent County Council asked Government to push through the bill that has made Kent the only authority in the UK outside London to have legal powers enabling it to temporarily close roads for filming. Members can see more info in the Working on Locations Page in their Members Only area.
UK Film Council to be abolished - 26 July 2010
The UK Film Council is to be axed as part of a cost-cutting drive by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
Read the full story from the BBC here
Read Industry reaction from Tim Bevan of UKFC, Martin Spence of BECTU, Lord Puttnam and many more
Read comment on quangos from The Independent here
The brutalist Gateshead car park, made famous by the Seventies gangster classic 'Get Carter' is demolished - 26 July 2010
Mike Hodges writes for The Independent on why this concrete monstrosity was perfect for his film. Our thanks to The Independent for the link to this article.
Location Location Location : UK's top cinematic spots - Nick Daubeny writes for The Independent
Britain is blessed with a variety of landscapes that can change, sometimes dramatically, within short distances. Close enough to the studios of Pinewood and Shepperton, Egypt has been filmed on the sand of Frensham Large Pond whilst across the water Russia has been shot amongst the pine trees and silver birches of Frensham Little Pond. Britain is blessed with a variety of landscapes that can change, sometimes dramatically, within short distances. Close enough to the studios of Pinewood and Shepperton, Egypt has been filmed on the sand of Frensham Large Pond whilst across the water Russia has been shot amongst the pine trees and silver birches of Frensham Little Pond......read it all here
Guild General Meeting - 7 June 2010
A successful and well attended meeting took place at The Landmark Hotel. Our guest speakers were Stephen Badham of Screen West Midlands, Jenny Cooper from Film London and Helen Preece from Westiminster Special Events team. Our thanks to all who contributed at the meeting and to The Landmark for the venue.
Honorary Members announced
In Jane Soans introduction, she extended her thanks to all the outgoing Committee Members and in particular Mick Ratman, Chair of the Guild for 10 years, for his huge contribution, and the time and effort he has given over the years. Jane was pleased to announce a new category of Honorary Membership and this has been given to Mick and to Brian Bilgorri, Matthew Bryant, Rikke Dakin, Kell Gatherer and Michael Harvey.
The Guild has a new Chair - 2 June 2010
The Committee is pleased to announce the appointment of Jane Soans as the new Chair of the Guild of Location Managers. A secret ballot took place within the Committee and the vote was unanimous.
The Guild has a new Committee - 27 May 2010
The Guild has been through a very successful election process and those with Full Membership of The Guild were invited to vote for the Committee. Sixteen candidates put themselves forward for eleven places. The Vice Chairman, Richard Godfrey, was kept in post to oversee proceedings and provide continuity.
In alphabetical order the Committee Members are :
David Broder, Roland Caine, Rob Champion, Jonah Coombes, Fiona Francombe, Richard Godfrey, James Grant, Ben Greenacre, Andrew Pavord, Leonora Sheppard, Janes Soans and Camilla Stephenson.
Our thanks go to all who put themselves forward for nomination.
Special thanks and appreciation goes to the outgoing members of the committee who have given so much time and energy to The Guild over many years
Recent industry comment from our newspapers
British - US film: The Special Relationship
Can our industry survive without help from Hollywood ? Read The Independent article - 12 May 2010
General Election 2010 - Filmmakers warn against government cuts - May 2010
Leading film producers have warned the next government not to cut the tax benefits available to the British film industry in an attempt to reduce the national deficit. Read this comment in the Telegraph.
Brit Flick Film Pilgrimage - launched April 2010
Is travel chaos encouraging more people to holiday in the UK ? Here is a new driving route for cinema fans. Visit Britain says " Based on the nation’s favourite flicks filmed in the UK, the Brit Flick Pilgrimage covers everything from blockbuster hits to cult classics." What do you think ? Steer your way here.
London and the South East's Film Agencies join forces.... 23 March 2010
Film London and Screen South today announced a ground-breaking new partnership merging their filming services which will now represent 85% of the UK’s film industry. This new strategic collaboration aims to assist more domestic and international production, increasing inward investment to London and the South East.
This new Filming Partnership will continue to service all production industries including film, TV, commercials and video games. Its remit will encompass London’s 33 local authorities as well as Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Middlesex, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex. It will also represent the majority of the country’s major studios including Pinewood, Shepperton, Ealing, 3 Mills and Maidstone. Read the full press release from Film London.
The Guild at The Production Show 2010 - 16-18 February 2010
 |
The new Production Show, part of Broadcast Video Expo, was held at Earls Court this week and The Guild were Partners of the Show. As well as exhibiting and spreading the good word of location management, we also hosted two seminars on the Producer's Stage. The Role of the Location Manager - A Producer's Guide and The Use of Location Management in Low Budget Filming were presented by Rikke Dakin and Mick Ratman and were extremely well attended. We were very pleased to be able to meet and catch up with several of our Affiliate members who also had stands at the show. A big hello and thanks to Film Hampshire, JJ Locations, Location Millbrook, Northern Film + Media, Scottish Screen and Screen Yorkshire. Thank you to all who worked hard on putting the GLM stand together and ably manning it over the three days. See you all next year ! |
 |
Film London - re-structure - January 2010
Film London locations department say : We want to assure the industry that the primary function of the new Inward Investment & Business Development department will be to facilitate and support filming in London (including filming enquiries, locations advice, the ASLM and the promotion of filming in London) – indeed the provision of a full locations service remains a key objective and priority of Film London as a whole.
The Film London Executive Task Force met earlier this week to confirm its continued commitment to the London Filming Partnership and to the facilitation of filming. Representatives from Film London will continue to attend the Guild of Location Managers meetings and the Film London Assistant Location Manager Training scheme is now open for applications, having proved a great success in its first two years. In our commitment to you, and all our valued stakeholders, it is our aim to ensure that the internal restructure will cause minimum disruption to the service Film London and our excellent location advisors deliver.
For a further statement read here.
Photography in Public Places - the story continues....December 2009
This has been a regular topic with us and it continues to make the news. On 3 December it made the front page of The Independent. Link to the story here
There are articles about your rights and additional info in the Members Only area in the Working on Location page. Please do take the time to read them.
Metropolitan Police issued a bulletin on 14 December as guidance to their officers and staff about the stop and search policy.
John Yates, Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations, has today reminded all MPS officers and staff that people taking photographs in public should not be stopped and searched unless there is a valid reason. Read the full bulletin here.
Photography in Public Places - January 2009 - updated September 2009
Following on from our previous articles "Photography climate echoes wartime Britain" (see News Archive page) and Broadcast magazines article "You can't film here" (see below) , the issue of photography in public places continues to make the headlines.
This month BBC London carried a feature on both their TV and radio news programmes, highlighting the increasing numbers of people being stopped and searched whilst taking photographs in public areas. Click here to read the recent story.
A document available on the National Policing Improvement Agency, NPIA, now provide their guidelines on the laws regarding photography in public places.
Please take time to read this particularly page 22, but in particular to know your rights.
September - Home Office circular - Concerns have been raised that sections of the Terrorism Act 2000 are being used to stop people taking photographs - whether this is photographs of buildings or people - and that cameras are being confiscated during such searches. Read in full here.
We should not be prevented from taking images in public areas. If you have experienced any issues when out scouting, please let us know. GLM members can find more details in the Members Only area of the website.
Welcome to our new Vice-Chairman - September 2009
The Committee are pleased to announce that, after a long vacancy, the position of Vice-Chairman of The Guild has been filled by Richard Godfrey. Richard has been a long standing member of The Guild and in recent years as a member of the committee, to which he has contributed greatly. So we are delighted that he has accepted this role and look forward to working with him.
Bid to close roads for filming in Kent - 28 October 2009
The Guild was approached earlier in the year to give their considered opinion to the proposed bill to allow roads to be closed for filming in Kent. Back in September, Jane Soans could also be heard on BBC Radio Kent supporting this bill and banging the drum for location managers and The Guild.
News today from our Affiliates, Kent Film Office, is :
The Kent Film Office has just received full council support to take a bill to parliament, allowing roads to be legally closed for filming in the county. Should we be successful in this bid, Kent will be the first area outside greater London that has these powers. Pending a national election, we hope to have the legislation in place late 2010 or early 2011.
GLM Affiliates Film Hampshire link their location library to maps
A new and exciting new feature on the Film Hampshire website is the introduction of maps. You can now search in each location category using a map view and click on each location for a description and link to more photographs. The county's Film Liaison Office has also seen a doubling in the number of filming enquires they are receiving, so congratulations to them for all their hard work
Merger Proposed between UK Film Council and BFI - 20 August 2009
Plans have been proposed to merge the industry's high-profile institutions, the UK Film Council and the British Film Institute (BFI). According to a statement from the DCMS, the motivation for the merger is to avoid overlap and thereby reduce costs. "The proposal is for a streamlined organisation, which can spend more of its money on film and services and less on infrastructure, and in turn offer better support for Britain's film culture and promotion of its film industry," it said. See the BFI or UK Film Council for their report on the proposal.
Late Scripts - update March 2009
The issue of late scripts and the impact it has on health and safety has been raised by The Guild at our recent meetings. With feedback from many members about how they have been affected, the GLM has raised this problem at the Film Industry Safety Group Meeting.
We were pleased to welcome Martin Spence from BECTU at our December meeting, to continue dialogue on this subject and the health and safety implications. The call to raise awareness with scriptwriters and producers is ever growing.
BECTU are now working toegther with their sister unions, Equity and the Writers Guild on this. If your work in TV drama, for either the BBC or independent production companies, has been affected by late delivery of scripts and/or late changes to scripts please inform BECTU.
If you would like to add comment please email the Chairman. GLM Members - for the more info please go to the Members Only area in the Working on Location page.
tv-bay magazine - 2009
www.golm.org.uk made it to the pages of tv-bay magazine issue 26 and was featured as Website of the Month. In a location special, the front page screamed "Location Managers What Do They Actually Do ?" Our very own Richard Godfrey dishes the dirt.
Our thanks to tv-bay for granting permission to link to their mini magazine. See page 24 and 44 in particular.
Legality of unpaid jobs - updated Feb 08
In the recent edition of Stage Screen and Radio, BECTU say "Help catch the rogue traders". Read a copy of the News item.
BECTU says:
The media union BECTU has always argued that anyone who carries out work for an employer must be paid at least the National Minimum Wage. This view is reflected in the newguidelines. Offending employers cannot now claim that they didn't realise they were breaking the law. If anyone spots an ad for a placement which appears to breach the Guidelines, BECTU asks them to alert the union by emailing full details to info[at]bectu.org.uk and putting 'WORK EXPERIENCE ABUSE' in the message header.
Filming and the use of firearms - update June 08
Here is the most recent guidance for scenes involving a weapon of any kind, including all imitation weapons.
With thanks to Film London, Metropolitan Police and Firearms in Production Working Party for allowing us to publish this on our website. See the Members Only Area for more info.
Mayor of London pledges his support for film in the capital - 2008
Boris Johnson annouces plans to harness the film industry, to boost London's economy and maintain the city's position as the cultural capital of the World. Thank you to the press office at Great London Authority for granting us permission to link to their press release. Read it here
Road closures for filming in London... it made the press, read the latest here.
Road Closures for filming - Dec 08
On 22 September 2008 the London Local Authorities (LLA) and Transport for London (TfL) Act 2008 became law.
This Act provides new legislation which means that road closures can be granted by the Traffic Authority specifically for the purpose of filming on London's streets and highways. For the full story, see the latest edition of Locate and for more detailed information and borough legislation, see the Film London website.
Photography climate echoes wartime Britain - March 08
"There are increasing number of reported incidents in which Police Community Support Officers (PCO's) are attempting to stop street photography and order the deletion of photographs or the confiscation of cards, cameras or film on various specious grounds..." This is an extract from the Early Day Motion proposed by Austin Mitchell deploring the increase of these incidents.
With thanks to Chris Cheesman at Amateur Photographer, we have been granted permission to reproduce their article highlighting this potential problem. They also show a copy a recent anti terror campaign ad by the Metropolitan Police regarding those who take photos in a public place. It makes very interesting reading.
Any thoughts, comments or experiences, please let us know.
Why bother informing the Police of filming?
Please remember, if filming on the streets of London, to keep the Metropolitan Police aware of what you are planning to do, even if it's nothing unusual. Any filming involving firearms, whether inside or out, it is essential that the Police are informed. The Metropolitan Police Film Service Unit website has plenty of information.
The front page of the Autumn Winter edition of Locate highlights the need, in no uncertain terms, why it should become second nature for us to inform the local police of filming. Need persuading ? Then read this newslink about a Movie Shootout in Angola.
Effects of 'Empty Rates' on commercial property owners - March 2008 update
From 1st April, businesses that own empty space will be hit, as the government scraps business rates relief on empty buildings. Commercial property owners will have to pay full business rates on industrial properties that have been vacant for more than six months and other commercial premises that have been vacant for more than three months. This is a summary of a policy that has more detail.
One of our affiliates Unitbase have invested much time and effort researching and educating themselves about the impending changes in the rating laws, and the impact this will undoubtedly have on sourcing locations for productions.
Thank you to Charlie at Unitbase and to his client Adrian Rose at Atis Real for allowing us to publish their rates article. Please do notify us if you are experiencing problems as we know some productions have been affected already.
Filming and Traffic Management - issued by Film London - January 08
Further to the announcement in December that the Metropolitan Police Service Film Unit would no longer assist with traffic management, the following statement has been issued by the MPSFU, and has been sent to all Borough Operation Command Units throughout London.
It is lawful for a constable to use s163 (RTA 88) powers provided it is only for a short period. These holds will not need individual justification as there will always be a risk if an untrained person attempts to hold traffic or it was unmanaged.
The Film Unit remains of the opinion that the new legislation due to come into effect in March or April (hopefully) will make it far easier for film and television companies to obtain Traffic Management Orders or Notices for the purpose of filming. This will probably come with conditions from the local authorities that a Police Officer is present. These Orders or Notices put all parties on a firmer legal footing.
Presently we would like to be in the position that Police Officers are seen as the last consideration for legally controlling traffic. Where there is no other legal provision, Police Officers will be able to assist with these 'short holds' within the MPS. We would not wish for unaccredited or untrained personnel attempting to stop traffic thereby putting themselves at risk.
Nothing outlined above will allow Police Officers to close roads for long periods of time, which will remain the preserve of Traffic Management Orders and the Traffic Authority.
We are encouraging our individual BOCU Film Officers to request risk assessments and method statements for each filming event that it is proposed to take place, this is to make sure that we have a firm indication of what is planned. The vast majority of production companies already supply this information to Borough Film Officers and TFL as appropriate.
Events that the GLM has been involved with
GLM Supports Ile-de-France showcase in London - 25 September 2008
With the support of the Embassy of France in the UK and The Guild of Location Managers, the Ile-de-France Film Commission invited location managers and producers to a presentation at the Sofitel Saint James. A fascinating selection of locations were showcased from the Paris Film Commission, the National Monuments Centre, Palace of Versailles, MOD, SNCF and more. For the full story see the news page of the Ile de France website.
Launch evening of MOD's Film Locations Website
The MOD, affiliates of The Guild, have officially launched their new website. As the second largest landowner in the UK, with six hunderd thousand acres and forty five thousand buildings, makes it an ideal and unique organisation for sourcing locations.
Recent films made on the MOD Estate include The Duchess, the latest James Bond, Quantum of Solace and Shanghai, a thriller set in China prior to the WWII Pearl Harbour attack. The MOD website is managed by Tony Burlton and Caren Armstrong who act as the point of contact for all enquires and applications.
Affiliates - Wales Screen Commission - thanks for GLM support
Following the closure of Wales Screen Commission's parent body Sgrîn in April 2006, the Commission has become part of the new co-ordinated service 'Creative Business Wales' within the Welsh Assembly Government. Report (pdf) from Film Commissioner Mike Wallwork.
Screen East - Help Us to Help You
Screen East like all screen agencies relies on funding to provide its FREE locations services. However to maintain those services we need to sustain, or even better, increase the number of shoot days in our region and that's where you can help:
- When you've approached us for locations, we'll call after the shoot to find out if you shot in our region. Please let us have as much information as possible.
- When you are working on a production shooting in our region please tell us so we can record the shoot days and assist you where appropriate.
By providing more accurate reporting we are likely to retain our funding and can therefore continue to provide you with a high level of service. We want to avoid the alternative!
Just keep in mind: shoot days = accurate reporting and funding = government incentives = healthy film & TV industry = jobs for location managers!
Highlands and Islands - YOUR SUPPORT NEEDED - September 2007
The Highlands and Islands Film Commission ask for your support for their objection to the proposal by Scottish and Southern Electricity to erect giant pylons (55-60 meters high) through some of the most scenic locations in the Highlands. Highland Council and the Cairngorm National Park are working together to put forward a case to the Public Inquiry for parts of the line to be underground. Trish Shorthouse from the Film Commission is standing as a witness to defend the scenic value of the landscape for filming. Please see the attached article here for some information on the case so far.
Members of the Guild including Mick Ratman, Leonora Sheppard and Luke Jackson have written letters of support. If you would like to add your voice please email Trish at Trish@scotfilm.org
Update Nov 2007
The Results of the Public Enquiry held in Newtownmore in September will be known in 2008, when the inquiry report is scheduled to be made public. To read more about CRAP Cairngorms Revolt Against Pylons, click here.
Update June 2009
The Beauly to Denny power line should be given the go-ahead as part of Scotland's commitment to reducing climate change, MSPs have recommended. Read the full story
Update Jan 2010
Power line upgrade given go-ahead - read here
Location Manager wins BAFTA - 2007
Our congratulations to Nick Daubeny who has won the Micheal Bacon Award for outstanding British contribution to cinema. The award is given in the Gift of the Academy and its primary purpose is to honour the talents of the individuals from the industry whose achievements are not usually recognised in the other award categories.
Bogus Location Manager - JP Verard - please be aware
J. P. (Jean Pierre) Verard (name changed by deed poll from J.P. Neale), aka Jean Pierre Cazes, Luc Neale, Jason Fulton, James Clark and other aliases known to the police, was sentenced in March 2007. For more information read the story from the Daily Mail.