A “once in a generation” report from MPs led by Dame Caroline Dinenage has today highlighted the huge opportunities for sixth form students to make a career in the British film and television industry.
The report also outlines how best to protect independent cinemas at threat of closure in communities across the country.
The British film and high-end TV report from the cross-party Culture, Media and Sport Committee, which is chaired by Gosport MP Dame Caroline Dinenage, calls for a campaign to promote the employment opportunities on offer, not just in front of the camera, but also for budding writers, composers, special effects artists, hair and make-up professionals, costume designers and crew members.
The call is part of a range of recommendations made to the Government aimed at tackling workforce skills shortages in the industry, with the report also urging more support for independent British productions and a regular assessment of tax incentives to maintain overseas investment.
On cinemas, the Committee warns that cost pressures, changing audience behaviours and under-investment have threatened many communities’ cinemas, large and small. Box office figures for last year show total cinema admissions 28% lower and box office revenue 22% lower than before Covid, while the number of cinemas has declined 10% since 2019 and the number of independents by 21%.
The Government should therefore introduce tax relief on the distribution of films and set up a fund to upgrade cinema infrastructure and energy efficiency to help them continue to perform their vital cultural roles in the heart of communities, the report says.
Dame Caroline Dinenage, MP for Gosport and Chair of the CMS Committee, said:
“The sheer range of jobs in the film and high-end TV industry, especially those behind the camera like special effects artists and costume designers, presents a fantastic chance for our sixth form students, whatever their skills and interests, to play a part.
“We need to do better at spreading the word about the opportunities, and convince schools, parents and our talented young people themselves that they can have a viable career in what is one of our country’s economic and cultural success stories.
“We also need to think hard about how to help our cinemas, which play a vital cultural role at the centre of so many communities, but have struggled to bounce back after the pandemic. A new fund to revitalise the buildings and measures to boost the quality and marketing of films should help tempt movie lovers back through the door.”
Further information on the report is available here. – https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/378/culture-media-and-sport-committee/news/206388/urgent-action-needed-to-protect-distinctly-british-content-as-mps-call-on-government-to-ramp-up-support-across-film-and-highend-tv-industry/
ENDS
Note to editors:
The CMS Committee scrutinises the spending, policies and administration of the government Department for Culture, Media and Sport. We are not a government committee but a select committee of the House of Commons with a key role in holding ministers to account. Any of our inquiries would correctly be described as a ‘parliamentary inquiry’.
Further information:
Committee membership can be found here.
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