The Wales Screen Commission, part of the Welsh Assembly Government’s Creative Business Wales team, has experienced its most successful year on record with four major feature films using key locations in Wales.
The Commission assisted eleven feature films that shot in Wales in the last financial year, among them Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and Robin Hood in south west Wales Clash of the Titans in north Wales and Ironclad in south east Wales.
Actual Welsh spend on all the productions that the Commission assisted in the previous year currently stands at over £21 million which sees an increase on last year’s figure. Of that £21million, £11million was attributed to feature films, showing just what kind of impact these projects have on their surrounding local economy.
The Deputy First Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones said
“It is wonderful to see these big films putting Wales on the international movie map once again, highlighting the stunning locations and film-friendliness that we are so proud of.”
On Clash of the Titans alone, which used Dinorwic Quarry in North Wales, there were 300 crew working on the feature at the height of filming, and several local hotels in the region were used to accommodate all the crew. Facilities at the unit base included portacabins, generators, lighting and security, all sourced locally by the Commission. Interest in the film was fuelled by press coverage all over the world and the box office takings currently stand at over $480 million.
Robin Hood with Ridley Scott at the helm, employed over 600 local people during its six week shoot ranging from extras to skilled production crew and trained animal handlers. As well as attracting tourists to the region, the filming also benefited a large number of local businesses which provided accommodation, catering, fuel, plant hire and transport.
In a recent interview with Mark Strong, who played Godfrey in the film, he was happy to share his feelings about shooting in Pembrokeshire by describing the location as “one of the most beautiful spots I think I’ve ever filmed in.” The film caused a press frenzy, when it opened the 63rd Cannes Film Festival and the gross world wide box office figure to date is approximately $249 million.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, with its even bigger fan base will almost certainly surpass the other films when it is released in November 2010.
There is no doubt that these films will have an impact on the tourism industry in the longer term as film fans from all over the world seek out the locations that they’ve seen on the big screen.
