All of South West Screen’s projects and activities have now been fully transferred into Creative England, the new agency providing creative industries support in the English regions outside London.
This website is no longer being updated, but will remain here for you to view details of South West Screen’s work over the last decade.
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**Please note that South West Screen's Locations and Production Services department has now transferred to Creative England, along with management of the Locations Library and Production Guide. Answers to the following FAQs still apply, however for any further queries, please contact Fiona Francombe at fiona.francombe@creativeengland.co.uk.**
What is shooting in the region?
We are unable to give specific details about productions potentially shooting or currently shooting in the region. This is because the Film Liaison service provided to productions in the South West operates on a strictly confidential basis. However, details of South West crews and facilities are registered on the Production Guide and available for incoming productions.
I am setting up a new production company in the South West, can you help?
As part of South West Screen's Business Development programme, we have established cluster groups of media professionals across the region. Through a range of activities and networking opportunities, these clusters aim to focus the growth and development of media industries in each sub-region. Contact the cluster group in your area to join the network of companies.
How do I find a location in the South West?
Our comprehensive online Location Library features a wide range of locations from across the region. Alternatively, you can discuss your requirements with Fiona Francombe at fiona.francombe@creativeengland.co.uk.
Do you charge for your locations service?
No. Registering your property in the Locations Library is completely free of charge, as is the service provided for incoming filmmakers.
How do I register a location?
If you have a property within the South West region that you would like to register as a film/TV location, you need to send 6-8 images of the property, both internal and exterior, and one to establish the property's situation in the surrounding land to enable us to assess the potential of the location. As we already have over 700 locations registered in our library, we are only looking for properties that are distinctive or unusual in some way. If we are interested in registering the property, we will send you a location registration form. Send images as jpegs to Fiona Francombe at fiona.francombe@creativeengland.co.uk or as hardcopy photographs on CD to our address. If you have a property in Bristol or Bath, you will need to contact the relevant city film office, as they have their own locations libraries.
How do I find local police/council contacts for filming?
You can search the Production Guide for details of local police, emergency service and council contacts, or contact Fiona Francombe at fiona.francombe@creativeengland.co.uk.
How do I find local accommodation for crew?
Search our Production Guide for details of accommodation for crew. We have registered tourist accommodation hotline numbers for each district authority, and individual establishments each of which have been advised on the possible expectations and requirements of crew shooting on location.
How much should I charge for using my property as a location?
Fees charged for using properties as film/TV locations can vary depending on a number of factors. Different types of production will have different budgets but you should consider how long they wish to use the property for and how much disruption this will cause. The type and size of the property concerned will also have an effect on the fee you charge. Our role is to put location managers in touch with the locations, and we do not broker the location fee negotiation.
How do I find local crew and facilities?
Our online database, called the Production Guide, has contact details, profiles and credits of freelance crew and facilities based in the South West.
How do I register on the crew and facilities database?
If you are a South West based freelancer or company who can provide services to the production industry you can register on the online Production Guide, a publicly accessible searchable website and registration on the site assumes consent for your details to be accessed.
How do I update my crew and facilities database entry?
If you are registered on the Production Guide you will have been emailed a PIN and User ID which will allow you to access and update your profile when necessary. If you have forgotten your PIN, please contact Fiona Francombe at fiona.francombe@creativeengland.co.uk.
I am looking for crew to work on a low/no budget shoot - what do you suggest?
Search the 'looking for experience' category on our Production Guide for people who are willing to work for low pay in order to gain more experience. You could also try contacting universities/higher education institutions to see if there are any students who would be willing to help you out. If you are a member of Shooting People you can put out a call for crew on their e-mail bulletins.
Do you hold details of local actors?
We do not hold details of individual actors/extras on our database, but we do register local casting agencies on the Production Guide.
How can I be a film or TV extra?
If you wish to get work as an extra on film or TV productions, it is best to is register with a casting agency. Production companies will usually approach casting agencies directly when they are looking for extras or walk-ons, the casting agency will then supply the type of people they require from those registered on their books. Search 'casting agencies' on the Production Guide for more details.
I am shooting a short film, what rates should I be paying my crew?
BECTU should be able to give advice on appropriate freelance pay rates.
What do you do with the information that you hold on me / my location?
Locations on the Locations Library are only identifiable by a reference number and a county. Productions wishing to get more detailed information on individual locations should contact Fiona Francombe, so they can check that the enquiry is bona-fide before giving out any personal information. Crew registered with us will be publicly available for productions to browse on our Production Guide. If you would like to make any changes to your profile you may do so through our website here using your personal login and PIN.
Can I book a location through you?
No, we are a free liaison and support service for productions and cannot directly book locations for you - you must do this directly with the location representative. We will be happy to offer advice and guidance throughout this process, including location selection through our comprehensive Locations Library.
What is the South West region?
The areas we cover are Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall. Local support within these regions can be found in Swindon, Plymouth, Bristol, Bath, Cheltenham, Poole
(Map available here for reference)
How do I get work experience?
You can register on our Production Guide and select ‘looking for experience’ so that production companies can search for your details.
**From 2002-2011, South West Screen distributed Lottery funds for film to help grow audiences, develop local talent, promote diversity and increase access to film and media culture in the South West. Please note that from 1 October 2011, responsibility to distribute Lottery funds for film in the English regions outside London passed to the new agency, Creative England. For more information visit www.creativeengland.co.uk.**
What opportunities do you currently have?
All the schemes we currently have open for application are detailed on our current opportunities page. You can also subscribe to the South West Screen e-bulletin to be kept up to date with any new initiatives we launch.
How do I find out if I am eligible for South West Screen support?
Information about eligibility for specific schemes will be detailed in the application pack for each scheme.
Do you provide funding for feature films?
No, the responsibility for distributing Lottery funds for film in the English regions outside London has now passed to Creative England. Visit their film support pages to find out what support is available.
How can I fund my short film?
From 2002 - 2011 we funded short film production via the UK Film Council's Digital Shorts scheme. However, since the abolition of the UK Film Council, policy for shorts production is now under review by the BFI. Read more about our most recent Digital Shorts scheme for 2010 here.
Can you help me develop my script?
We run script development and other initiatives which are detailed on the Services page of the website. We are not able to provide feedback on unsolicited scripts.
How can I prove I have copyright on my script?
As the author of a script, you are automatically the owner of its copyright. However this can sometimes be difficult to prove. Both the Script Vault and BECTU offer a script registration service which safeguards your copyright by registering you as the author and the date it was written. The easiest way to copyright your script is to post it, registered to yourself, in a sturdy envelope, making sure the date is shown, and never open it.
Training/Careers
Can you fund my training?
We are not currently able to provide funding for training. Subscribe to our e-bulletin to be kept updated on future training schemes/opportunities.
What training courses are available locally?
Any courses that we are able to offer will be featured on the current opportunities section of our website. Alternatively, we promote courses run by other providers via our ebulletin. Alternatively, you can search the BFI/Skillset Media Courses database a national database of media training courses compiled by Skillset and the BFI. Skillset Careers, the UK's only specialist media careers advice service, can provide advice on appropriate training and development.
Do you run traineeships or work placements?
We do from time to time run new entrants schemes in conjuction with Skillset and the details of any current scheme will be on the Developing Your Skills section of our website.
Do you offer work experience placements?
We don't currently offer work experience placements. If you want to find work experience in the production sector, approach production companies directly with your CV to ask if they are willing to take you on. You can look up contact details for production companies in directories such as The Knowledge, Kays and the PACT Directory. The online contact databases www.4rfv.co.uk and www.fatcat.co.uk are also useful. Skillset Careers can provide advice on finding and getting the most out of work experience placements, and also offer work experience factsheets. You can also search our voluntary work page for details of voluntary opportunities available across the region.
Where can I get careers advice?
Skillset Careers, the UK's only specialist media careers advice service, should be your first port of call for careers advice. They offer a range of services to anyone wanting to get into or get on in the media. You can call them on 08080 300900.
How do I get a job in the film/TV industry?
The film and TV industry is highly competitive, breaking into this industry requires a lot of patience and determination! Many job opportunities are not formally advertised and consequently it is often worth contacting employers who may be interested in your skills and experience directly. Visit our Jobs section for the latest vacancies in the region. Skillset Careers provides a wealth of information and advice for newcomers trying to break into the production industry - their 'resources' section contains advice on writing CV's, making speculative applications and job hunting. Our cluster groups also have news about job opportunities in their area.
My film is being shown at a film festival; can you provide funding to help me attend?
Thanks to our partnership with UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), South West Screen can help companies attend key sales events and business conferences across the globe, which often accompany film festivals. We have recently supported companies to attend the Asian Media Festival and Siggrapph in Singapore; Realscreen in Washington; the World Mobile Congress in Barcelona; MIPTV in Cannes and SxSW in Texas. To find out about our current opportunities click here. We don't currently have an independent film festival fund, however the South West branch of UK Trade & Investment offer progammes of support that may be able to help. For more information visit the UK Trade & Investment website.
How do I get my film screened/distributed?
Film festivals and open screening events provide some of the best opportunities to get your film seen. The British Council can offer advice and support on distribution and how to bring your film to an international audience.
How do I get copyright for music/archive footage/brand names used in my film?
Arranging copyright can be quite a difficult and drawn out process which is best avoided if possible. As a general rule, you would need to contact whoever owns the rights to the material you wish to use (e.g. for film footage or stills this would be the original distributor) to ask for permission. PACT occasionally run courses on obtaining copyright and you can also purchase the following publications through their website: 'Rights Clearances for Film and Television Productions' by Stephen Edwards and 'The Music Copyright Guide for Television and Film Production' by Ivan Chandler.
How do I start up a film society?
If you are interested in setting up a film society in your local area, you should contact the British Federation of Film Societies, the national body promoting voluntary film exhibition. They represent the interests of film societies in the UK and can provide information, advice and support to anyone wishing to start a new film society.
Can I meet with someone at South West Screen to discuss my needs?
If you wish to meet with a member of staff to discuss a project you are working on, please contact us as it may be possible to arrange a session for you.
You can network with over 5,000 members of the creative media industries through our cluster groups
We can help your business attend major industry events from Barcelona to Singapore
• We offer a script critique service which is available to all writers based in the South West
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South West Screen | St Bartholomews Court
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(t) 0117 952 9977 (f) 0117 952 9988
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