'Filmwight' - Isle Of Wight's Official Film Office Launches

Friday, 12 March 2021 06:00

By Oliver Dyer @olidyer

A new Isle of Wight company is aiming to convince movie, TV and advertising firms to the pick the Island as a location for their productions.

Filmwight has set out plans to turn the Isle of Wight into one of the country's "most attractive production hubs".

Dubbed 'the Island's official film office', the Venture South scheme has also revealed plans to build a state-of-the art studio complex within two years.

It is hoped the plans will create local jobs by taking advantage of the Island's growing creative sector.

Filmwight’s officers propose connecting filmmakers with the locations, people, facilities and companies who can help their productions run smoothly, on time and within budget.

Linda Sullivan, Chair of Venture South and co-founder of Filmwight, said:

“The mission of Venture South is to nurture projects and partnerships that enhance the creative and economic potential of the Isle of Wight. We know we can generate jobs by encouraging film, tv and advertising companies to use the island for their location shoots and through our new film office we will promote the Isle of Wight as one of the UK’s most attractive regional production hubs”.

The Isle of Wight has provided locations for a wide variety of feature films and television series.

From “Victoria & Abdul” to “That’ll Be the Day” and, most recently, the BritBox series “The Beast Must Die”.

Ed Rubin, Executive Producer of “The Beast Must Die”, and Head of New Regency Television International, said:

“We shot all of ‘The Beast Must Die’ on the Isle of Wight for 11 weeks last autumn, filming at over 60 locations including several days at sea. Despite the inevitable stresses of shooting during the pandemic, the cast and crew thoroughly enjoyed their time on the island, and it certainly provided a unique & stunning backdrop for the drama."

Over the years, the Island has been home to a number of artists and creatives. Julia Cameron, the pioneer of photography, lived here, as did Britain’s award-winning director and screenwriter Anthony Minghella.

And as overseas locations are currently inaccessible for UK producers due to COVID travel restrictions, Filmwight says now is an ideal time for producers to consider the Isle of Wight as a safe alternative.

The Island is easily accessible by car, train, private planes and helicopters from central London and the UK’s leading film studios such as Pinewood, Shepperton and Twickenham.

Bob Seely, MP for Isle of Wight, said:

"The Island has one of the most unique and remarkable artistic legacies in the world. Yet, for 50 years we have forgotten about this. Not only are culture and the arts important in life in themselves, but cultural tourism, film-making and creative arts and industries should be an important part of our economy, and it is clear that we need to be diversifying our economy to create more opportunities for Islanders. Filmwight is part of that diversification.

"It has the chance to put us on the map for film production and bring in millions of pounds a year to the Island. The Island should be at the forefront of filmmaking in the UK, a large and fast-growing creative industry. An Isle of Wight film office has been long overdue.”

The seed funding came for the project came, in part, out of meetings with the Arts Council.

Back in 2017, Mr Seely outlined the ideas to use arts and culture to support a better and more prosperous future for the Island.

The new initiative has also been endorsed by Creative England’s Filming in England team, the Isle of Wight Council and members of industry body Film Offices UK.

Looking to the future, building studio facilities is Filmwight’s next project. The directors are working with a consortium of specialists with a view to opening a state-of-the art studio complex within the next two years.

Filmwight says it has also negotiated a 'major' sponsorship deal with Wightlink.

The ferry firm has created a special Filmwight Pass offering free and discounted passage to producers, location managers, crew and talent.

More information can be found here.

'Filmwight' - Isle Of Wight's Official Film Office Launches

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