New showreel promotes Wales as top production location

A new promotional showreel featuring clips from the latest major productions filmed in Wales has been launched by Wales Screen to promote Wales worldwide as a premier location for TV and feature film production.

Introduced by actor Michael Sheen, the showreel features footage from The Bastard Executioner ( Fox ), The Collection ( Lookout Point), Doctor Who ( BBC) and Sherlock  (Hartswood Films) and highlights other productions filmed in Wales including Criminal, Me Before You to King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, Transformers: The Last Knight and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

It contains interviews with producers Steven Moffat (Doctor Who; Sherlock); Jane Tranter co-founder of Bad Wolf and Oliver Goldstick (The Collection) who all extol the benefits of filming in Wales that include superb locations, experienced crews, great facilities, accommodation and the general film-friendliness and support available.

Locations play a major part in the showreel, demonstrating the versatility and beauty that exists in Wales using hi-definition aerial footage from the Visit Wales library.

The new showreel reflects what has been an extremely busy and successful 2016 for Wales Screen – part of the Welsh Government’s Creative Industries team – which handled 386 production enquiries and recorded more than £41m spent in Wales by productions supported by the Welsh Government.

Economy Secretary Ken Skates said:“2016 was a stellar year for TV and film production in Wales and our strategy to attract high end drama production is certainly paying dividends.

“The new showreel is a great promotional tool that focuses on everything that Wales can offer film makers. It will be used extensively at specialist events throughout the year to target key UK and international players in the creative sector.”

Michael Sheen said: “Wales can offer the best of everything for film-makers. I believe the successes of 2016 are only the beginning. The future for the creative industries in Wales is massively exciting.”

Ken Skates added that 2016 also ended on a high for the Welsh creative sector when Sherlock and Ethel & Ernest – two major productions that received grant support from Welsh Government – received rave reviews and high ratings when aired on BBC1 during the festive season.

Viewing figures for the season 4 premiere of Sherlock reached 11.3 million, making it the most watched TV show on New Year’s Day across all channels. Ethel & Ernest was watched by 4million people and ranked No.1 on the official TV chart, outselling Game of Thrones, Planet Earth 2 and The Night Manager among others. The first pressing of the Ethel & Ernest DVD sold out on pre sales alone.

Wales Screen encourage and help film and television productions to use locations, crew and facilities throughout Wales, assisting both inward investment and indigenous productions on a practical basis, ensuring that their spend within the Welsh economy is maximised.

Links to the showreel

Wales Screen Showreel 2017 (International version)
Wales Screen Showreel 2017 (Bilingual version)