Ibec AV Cover 05 Fin 1 12/12/05 1:36 pm Page 1 Film & Television Production in Ireland Audiovisual Federation Review 2005 IBEC AUDIOVISUAL FEDERATION An affiliate association within IBEC | the Irish Business and Employers Confederation Confederation House, 84/86 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2 Tel: + 353 - 1 - 6601528, Fax: + 353 - 1 - 6381528 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ibec.ie An affiliate association within IBEC | the Irish Business and Employers Confederation www.ibec.ie Ibec AV Cover 05 Fin 1 12/12/05 1:36 pm Page 2 AUDIO VISUAL FEDERATION REVIEW 2005 Film & Television Production in Ireland Audiovisual Federation Review 2005 IBEC Audiovisual Federation The Audiovisual Federation consists of IBEC member companies involved in Ireland’s audiovisual industry. These include broadcasters, producers, animation studios, facilities and other organisations supporting the sector. The Federation has a number of objectives designed to support Ireland’s audiovisual production and distribution industry. These include promotion of the sector, representing the views of members to relevant bodies, submitting the industry view on relevant policy. The Audiovisual Federation maintains an economic database for the Irish audiovisual production sector and publishes the results in an annual report with an economic analysis on the benefits of the audiovisual sector to the Irish economy. In order to sustain the growth and development within the sector during the last number of years the Federation has sought internationally competitive financial incentives and international co-production treaties. Together with Enterprise Ireland the Federation organises conferences, seminars, and workshops on relevant audiovisual issues. The Audiovisual Federation is a member of the Irish Business Employers Confederation (IBEC) and is affiliated to ICT Ireland - The Voice of Technology within IBEC. Chair: John Cummins, Agtel Ltd Vice Chair: Pádhraic Ó Ciardha, TG4 Secretariat: Tommy McCabe, Director Angela Mollo, Executive Michael Forde, Executive Carolyn Doumeni, Personal Assistant Tel: 01-605 1528 Fax:01-638 1528 email: [email protected] Web: www.ibec.ie/ - 1 - Ireland in their words "If I have to leave home to make a film, let it please be Ireland. The crews there are top notch, the scenery is spectacular and the people are so generous and warm-spirited. Over the course of two summers I had the privilege of making two films, "Laws of Attraction" and "The Honeymooners" there. I now consider Dublin my second home and I look forward to coming back." David Friendly, Producer - The Honeymooners, Laws of Attraction David Friendly "PURE MULE supported by RTE was shot totally on location in County Offaly on High Definition and using local services and talent wherever possible. Eugene O'Brien's scripts have given a new voice to modern rural Ireland. And not only has it proved a major hit with Irish viewers, it has also attracted significant international interest. David Collins, Producer - “Pure Mule” Accomplice Television David Collins "I was incredibly fortunate working on location in Ireland for the first time to have had a great AD, an astonishingly resourceful camera and lighting crew and a very efficient production office all of whom literally made the impossible possible." Charles Sturridge, Director – Lassie Charles Sturridge The first twelve part series of F.F.C. marked a new beginning for comedy production in the Donegal Gaeltacht. Spreag Teo, the production company cooperated with TG4 and Údarás na Gaeltachta to train local new writers and technicians as part of the production of the first series. Some of these trainees are now working as writers and technicians on the second series. In an area suffering from the recent downturn in manufacturing this new initiative is of tremendous economic and cultural benefit. Seán Mac Fhionnghaile, Executive Producer - Fiosruchan Faoi Cheilt (F.C.C) Seán Mac Fhionnghaile "It is great to see RTE working with independent producers on challenging, high quality drama for Irish audiences that can compete internationally and we look forward to similar collaborations in the future." Dominic Wright, Executive Producer - “Proof Series 2” Subotica Entertainment Dominic Wright "We've been involved in a number of film and television projects over the last 12 months of different budget ranges and genres. What I continue to be struck by is the depth of talent here in terms of crew and cast which are undoubtedly world class. Its particularly gratifying when we work with directors and financiers from abroad who also share this view." Ed Guiney, Producer - Element Films Ed Guiney - 2 - AUDIO VISUAL FEDERATION REVIEW 2005 Audiovisual Federation Review 2005 The data in this report relates to feature films, major TV dramas, independent TV productions and animation projects where the majority of the work was carried out in 2004. It also gives an overview of productions to date in 2005. This is the eleventh report on the audiovisual sector, which was drawn up under the auspices of the following organisations – members of the Audiovisual Federation Database Steering Committee: G Bord Scannán na hÉireann/Irish Film Board Teresa McGrane Linda McEvoy Patrick O’Neill G Radio Telefís Éireann Michael Hyland Zimmey Matthews G TG4 Pádhraic Ó Ciardha Máire Ní Chadháin G An Roinn Ealaíon, Spóirt agus Turasóireachta/ Sabina O’Donnell The Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism G Screen Producers Ireland David McLoughlin Siobhan Kennedy G Facilities Kevin Moriarty, Ardmore Studios G Animation Sector Paul Cummins, Telegael G Audiovisual Federation of IBEC Tommy McCabe (Director) Angela Mollo Michael Forde Carolyn Doumeni Eoin Keogh, (IBEC Research and Information Services) This data for this report was compiled by the Research and Information Services of IBEC. Acknowledgements: The Audiovisual Federation is very much indebted to the members of the Steering Committee for their commitment and guidance in producing this report. The Audiovisual Federation Review 2005 © 2005 IBEC Prepared by the Audiovisual Federation of IBEC Affiliated to ICT Ireland IBEC Audiovisual Federation Confederation House 84/86 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2. - 3 - Contents Foreword 5 Executive Summary 7 Achoimre Feidhme 8 Chapter 1: The Irish Audiovisual Sector – 2004/2005 Review 9 Chapter 2: Economic Analysis 2004 15 Chapter 3: The Irish Audiovisual Sector – 2004/2005 Review International Context 18 Appendices: 20 Appendix I: Economic Analysis 2004 21 Appendix II: Production Details – Summary 1995 - 2004 Comparison 25 Appendix III: Production Details – By Type of Production – 2004 26 Appendix IV: Funding Details – By Type of Production - 2004 27 Appendix V: Contribution of the Irish Film Sector to the Irish Economy 2004 28 Appendix VI: Clarification Notes 30 Appendix VII: Section 481 Investment 31 Appendix VIII: Agencies Involved with the Film Production Industry in Ireland 32 Appendix IX: List of Productions included in the Report 2004 and 2005 35 - 4 - AUDIO VISUAL FEDERATION REVIEW 2005 Foreword The primary emphasis of this review, the eleventh for Tiger Aspect as well as Granada’s Malice annual Audiovisual Federation Review of Film Aforethought film for television. Production in Ireland, is the year 2004. It was the year, most notably, in which the television and the Despite international uncertainty, 2004 saw the animation production sectors continue to expand production of significant indigenous films Boy Eats but feature film production dropped significantly. Girl, The Mighty Celt and later in the year Breakfast This is evident by RTE’s continued commitment / on Pluto, Short Order and Tara Road. investment in the independent production sector which over the last number of years has been In 2005, the indigenous film production year started considerably in excess of its statutory obligations. with the final stage of production of Isolation and Given the cost of production, the size of the home the production of the low budget features Dead market and the relative economies of scale, the Long Enough in Donegal and Studs in Dublin challenge for feature film producers in a country of starring Brendan Gleeson. The Wind That Shakes Ireland's size is that it is necessary to source a The Barley shot in Cork and Kerry in mid 2005 and relatively high proportion of production finance the Irish co-produced film Lassie and TV movie outside the country. Whatever Love Means also shot during that period. However, in what is arguably a time of change in Following a quiet start to the autumn, Johnny Was, the industry, national and international, it became The Front Line, In Like Flynn, 48 Angels and increasingly difficult for Irish film producers to find Middletown completed principal photography prior production finance outside Ireland during the period to the end of 2005. under review. In the absence of major inward film production Television Sector activity in the last 18 months, the overall value of feature film production in Ireland has fallen RTE’s investment in the Irish independent television significantly since 2003 as illustrated in Appendix 1. sector continued to be very strong across 2004 and 2005. This has resulted in RTE expenditure on Funding sources for indigenous films (as analysed in commissioned programmes over the 2 year period Appendix 1) were predominantly the Irish Film in excess of G100m. Returning commissioned series Board, Section 481 and the Northern Irish Film and such as The Clinic and Proof, together with new Television Commission. series like Pure Mule, Love is the Drug, Asylum, Irish films continue to garner interest at the Irish box Celebrity You’re a Star and a biographical series on office and on the international festival circuit. Charles Haughey all raised the volume of RTE Highlights of the Irish box office in 2004 and 2005 production and with these programmes met with were Man About Dog (which reached number 9 at positive audience and critical reaction when the box office for the year 2004), Adam and Paul, broadcast, a fact mirrored at the 2005 IFTA Awards. Tara Road and Pavee Lackeen, all of which enjoyed wide interest from across the country.