The UK's top 40 film production companies
Televisual's inaugural film survey kicks off with a showcase of the UK's leading film production companies. Tim Dams profiles the indies behind some of Britain's biggest and best films
Challenges and concerns for 2012
A shapshot of Production 100 feedback from indies about the issues facing them in the year ahead
Falling budgets
Once again falling budgets top the list of indie concerns, the third year in a row. Indies big and small, from Endemol to DLT Entertainment, Back2Back and Fresh One cite falling or tight budgets as their biggest challenge. “The squeeze on budgets is very real and yet the best talent still commands top rates. Something’s got to give,” says Oxford Scientific. Blakeway says indies are having to upgrade technology “without any enhancement in budgets.” Many worry about the cuts in funding at the BBC.
Commissions
It’s all about “commissions, commissions, commissions” says Thumbs Up. Like Lambent, many want “series that return”. Cicada Bellwether also would like to “continue getting series rather than one offs commissioned.”
Retaining rights
“Hanging onto rights in an increasingly aggressive, post terms of trade broadcast culture,” is a challenge cited by Nerd TV that’s shared by many indies. “We’re having to deficit fund content but the broadcasters are taking more rights and a higher share of the profit,” says TalkbackThames. Googlebox says it wants to “continue securing commissions with reasonable margins and the ability to retain rights and back end.”
Cashflow
“Containing company costs and managing cash flow as some broadcasters are paying late,” is a challenge for Off the Fence. Hardcash wants broadcasters to “speed up the period from green light to actually triggering the cash flow on a project.” Superindies “It’s tough to compete with the superindies and their deep pockets,” says Outline Productions. Likewise, Reef TV cites the “dominance and power within the independent production sector by the superindies” as a key challenge.
Managing growth
Nutopia worries about “managing growth and putting systems in place which still retain a fun, creative small company environment.” Magnum Media and Rival Media both say managing growth is a priority, as does Firecracker which also wants to grow while “retaining the Firecracker brand values.”
Deficit finance
It’s “getting harder to pull together co-productions”, says Atlantic with US broadcasters in particular wanting to fully own shows to play on their global channels. Twofour says finance models are “more complex”. Impossible Pictures says “the commercial effort and cost required to raise finance and maintain liquidity of productions only increases.”
Talent
“Finding and retaining key talent on and off screen,” is a big issue for Icon Films. Splash Media says it’s a challenge to be able to hire “the industry’s best.” Development Because of the minimal profit margins available from network tariffs, “it’s difficult to maintain sufficient funding for talent and idea development,” says Modern TV.
