BAFTA Children’s Media Question Time
Gathered in Manchesters Media City on the 3rd anniversary of its opening sat a panel of television producers, creative and heads to discuss Childrens Television as part of the BAFTA guru events. Present on the panel were Phil Chalk from animation studio Factory Transmedia, Joe Godwin director of children’s television at the BBC, Rebecca Hodgson of Lime Pictures, television director Jermain Julien, and Nine Lives Medias Cat Lewis, the panel was chaired by presenter Sonali Shah. The event was titled Children’s Question Time and the panel as well as guests in the audience had plenty to discuss relevant to both animation and the wider world of Children’s media.
The panel (minus Joe Godwin) L-R Phil Chalk, Jermain Julien, Rebecca Hodgeson, Sonali Shah & Cat Lewis. Picture: BAFTA
In a room loaded with television producers and industry professionals here was an excellent opportunity to discuss what most effects children’s media. Phil Chalk kept a keen focus on the animation side of things. The first item to be addressed was whether it was a good idea to move up to Manchester and whether that has helped grow the indie sector up in the north, as you may expect the answer was yes with Joe Godwin delineating the virtues of people not having to move to London to find work or pitch a show. Rebecca Hodgeson was pleased to have found northern writers and a northern voice for her production Rockets Island. Factory Transmedia’s Phil Chalk found the move welcome. Although the North West has a rich animation heritage (see: Cosgrove Hall MacKinnon & Saunders, HOT Animation et al) and despite a lack of investment in recent years talent has always prevailed in the north, there was still always a “Country Cousin” feel for northerners heading down south to pitch a show, thankfully companies such as Factory have been able to welcome both the tax incentives and the new northern television infrastructure as well as new commissions. When asked if those commissions such as The Clangers (which is being produced by Factory Transmedia) were a result of Media City opening the answer was yes, but the move has enabled new businesses such as post production to thrive without that business being sent onto London without hesitation as well as business outside the media such as transport, catering and shops.
As well as the obvious good that has come of the recent tax breaks and Media Citys creation there is still a culture of leaping from commission to commission and the north is still behind London and in terms of animation. Out of the 40 or so productions show on television only 7 of them have been produced in the north with the likes of Bob the Builder leaving to be produced overseas. But Cat Lewis was happy to report that by 2016, 50p from every £1 of licence fee money will be spent outside of London. When the animation tax break was spoke of there was a slight air of jealousy in the room as animation tax breaks were discussed as it id felt the same tax breaks would benefit live action programming. It is hoped that a simple amendment to current legislation would cover this. Cat Lewis is also vice chair of the PACT council that campaigns for live action TV tax breaks as high end drama has witnessed a positive surge after receiving tax credits. When asked if an introduction of tax credits would change the look or quality of the live action children’s television programmes produced Joe Godwin explained that there would be no difference as current productions are already of the highest standards, the tax credit would just make it easier to produce the programming.
You can listen to the entire podcast on the BAFTA Guru website here which includes questions from the audience and further delineation on the subjects already mentioned.