As with any producer, the BBC has budget limitations. Toby Haynes comment on this bringing creativity is interesting, although seeking budget boosts can also help.
One way to reduce the financial load is international co-production, costs and risk are shared, access to a country’s funding incentives may be easier.
Careful management is required, to avoid additional costs from partnership. The movement of equipment and people need control, rather than separation bringing haphazard travel arrangements, or logistics.
The benefits are still worthwhile, with a variety of bilateral treaties giving access to government funds for joint productions. There are equally good ways to find assistance for independent productions.
Worldwide Incentives
Many embassies in the UK offer advice on how their country helps film makers, or can put you in touch with the right people. You can see a list of incentives, a useful starting point.
Keeping an eye on the news from industry bodies may throw up options you were not aware of, such as recent changes in Turkey.
In that case, you need to partner with a local producer and meet minimum spending criteria but up to 30% of local spend is claimable. Along with feature films, the allowance is available for documentaries, or TV series.
The Turkish incentive also offers VAT refunds, details of the scheme can be seen here. Approaches will vary across the globe, the key is to choose a location which matches your creative and practical intentions.
Movement Of Goods
Managing people matters, understanding entry requirements, visa needs, inoculations, local employment laws. Efficiency and good timing in this area save cost, although the same applies to moving goods.
Planning transportation for each location is important, as is ensuring goods are carefully packed. Using a freight forwarder who specialises in the film industry will help, tends to save costs and ensure you are well advised.
For countries outside Europe, an ATA carnet is needed. The likelihood of the same position applying in Europe is increasing, to allow duty free, temporary import and export of filming equipment.
Whilst this is a cost, at least the amount is fixed in advance and alongside avoiding hassle, the process can have hidden benefits. You need to prepare inventories anyway and match them to shooting needs.
With a little thought, carnet requirements can be integrated into wider processes, from insurance needs, to forward planning. Rather than an added load with time costs, they become an assistive part of film management.
Whether your production is large, or small, we understand that the creative outcome is the key. This still has to come from a finite budget, if we can help to make this happen, by all means get in touch.