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It's in the 'can' for
Liverpool
Photographs by Patrick
Trollope.
LIVERPOOL is taking a starring role on silver
and small screens across the world as filming in the city is at an
all time high. A new report shows that 2011/2012 filming levels were
up an impressive 22% on the previous year with 894 filming days
taking place in Liverpool, compared to 733 in 2010/2011. A massive
227 films, programmes and adverts were filmed; bringing in £19
million to the local economy. And early indications show that
already there is a whopping 40% increase in the first quarter of
this year compared to last. Productions include Good Cop, a
primetime BBC drama starring Liverpool's very own Stephen Graham and
Mark Womack. Liverpool's Film Office (LFO) worked with the
production company to secure perfect filming locations right across
the city, the Wirral and on Crosby Beach in Sefton.
Good Cop producer Rebecca Hodgson said:- "We had a brilliant
time filming in Liverpool. It was a journey of discovery. The
director was from London, the production designer was from Glasgow
while me and the director of photography live in Manchester. We
started exploring the city on foot and around every corner we found
something new to excite us - the bombed out church, the Georgian
squares, the 60s and 70s office blocks, the Manhattan-style skyline
from the Wirral. We gradually fell in love with the city and that
gradual exploration is mirrored by the four episodes. We start by
glimpsing the city in episode one and by episode four the action
starts at the Anglican cathedral and we are running all over
Liverpool. I don't want to recommend it too highly - or everyone
else will start filming there!"
Currently being filmed in the city is Utopia, a flagship Channel 4
thriller which arrived in the city in April and will film until
October. It will be set in London, but every single shot will take
place in Liverpool. The cult conspiracy theory drama will star Paul
Higgins of In the Loop fame, James Fox who has starred in Sherlock
Holmes and Geraldine James who was in The Girl with the Dragon
Tattoo.
Utopia Producer Bekki Wray-Rogers, said:- "Liverpool is an
incredible city to film in. The locations are stunning. We have
found nearly 100 different locations all of which look amazing. The
architecture within the city, the dock areas and the surrounding
countryside have combined to give us an incredible backdrop for our
series. No other city in the UK could have provided us with such a
palette to work with. Liverpool is served well by its Film Office.
Unique within the UK as part of the City Council not only do they
understand filming but also the intricacies of the needs of the
city. From this position they are able to help us navigate the
regulations and oil the wheels that often make filming so difficult.
We will definitely be coming back"
And with 2 Hollywood blockbusters and a leading BBC2 drama with an
outstanding cast set to be filmed in the next few months, it's clear
that Liverpool is one of the most filmed cities outside of London.
Liverpool City Council's cabinet member for culture
and tourism, Councillor Wendy Simon, said:- "The increase in
the number of productions taking place reflects the city's growing
reputation and popularity with the film and TV industry. The calibre
of productions being filmed here is at an all time high, and
companies appear to be spending much more time in the city, making
the most of the iconic and diverse locations we have to offer. Real
credit has to be given to the small team which make up the city's
LFO unit – their unrivalled knowledge of the city and willingness to
go above and beyond has resulted in fantastic relationships being
developed between the City Council and the filming industry. This
latest report shows that again this year, filming levels are up, and
I'm sure this will continue throughout 2012 and 2013."
The LFO's role is to attract film and television business to the
city and its surrounding areas, by providing a location finding and
film liaison service. It is estimated that over the past 10 years
the office has attracted an estimated £100million of inward
investment into the local economy, by supporting jobs through
productions using local labour and also spending money in the city's
hotels, bars and restaurants.
It is the most established independent service in the UK and in the
past year has branched out into new areas such as managing the
hugely successful global media launch of Jaguar Land Rover's Evoque
which brought more than 1200 journalists to the city.
Manager of the LFO, Lynn Saunders, said:- "Over recent years
there has been a real shift in the attitudes of producers and
directors in terms of Liverpool, and now there is the real sense
that film executives are confident that they can get what they need
when we film in the city. This year we can also put some of the
demand down to the Olympics – filming is limited in the capital and
we've reaped the benefits of this, with many companies approaching
us as an alternative location to London. It's a really exciting, and
busy, time for the team and it's fantastic to be able to showcase
Liverpool and make sure it's a real favourite with filmmakers across
the world."
Some of the filming which took place from 2011/2012 included:-
►
Young Dracula – a CBBC production filmed at the disused Margaret
Beavan school in West Derby, and also uses Croxteth
Hall for its external shots.
►
House of
Anubis – filmed for Nickelodeon
by Liverpool based Lime Pictures and spent 116 days filming in the
city.
►
Blood - a £5million feature starring
Paul Bettany and Brian Cox and used he Albert Dock as a location.
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The Secret of Crickley Hall – BBC drama
to be aired later this year which used Falkner Street and Blackburne
House as their main locations.
►
Moving On – a 6 part drama filmed by
Liverpool based LA Production filmed its second series to great
success. The 3rd series starts production this month.
►
Stepping Up – Filmed by LA Productions
these 5 stand-alone dramas for CBBC are themed around the new
challenges children face when moving into a new and sometimes
overwhelming environment.
That is not including:- Big Fat Gypsy Wedding Special; Location,
Location, Location; Don't tell the Bride; Casualty; Walkers
crisps advert; X-Factor; Hillsborough documentary; Come Dine With Me
and others...
Southport Collage - Fire Service
Visit
AS a new intake of
students attended for the first few days of collage, the Merseyside
Fire and Rescue Service attended with a display aimed at road
safety. The idea is to drive home the dangers of bad driving and
show the consciences to the age group most likely to be killed in
road accidents. Pictured here in front of a crashed car that is
being used by the service where some of the first year students at
Southport Collage, with a representative from the service and a
tutor from the Sports Department at the collage. |
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THE KILLERS - UK
TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED
THE Killers have announce their 1st UK tour in 4 years. The Las
Vegas group, whose hotly-anticipated 4th studio album, Battle Born,
is released on 17 September 2012, will play shows starting in
Glasgow on 26 October and ending with 2 nights at London's 02 Arena.
Tickets for the tour go on sale at 9am on Friday, 7 September 2012,
from:-
gigsandtours.com / 0844 811
0051 (individual venue box office details are below). A limited
number of pre-sale tickets will be made available ahead of this to
members of the band's fanclub, The Victims.
Runaways, the first single from Battle Born, is released ahead of
the album, on 9 September 2012. See the video for Runaways click
here.
The Killers UK Tour 2012:-
OCTOBER 2012
►
26 October 2012, at the Glasgow SECC, call:- 0844 499
9990 for tickets.
►
27 October 2012, at the Aberdeen AECC, call:- 0844 499 9990 for
tickets.
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31 October 2012, at the Birmingham LG Arena, call:- 0844 338 8000
for tickets.
NOVEMBER 2012
►
3 November 2012, at the Nottingham Capital FM Arena,
call:- 0843 373 3000 for tickets.
►
4 November 2012, at the Newcastle Metro Radio Arena, call:- 0844 493
6666 for tickets.
►
5 November 2012, at the Cardiff Motorpoint Arena, call:- 02920
224488 for tickets.
►
8 November 2012, at the Sheffield Motorpoint Arena, call:- 0114 256
5656 for tickets.
►
9 November 2012, at the Liverpool Echo Arena, call:- 0844 8000 400
for tickets.
►
13 November 2012, at the Manchester Arena, call:- 0844 847 8000 for
tickets.
►
16 November 2012 and on 17 November 2012 in LONDON, at The O2,
call:- 0844 856 0202 for tickets.
Consultation over cuts in benefit
funding
LIVERPOOL is consulting on how to implement a
cut of more than £6 million in Council Tax benefit as a result of
changes being made by the Government.
In April 2013, Council Tax Benefit will be replaced by a new scheme
called Council Tax Support. There will be a 10% cut in the amount of
Government funding provided, and it is being left up to local
authorities to decide whether or not to pass on the reduction to
claimants.
For Liverpool, this means that savings of £6.2 million from the £62
million budget will have to be found, meaning difficult decisions as
to who should continue to get help with their Council Tax.
Pensioners are not affected, but this means if payments are reduced
to cover the shortfall they will come from the 44,700 working age
customers who receive benefit. As fewer people are making up the
shortfall, this could mean an average cut in real terms of 17.5
percent to those currently claiming this benefit.
The Council is consulting on 3 options:-
►
Option A - Funding the shortfall through extra budget cuts
and possibly with additional Council Tax rises, meaning no impact on
any claimant's benefits
►
Option B - Reducing the amount of Council Tax Support given
to all working age claimants by 17.5 percent. This would mean a
single person living in a Band A property who is in receipt of Job
Seekers Allowance having to pay £3.41 a week compared to nothing at
the moment. A single person earning £121.60 per week would have to
pay an additional £1.82 per week; while a couple with two children
who work and claim Tax Credits would have to find an extra £2.22 per
week
►
Option C - Funding the shortfall through a mix of options A
and B. This may need an increase in Council Tax and/or budget cuts
elsewhere and claimants having to pay less compared to
►
Option D - Deputy Mayor and Cabinet member for
Finance, Councillor Paul Brant, said:- "The Council is being
forced into an appalling decision which will impact on hard pressed
and vulnerable families that can least afford any reduction in
support. It is vital we go out to consultation on a range of
options, to find out people's views and make sure we are in the best
possible position to make a decision on which option to take. It's a
real concern as a lot of these households are going to struggle to
make up the difference and may end up slipping further into poverty
as a result of the cuts that are being imposed on us by the
Government."
Surveys are available by visiting the Council
website, from One Stop Shops
and Libraries, or can be sent out to people on request if they
call:- 0151 233 3009.
All responses will be treated as confidential and will not be shared
with third parties.
The closing date is 31 October 2012 and the results will be known in
early January 2013, before the Council makes a decision on how to
administer the scheme.
Small businesses urged to use appeals
process following dire bank lending figures
FIGURES
showing almost half of all new small business lending applications
have been declined by banks are being greeted with disappointment by
the Forum of Private Business, which is urging frustrated business
owners to appeal against decisions they feel are unfair.
The latest quarterly 'SME finance monitor' from the
British Bankers' Association (BBA) shows that, since January 2010,
banks have turned away 49% of new small business loan and overdraft
applicants; and overall just a 3rd of new applicants have received
the finance they needed.
The figures come despite several high-profile government initiatives
to get the banks to lend and reduce the cost of finance; including
the National Loan Guarantee 'credit easing' scheme and
Project Merlin, which set lending targets most banks failed to meet
and was one of the reasons a right of appeal was established.
Despite poor overall small business lending figures the appeals
process has overturned 39.5% of rejected funding applications in its
first year of operation, according to a recent report from Professor
Russel Griggs on behalf of the BBA. The Forum is urging more
disgruntled business owners to use it.
"As of May 2012 almost 40% of lending appeals had been completely
overturned; or 2,177 small businesses initially denied finance, but
this is clearly just the tip of the iceberg of business owners who
believe their banks have unreasonably turned them down for finance.
It is important to shout from the rooftops that there is an appeals
process, that it works, and that small businesses who feel aggrieved
should use it." said the Forum's Chief Executive, Phil
Orford.
The potential consequences of continuing credit restrictions for
business owners are concerning. In total, 41% of SMEs surveyed said
that personal funds had been injected into their businesses in the
past 12 months; this being more common among firms with fewer than
10 employees, younger businesses and those with poorer external risk
ratings.
Of these,16% said it was something they had chosen to do to help
their business grow, while 25% that they felt they had no choice,
but to use their own money to fund their businesses...
Mr Orford added:- "The bigger picture is that this data backs
up criticisms that banks are still not gauging small business
lending risk accurately in the first place. There is a pressing need
for improvements to local services and local decision making less
reliant on automated risk systems and data from credit rating
agencies, which often varies wildly from company to company where a
standardised approach is needed. Banks often say there is a lack of
demand but it is evident that, while they understand the importance
of banks, business owners are becoming alienated by mainstream
lenders and are looking elsewhere; including their own personal
finances. It is also important to support alternative funding
providers to help them compete in small business finance markets
dominated by the big banks."
The Forum, which surveys its members views on finance, bank lending
and alternative funding provision via its Cash Flow and Finance
member panels, is calling for finance to be made more readily
accessible for SMEs as part of its headline Get Britain Trading
campaign.
Do you agree with the Forum of
Private Business?
Email your views on the UK's
banks to our newsroom via:-
news24@southportreporter.com and let us know what you
think about how this subject. Do you think they are helping
your business or not?
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