Despite a marked commissioning slowdown, heads of ITV Studios and Plimsoll stated that British Producers are indeed “Welcome In America”, according to Deadline.
Grant Mansfield, who is the head of A Real Bug’s Life and Tiny World producer Plimsoll, along with ITV Studios boss Julian Bellamy, spoke about the state of the weary United Kingdom production industry during the Creative Cities Convention.
Many have proclaimed doom and gloom for the United Kingdom production industry, but Mansfield and Bellamy attempted to spin it in a much more positive light.
“Most British producers will find themselves very welcome in America” Mansfield said, adding that he “understands the negative mood music” but posited that “the transformational thing [for UK producers] is international”.
Mansfield added that 90% of Plimsoll’s commissions come from outside the United Kingdom.
“The whole business of what your market is has become more porous and most British producers wil find themselves very welcome in America,” Mansfield said. “They are incredibly respectful and knowledgeable of the UK market.”
Bellamy added that there are “Grounds for optimism” for the United Kingdom industry, citing the cost of TV drama coming down from £15M to £20M per episode during the streaming platform boom.
“That plays well into the UK wheelhouse as producers,” Bellamy said.
Bellamy pointed out that the popular Netflix show ‘Fool Me Once’, which was produced by ITV Studios’ label Quay Street, was “made for a lot less than £15M per hour.
